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Who Can Change Proprietary Source Code
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
Derek Evans used to work for a small computer firm that specializes in developing software for management tasks. Derek was a primary contributor in designing an innovative software system for customer services. Derek is now working for a much larger computer firm. It now occurs to him that by making a few minor alterations in the innovative software system he helped design at the small computer firm his new tasks at this larger firm can be greatly simplified.
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Conflict of Interest Serving on a Government Committee
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
Residents in Barker Township strongly oppose the proposed site for the landfill. A very large number opposed the reappointment of Matthews and Parkinson. Now a petition demanding the recall of Matthews and Parkinson has been signed by several hundred township residents. They claim that both Matthews and Parkinson are involved in a conflict of interest.
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So, You Want To Get Sued?
(Web Page on this Site)
Fictionalized Case
This case examines a law meant to regulate the practice of engineering, architecture and surveying in Puerto Rico. It asks whether attempts to circumvent the law might be morally acceptable.
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Inventory Transactions
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
A scenario in which a manager orders a packaging supervisor to complete transactions outside of the Standard of Business Conduct.
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Late To Work
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
An engineer's work suffers due to a family obligation. What should her employer do?
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Expert Witnessing: Milking the Cash Cow
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
Does the current system encourage lawyers and expert witnesses to cheat their clients?
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Disposable Cartridges and Disposable Jobs
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
An engineer must make a choice between environmentally friendly design and keeping jobs in the community.
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Legal Records Scenario
(Web Page on this Site)
Mini-case
This scenario by Michael C. Loui explores the ethical issues involved in the electronic monitoring of the secretarial staff's email.
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Cases of Discrimination against Asian Americans
(Web Page on this Site)
A index of cases of discrimination against Asian-Americans.
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Scenario: Entrepreneur on Company Time
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
This scenario details a case in which propriatary issues arise when employees are encouraged to develop ideas for new businesses while working with the company.
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Scenario: The Mirage Referral
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
In this scenario submitted by a visitor to the Online Ethics Center, one engineer deceptively recruits another engineer to work as a subcontractor. Ethics Center Advisors give comments.
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Mini-cases from Lockheed Martin Corporation
(Web Page on this Site)
These mini-cases are part of a game, Graymatters, devised by George Sammet, Jr., to teach ethical norms and Lockheed Martin's policies to their employees. Mr. Sammet is currently Vice President of International Ethics and Business Conduct for the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The game has been adopted by several other very large high tech corporations that are also government contractors.
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Software Protection & Intellectual Property - Role Play Material from MIT's EECS Department
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
Original Role Play on Intellectual Property involving RSA Encryption. This role play was used in MIT's introductory computer science subject, the Structure and Integration of Computer Programs
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Advice from the Texas Instruments Ethics Office
(Web Page on this Site)
These pages contain a selection of advice from The Ethics Office at Texas Instruments Corporation. The advice is that of either TI Ethics Director Carl Skooglund, or Glenn Coleman, Manager of Ethics Communication and Education. The articles are distributed among TI employees via TNEWS. Each of the links on this page takes you to several related TI Ethics Office articles.