Problem:
Allen included the circuit failure and rework problem in her report prepared for the upcoming quarterly meeting of the board of directors Due to the potential adverse economic impact, Allen followed a long-standing practice of highlighting this information. After reviewing the reports to be presented, the plant manager and his staff complained to the controller that he should control his people better. "We can not upset the board with this kind of material. Tell Allen to tone it down."
The controller called Allen into his office and said, " Marie, you'll have to bury this one. The probable failure of reworks can be mentioned briefly in the oral presentation, but it should not be mentioned or highlighted in the advance material mailed to the board."
Allen feels strongly that the board will be misinformed on a potentially serious loss of income if she follows the controller's orders. Allen discussed the problem with the quality control engineer, who simply remarked, "That's your problem, marie."
Required to do:
Problem 1. Discuss the ethical considerations that Marie Allen should recognize in deciding how to proceed.
Problem 2. Explain what ethical responsibilities should be accepted by (a) the controller, (b) the quality control engineer, and (c) the plant manager.
Problem 3. What should Marie Allen do? Explain your answer.