Religion 491/492 Section 17

Exam 1

Nov 10 - 14, 1997

 

Open Book/Open Notes Exam - Time Limit 2 hrs. Be sure to write neatly and use good English in your written answers. Do not discuss the contents of this exam with others.

 

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Name Score

 

 

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Location Time Begin Time End

 

 

 

  1. ( 8 Points) It is common practice to tip food service people at restaurants. This is justified because these people receive such a low wage that tipping makes their job reasonable. In addition, those being served my be seeking special treatment by providing a tip and those being tipped will be offended and may not provide adequate service if they are not tipped. However, in some countries offering tips to food service people is considered an insult.

 

Now, consider the fact that some government officials in third world countries accept bribes in a manner that is analogous to U.S. food service industry. They feel that they are underpaid and the bribe is just a part of their normal income. In addition they are willing to provide special treatment to those providing the bribe and are likely not willing to provide their service if the bribe is not given.

 

In light of the above

    1. Comment on what you think is the proper way to work with foreign officials who demand bribes in the normal operation of their duties

    2. Should you demand a higher standard from officials in that country?

    3. In this light is the practice of tipping ethical for the food service industry?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. (2 points) Define Integrity and give an example of demonstrating integrity in an engineering situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. (6 Points) Consider the ASCE Code of Ethics.

    1. Supply an additional Principle you think would strengthen this Code.

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    2. Supply and additional Cannon you think may strengthen this Code and identify an "Ideal" that is paramount to this cannon.

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    3. Supply two guidelines for the above Cannon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. (14 points) Consider the following case.

 

Your firm has won the contract to construct a new modern School for a severely depressed region.

The school would serve a community of people who had been without quality education facilities for decades. In fact, it has been established that the district had had millions of dollars of tax funds withheld from them by unethical practices in the superintendent's office. 

 

The design of the school has followed the building code in force and voters reluctantly approved complete funding - $13 Million. The recent economy has been depressed and this contract means that you can continue to provide employment for your complete staff, many of which have been with your company since it began over 25 years ago. Without the contract you must lay off 1/2 of your staff.

 

After obtaining the contract, you come across some unpublished federal satellite data that show the school is located in a liquefaction region and new safe design practices would at least double the cost of construction. Past political history dictates that a new bond would surely fail thus kill the new school project.

 

The State has a law on the books that will retrofit (at taxpayers expense) any school that is found to exist in a liquefaction region. You know that the retrofit will cost $52 million above the original cost of the building and will be born by the same taxpayers that will not likely approve $26 million for an upgraded safe structure. The state also has a history that generally awards the retrofit work to the people who do the original construction.

 

Evaluate this case by answering the following items.

 

    1. What do you believe is the legal thing to do?

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    2. What do you believe is the professional thing to do?

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    3. What do you believe is the moral thing to do?

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    4. What would you do assuming you are the owner and principal engineering of the engineering firm of this case?

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    5. What ideals are incorporated in your action?

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    6. What classical ethical theories did you use in your decision?

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    7. What aspects of the ASCE code of ethics did you incorporate in your decision?