Page 503 - Using MIS

to follow up on that thought, but more pressing matters in You don’t know of anything else, and we can always find
your schedule take precedence. Soon you find yourself in more budget elsewhere if we have to.” How do you respond?
front of management, presenting the $50,000 estimate. You You can buy-in on schedule as well as cost. If the
probably should have found the time to investigate the esti- marketing department says, “We have to have the new
mate, but you didn’t. Is there an ethical issue here? product for the trade show,” do you agree, even if you know
Or suppose you approach a more senior manager with it’s highly unlikely that you’ll make the deadline? What if
your dilemma. “I think there may be other costs, but I know marketing says, “If we don’t have it by then, we should just
that $50,000 is all we’ve got. What should I do?” Suppose the cancel the project.” Suppose it’s not impossible to make that
senior manager says something like, “Well, let’s go forward. schedule; it’s just highly unlikely. How do you respond?

DisCussion Questions

1. Assess the ethics of buying-in on a cost-and-materials 7. Given your answer to question 5, assess the ethics of
project from both the perspective of the categorical im- buying-in on an in-house project from the perspective
perative (pages 20–21) and utilitarianism (pages 56–57). of the categorical imperative and utilitarianism. Are
2. Are there circumstances in which buying-in on a cost- there circumstances that will change your ethical as-
and-materials contract could be illegal? If so, state them. sessment? If so, state what they are and why.
3. Suppose you learn through the grapevine that your 8. Suppose you ask a senior manager for advice as de-
opponents in a competitive bid are buying-in on a time- scribed in the guide. Does the manager’s response ab-
and-materials contract. Does this change your answer to solve you of ethical responsibility? Suppose you ask the
question 1? manager and then do not follow her guidance. What
4. Suppose you are a project manager who is preparing a problems could result?
request for a proposal on a cost-and-materials systems 9. Explain how you can buy-in on schedule as well as
development project. What can you do to prevent buy-ins? costs.
5. Under what circumstances do you think buying-in on a 10. For an in-house project, what is an ethical response to
fixed-price contract is ethical? Use either the categorical the marketing manager who says the project should be
imperative or utilitarian perspective or both. What are canceled if it will not be ready for the trade show? In
the dangers of this strategy? your answer, suppose that you disagree with this opin-
6. Explain why in-house development projects are always ion because you know the system has value regardless
time-and-materials projects. of whether it is done by the trade show.

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