Discuss the fundamental principles of professional ethics which Ms. Christen had failed to observe and explain how an awareness of her duty to the public interest may have prevented her errors.
A technological failure occurred at ELEANOR Company last year. A new computer system which was designed to control ELEANOR’s complicated operational facility broke down shortly after it was installed. This meant that the company was unable to carry out production processes normally for several days.
The cause of the failure was later found to have been a system specification error made by Ms. Christen, the operations director and a professional engineer. She had seriously miscalculated the capacity needed for the new system and had ordered a computer system which was unfit for purpose. Not only had this resulted in the loss of several days of production and a loss of loyalty and goodwill from customers and others, it also cost a large amount to repair and upgrade the system to be able to cope with the actual demands placed upon it.
Ms. Christen acknowledged that she had over-ridden normal procurement procedures in purchasing the system. But she was thought by her colleagues to be such a competent engineer, it was not felt necessary for anybody else in the company to discuss the purchase with the suppliers. Her fellow directors believed that Ms. Christen would exercise the judgement needed to purchase and implement the new system. Because the system was needed urgently, there was no time to run it in ‘pilot mode’ or to test it on site before it was fully installed. When she was asked about the failure, Ms. Christen said that she decided to buy the system in question because an old friend had recommended it and that she saw no need to take further advice beyond that.
The non-executive directors met after the incident and collectively decided that Ms. Christen who had nine months remaining on her renewable three year contract, had lost the confidence of the board and should leave the company at the earliest opportunity. It was decided to move her to a non-critical role until such time as it was possible to remove her as cheaply as possible.
REQUIRED:
Discuss the fundamental principles of professional ethics which Ms. Christen had failed to observe and explain how an awareness of her duty to the public interest may have prevented her errors.
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