Pam Callow, Amy Fitzgerald, Owen Smith, and Dan Adams

1
Group 17

• Pam Callow, Amy Fitzgerald, Owen Smith, and Dan
  Adams

2
Competitive Bidding

• In the ASCE code of ethics, competitive bidding
  was originally banned. The ASCE viewed
  competitive bidding as detrimental to the quality
  of engineering work.
• After a federal lawsuit, the courts ruled that
  the ban was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust
  Act.
• After the lawsuit, the ASCE changed its policy.
• Chris is told to bid low by his superior.

3
Bribery and the Law

• Bribes are considered illegal in the United
  States because it creates an unfair situation
  when selection of a candidates should be based on
  merit, not the amount of gratuities the candidate
  gives to someone.
• Chris invited a business contact, Girish, to come
  visit the States. He did not mention actually
  paying for the trip, so he did not believe his
  offer was inappropriate.
• Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, or
  receive any contribution to influence the award
  of a contract.

4
When in Rome

• Different cultures have different standards of
  ethics.
• Bribery is accepted in Genala, so should it be
  allowed for the firm to give gratuities to
  solicit business?
• Federal law prohibits bribery for soliciting
  business overseas.
• The when in Rome excuse that Chris uses is
  irrelevant. If it is against the law to bribe,
  then Chris should not have invited Girish to the
  United States.

5
Ethical Dilemmas II

• Chris offered a bribe, his company believes that
  bribery is unethical
• Chris has to choose if he should be loyal to his
  company and disappoint Girish or be loyal to
  Girish and most likely lose his job.
• Chris should explain that it is unethical for
  this visit to be business related, but as a
  personal visit, it would be acceptable.

6
Human Rights I

• Chris believes ethics has only to do with human
  rights.
• Ethics relative to culture or are they universal?
• Cultures have different ethics. Cultural
  pluralism is when different cultures have similar
  ethics.