CASE STUDY

Final Case Study Assignment

Final Case Study Assignment

1. Case Study

Michael was working in an engineering organization for a few months after he got his degree and achieved immense success because of all the essential factors he kept in consideration when designing a product. He ensured that his product is reliable and safe to use which he does, not only with the design but also with the material that he uses. Recently, he left the organization he was working in when he was offered a relatively better position from the one he was employed in and joined it. It was a company that manufactured transportation equipment where he in the first few days of his joining he is asked by his supervisor Jim, owing to the pressures of management to obtain business, to be lenient on factors of safety in order to reduce manufacturing costs. This would mean that cheaper and inferior material will need to be used for the product which can jeopardize the safety of the people who buy the product. Michael believes that this would also jeopardize the health and safety of the workmen. He talked to his supervisor stating his concerns but there was no positive response from his end and he was told to disregard any such concerns. Now, he does not know what to do; is it incumbent upon him to resign to preserve his ethical standards for which he will have to pay a sum of amount according to the agreement he signed at the time of employment. If he does resign, then what reason will he give to his future prospective employer? Is an employee who criticizes the ethics of his previous employer, and who is even new as a professional, generally considered as a desirable employee? His family's security might be destroyed if he does not find the right answers to the questions and act accordingly. If he thinks of continuing this job owing to the security of the family which is at stake if he quits, then he will have to compromise on the safety standards and also the ethical values and beliefs that he holds which is very much impossible for him to do. Even if he leaves the job, the employer will hire another engineer who might work the way he wants from him which means that safety issue will still continue to persist. What should he do?

2. Personal View

This case is a complicated one since Michael's supervisor is reluctant to address the concerns that he has regarding the safety issues. The employer is also of the view that the product to be designed is to be cheap for which he is willing to compromise even on the safety of the workmen and also the safety of those buying the product. In such a situation Michael is thinking of resigning but when he thinks of his future prospects he feels that he might be facing some trouble getting a job and if he continues then his ethical values are at ...