Misrepresentation of a Business Relationship
Becky is a consulting engineer. She is the first to respond
to a notice in the newsletter of a local chapter of engineering
society asking for volunteers to help organize a consultant's
referral network. Belinda, a society officer, asks Becky to
help organize the network.
Later, Belinda asks Becky if she would look at an
engineering assignment. Becky goes to Belinda's office
expecting to get the particulars of a referral. But instead,
Belinda accompanies Becky to the potential client's office
without prior discussion of the arrangement. In the middle of
the client's description of the engineering problem, the client
asks about the contractual relationship. Belinda replies that
Becky will subcontract to her on the project.
Was it ethical for Belinda to indicate that she will
subcontract to Becky on the project, without having discussed
this with Becky first?
What were Belinda's and Becky's ethical obligations under
the circumstances?
--adapted from NSPE Cases No. 96-1
Current NSPE Code of Ethics
An earlier version may have been used in this case.
Original Case and BER Judgement
Cite this page:
"Misrepresentation of a Business Relationship"
Online Ethics Center for Engineering
6/10/2006 9:42:39 PM
National Academy of Engineering
Accessed: Friday, January 09, 2009
<www.onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice/ppcases/NSPEcases/ec96-1.aspx>