Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest
1
1University f Alberta, Ethics training course .
Conflict of Interest
Some situations that may lead to conflict of interests:
Bribes:
Substantial amount of money or goods offered (usually in
secret) to have an unfair and unethical advantage
Gifts
Are not bribes as long as they are:
Small
Offered in normal conduct
Made in public and according to the company policies
2
K. Conflict of Interest
Some situations that may lead to conflict of interests:
Interests in other companies
You are looking for a position in a competitor company
You have financial interest in certain company (other than the
company you work for)
Working at night for a second company!!!!!
Insider information
Use inside information to set up a personal (yourself, family,
friend, etc) busniness.
3
L. Ethical Dilemmas
Ethical dilemmas happen when:
Moral reasons come to conflict
Application of moral values are unclear
Conflict of interest exist
etc.
4
Moral Dilemmas
Kickbacks
An Engineer demanded a 25% kickback (bribe, payment) in secret payments
for highway work contracts he issued. He made such an offer to
Engineer x, a 32 year old civil engineer who was vice president of a
young and struggling consulting firm greatly in need of the work.
Engineer x discussed the offer with others in the firm, who told him it
was his decision to make. Finally Engineer x agreed to the deal, citing as
a main reason his concern for getting sufficient work to retain his
current employees. (Martin and Schinzinger, pg 14)
Does this violate the codes of ethics? How?
More Moral Dilemmas
Waste dumping
On a midnight shift, a botched (inferior) solution of sodium cyanide, a
reactant in an organic synthesis, is temporarily stored in drums for
reprocessing. Two weeks later, the day shift foreman cannot find the drums.
Roy, the plant manager, finds out that the batch had been illegally dumped
into the sanitary sewer. Upon making discrete inquiries, he finds out that
no apparent harm has resulted from the dumping. (Martin and Schinzinger,
pg 32)
Engineering: Corporate
Design context:
Produce Time pressure
Install Cost pressure
Operate Secrecy