Exercise: Problem Solving With Gilbane Gold

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Directions

Copy-past this exercise and complete in your groups. If you have any questions on the stages of problem solving, consult the module "Three Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making and Good Computing Reports," module m13757.

Problem Specification

• Classify your problem. Is it a conflict between values, a conceptual disagreement, a factual disagree ment, or an impending harm. Provide a one or two sentence justification for your problem classification
• Frame your problem in three different ways. How does Gilbane Gold appear from the frame of an environmental engineer? From the standpoint of a local farmer concerned about soil contamination? From the standpoint of a manager who is under pressure to maintain razor-thin profit margins as well as authority over those under her supervision?

Solution Generation

• Set 10 solutions as a quota. Then individually brainstorm as quickly as possible 10 solutions.
• Share your solutions with your group members. Make a special effort to suspend all criticism until all the solutions of all the group members have been listed.
• Refine your solution list into three solutions, two good ones and one bad one. Refine by developing a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C sequence. Integrate similar solutions. Condense your bad solutions into one bad solution that will serve as a useful basis of comparison.
• Work first toward a value integrative solution. If this is not possible, seek a value compromise. As a last resort prioritize your values and trade of the less for the more important relative to the situation at hand.

Solution Testing

• Test ethically three solutions, your two best solutions and a bad one to serve as a basis of comparison.
• Use the three ethics tests: reversibility, harm, and publicity. You can substitute a rights test for reversibility and a values or virtues test for publicity.
• Tie breakers: meta tests. If tests converge on a solution, this is an independent signal of solution strength. If the tests diverge on a particular solution alternative, this is an independent sign of the solution's weakness.
• Is your best solution feasible? Ask this question globally.

Solution Implementation

• In this stage, you want to look carefully at the situation in which you are going to realize your solution. Are there factors in this situation that will constrain or limit implementation? What are they, and how will they do this?
• Are there factors present in the situation that will aid the implementation of one or the other of your good solutions? What are they?
• What are your resource constraints? Do you have enough time, money, or materials to realize your ethical solution? If not, are the constraints negotiable?
• What are your interest or social constraints? Are there individuals or groups who have agendas affected by your solution? Given these agendas will they be allies or opponents? How can you win opponents over your side? Think here about government regulations, supervisor interests, corporate or business procedures, community traditions, etc.
• Important in Gilbane Gold is whether your solution is technical feasible and how your solution will affect the chip-manufacturing process. Is your solution technically feasible? Does it require developing new technology or acquiring expensive technology? Are these technical or manufacturing constraints negotiable, that is, flexible or rigid?