Question

CASE STUDY 2
ALPHA ELECTRONICS
Engr. Samonte was Alpha Electronics’ project leader on a new contract to produce manufactured
weaponry devices for companies doing business with NATO government agencies in the mid 1980s,. The
devices were advanced technology land mines with electronic controls that could be triggered with capacitor
circuits to go off only at specified times, with electronic controls that could be triggered with capacity circuits
to go off only at specified times, rather than years later when children might be playing in old minefields.
NATO provided all the technical specifications and Alpha Electronics fulfilled the contract without
problems. However, Engr. Samonte was concerned that one new end user of this device could negate the
safety aspects of the trigger and make the land mines more dangerous than any others on the market.
After THE NATO contract was completed, Engr. Samonte was dismayed to learn that Alpha
Electronics had signed another contract with an Eastern European firm that had a reputation of stealing a
patented devices and also of doing business with terrorist organizations, Engr. Samonte halted the
production of the devices. He then sought advice from some of his colleagues and contacted the US State
department’s Office of Munitions Controls. In retrospect, he wishes he had also contacted the Department
of Commerce’s Bureau of Export Administration, as well as the Defense Department. He ruefully
acknowledges that the issue would have been brought to a close much more quickly.
The contract that Engr. Samonte unilaterally voided by his action was for nearly $2 million over 15
years. Engr. Samonte noted that no further hiring or equipment would have been needed, so the contract
promised to be highly profitable. There was a $15,000 penalty for breaking the contract.
On the basis of global corporate citizenship, it was clear that Alpha Electronics could legally produce
the devices for the NATO countries but not for the Eastern European company. The cold war was in full
swing at that time.
On the basis of local corporate citizenship, it was clear that Alpha electronics had to consider the
expected impact on local communities. In particular, there was no guarantee regarding to whom the
Eastern European company would be selling the devices and how they would end up being used.
Engr. Samonte took matters into his own hands without any foreknowledge of how his decision
would be viewed by his company’s upper management, board of directors, or fellow workers, many of whom
were also company stockholders. Happily, Engr. Samonte was never punished for his unilateral action of
halting production. He recently retired from Alpha Electronics as a corporate-level vice president. He was
especially gratified by the number of Alpha Employees who were veterans of world war II, the Korean War,
and the Vietnam War who thanked him for his action.
Engr. Samonte strongly believed his action was the right thing to do, both for his company and for
the public welfare. What ideas typically covered in an engineering ethics course might support that
conviction.
Prepare an analysis of the case following the herein format.
TITLE OF THE CASE
A. SITUATIONER
1. Background
2. Problem Statement
3. Problem Analysis
B. ASSUMPTIONS
C. ALTERNATIVES
D. RECOMMENDATION
E. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Answer 1

Electrical Engineering At World_War

(A) SITUATION:

1.Background:-Engr. Samonte was Alpha Electronic's project leader and produce manufactured weaponry devices for companies in the mid-1980s.

2.Problem Statement:-Engr. Samonte was concerned that one new end-user of this device could negate the safety aspect of the trigger and make the land mines more dangerous.

3.Problem Analysis:-Engr. Samonte was got to know that Alpha Electronics Company had signed another contract with an Eastern European firm that had a reputation of stealing patent devices and also of doing business with the terrorist organization

(B)ASSUMPTIONS

He assumes Land mines cause destruction to the market place. There is no guarantee regarding to whom Eastern Europe company would be selling the devices and how they would end up being used.

(C)ALTERNATIVES:

On the basis of Global Corporate Citizenship, it was clear that Alpha Electronics could legally produce the devices for NATO countries but not for Eastern European companies.

(D)RECOMMENDATION:

He was advised by some of the colleagues and contacted the US State department's Office of Munitions Controls, he wished he had also contacted the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration.

Engr. Samonte strongly his action was the right thing to do both for the company and public welfare.

(E)IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Engr. Samonte took matters into his own hands without any foreknowledge of his decision would be viewed by his company's upper management, board directors or fellow workers, stockholders. He was never punished for his unilateral action of halting production.