Our case study is on the case of the Composite Bicycle. In this case an engineer is asked to create a bicycle made out of a composite material in order that it is a lighter and stronger bicycle. The company then asks an outside firm of engineers to look at the case in order that they may validate the case engineers work. The case engineer was put under review after not being able to fully convince the main company of the design. So the company brought in the outside firm to evaluate the design. The outside company did not understand the design and told the main company that the design would not work. After telling the company that the design would not work, the outside firm submitted a plan for the bicycle at a much cheaper cost. Thus saving the main company millions of dollars.
We all agree that it is unethical for the outside firm to submit a design after seeing and disclaiming the previous design. This is unethical under the principle that the design was copied and made workable. It may even infringe on copy-write laws depending on the original design that was submitted by the outside firm. |