Unintended Effects

Jack has been working as a project engineer for a mechanical energy technology firm

for a few years now, and has recently been promoted to review projects for in-need

communities overseas. He has been put in charge of managing the current

company's charity projects, and determining how to distribute the funding for them.

Some of the projects are pretty straightforward in their mission and material

requirement, but for one project, Jack isn't sure whether the company should be

funding it. The project's mission is to provide new solar panels for an East African

community but the project data suggests it is more practical to just install better

lighting inside the homes. Jack wonders whether to bring up his doubts with his boss.

Based on the company's research on the community, the community desires better

lighting system for their homes, and the solar panels would be an expensive and high

maintenance project. Not to mention, there was a previous project that (when

followed through) resulted in equipment being stolen from the same region to

exchange for money.

Jack understands their local sponsor would gain a great advantage in featuring solar

panels in the community. It would also foster a good business partnership between

the two companies. However, Jack feels it is his responsibility to provide the

community with a more simple and efficient solution to their problem, without diving

into a large project that could possibly lead to negative side effects. Is Jack's

company wrong to provide technology to the community when they don't need it?

How might this issue be perceived through the ethical prisms of utilitarianism, rights,

justice, and virtue?