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Decision Point Six

9 January, 2015 - 09:41
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Decision Point Six

  • Margaret Goodearl and Ruth Ibarra have made several attempts to get their supervisors to respond to the problem of skipping the environmental tests. The general response has been to shoot the messenger rather than respond to the message. Both Goodearl and Ibarra have been branded trouble makers and told to mind their own business. They have been threatened with dismissal if they persist.
  • So they have decided to blow the whistle, having exhausted all the other options. They initiated contact with officials in the U.S. government's Office of the Inspector General. These officials are interested but have told Goodearl and Ibarra that they need to document their case.
  • One day they find two hybrids (chips that combine two different kinds of semiconductor devices on a common substrate) on LaRue's desk. These chips which are destined for an air-to-air missile have failed the leak test. It is obvious that LaRue plans on passing them without further testing during the evening shift after Goodearl has gone home. Goodearl and Ibarra discuss whether this presents a good opportunity to document their case for the Office of the Inspector General.

Dialogue

  • Construct an imaginary conversation between Goodearl and Ibarra where they discuss different strate gies for documenting their concerns to the Office of the Inspector General?
  • Have them consider the following:
  • By looking for documented evidence against their employer, have Goodearl and Ibarra violated their duties of trust and confidentiality?
  • Some argue that before blowing the whistle, an employee should exhaust internal channels. Have Goodearl and Ibarra discuss whether they can do anything more inside Hughes before taking evidence outside