1. Answer the red questions using the scenario in slide 2. Submit your answers* in the drop box folder “Assignment 2”due Wednesday, June 29 midnight *there is a document handout with all the questions Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision1

2. A Buffalo Computing Co. (ABC) located in Niagara Fall, NY has designed a chip for a new scientific calculator that features high-precision floating-point accuracy to 17 significant digits for all 250 mathematical function provided with the unit. After one-and-a-half years in development, and after shipping over 5,000 beta units to key customers, the company discovers that there is a problem with certain calculations, as described in the next slide. Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision2

3. In order to expedite floating-point (ft.-pt.) operations (used in handling scientific notation in mathematical operations), often certain tables of values are used to assist in the speed of execution of these ft.-pt. operations. (For example, a calculator requiring as long as 3 minutes to perform a tangent calculation would have no market appeal.) These tables can contain up to 100 integer entries. During beta testing, ABC discovers that several of these values were incorrectly entered before burning them into the firmware. Further testing concludes that because of the location and use of these table errors, the only mathematical results affected will occur in the 13 th to the 17 th significant digits for the double-precision fl.-pt. operations. Decisions about the future of the chip… Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision3

4. The 5 Steps are: 1. Recognize an Ethical Issue 2. Get the Facts 3. Evaluate Alternative Actions 4. Make a Decision and Test it 5. Act and Reflect on the Outcome Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision4

5. 1a. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? 1b. Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative, or perhaps between two “goods” or between two “bads”? 1c. Is this issue about more than what is legal or what is most efficient? If so, how? 1d. Should more of these calculators go as is to the market? Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision5

6. 2a. What are the relevant facts of the scenario? What facts are not known? 2b. Can I learn more about the situation? 2c. Do I know enough to make a decision? 2d. What are the options for acting on this scenario? 2e. Have I identified creative options? (spend time on this one!) Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision6

7. Evaluate the options you created in step 2 by asking the following questions [Explain your reasoning]: 3a. Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (This is the Utilitarian Approach) 3b. Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (This is the Rights Approach) 3c. Which option treats people equally or proportionately? (This is the Justice Approach) 3d. Which option best serves the community as a whole, not just some members? (This is the Common Good Approach) 3e. Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be? (This is the Virtue Approach) Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision7

8. 4a. Considering all these approaches, which option best addresses the situation? 4b. If I told someone I respect—or told a television audience—which option I have chosen, what do you think they would say? 4c. Propose a resolution for this situation. How serious is the problem? What should be done? Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision8

9. 5a. How can my decision in step 4a be implemented with the greatest care? 5b. How did my decision turn out and what have I learned from this specific situation? Mod4_3 Assign2 Ethical Decision9