You are asked to read Chapter 8 (Computer Ethics) from the course book:

Introduction to Engineering Ethics, Mike W. Martin and Roland Schinzinger.

Then answer the following questions

4)

A project leader working for a large retail business was assigned the task of developing a customer

billing and credit system. The budget assigned for the project appeared at first to be adequate.

Yet by the time the system was half completed it was clear the funds were not nearly enough. The

project leader asked for more money, but the request was denied. He fully informed management

of the serious problems that were likely to occur if he had to stay within the original budget. He

would be forced to omit several important program functions for convenience and safety: for

example, efficient detection and correction mechanisms for errors, automatic handling and

reporting of special customer exceptions, and audit controls. Management insisted that these

functions could be added after the more minimal system was produced and installed in stores.

Working under direct orders, the project leader completed the minimal system, only to find his

worst fears realized after it was installed. Numerous customers were given incorrect billings or

ones they could not understand. It was easy for retail salespersons to take advantage of the

system to steal from the company, and several did so. Within a year the companys profits and

business were beginning to drop. This led to middle-level management changes, and the project

leader found himself blamed for designing an inadequate system. Did the project leader have an

obligation either to clients or to the company to act differently than he did? Did he have a moral

right to take further steps in support of his original request or later to protect himself from

managerial sanctions?