Case: Recommendation for a Friend

Recommendation of Friend

I
Rob Smith did not know Ted Ackley well, but he was favorably impressed with him during the three days he interacted with him at a conference on professional ethics at Poly Tech. As practicing engineers and alumni of Poly Tech, they were invited to participate on a panel discussing engineering responsibility for safety. Although they attended Poly Tech at different times, Rob and Ted had a long follow-up discussion over dinner and discovered that they had much in common, especially in regard to issues of professional ethics. As the conference concluded, they made tentative plans to prepare a jointly authored article on ethics in engineering practice. They corresponded and had phone conversations several times over the next year or so, but Ted then changed jobs and they decided to postpone completion of their joint project while Ted adjusted to his new responsibilities.

Two years later Rob and Ted still have not resumed work on their paper. This is just as well as far as Rob is concerned since he has been promoted into a position of greater responsibility and has little time for the project. In fact, their joint project has not been on Rob's mind at all for quite some time. So when he answers his phone, Rob is surprised to hear Ted's name. Calling is Harvey Chadwick, an old classmate from Poly Tech. "Rob," Harvey begins, "it's Harvey Chadwick from Branton Manufacturing. How are you, old buddy? I'm calling to see if you can help us. We're looking for a corporate ombudsman, and one of the top candidates is Ted Ackley. I see from his resume that you and he were on an ethics panel a couple of years ago. Can you tell me anything about him?"

Rob pauses for a moment to recall his acquaintance with Ted. Although he did not feel he knew Ted terribly well, Ted had made a very favorable impression at the conference and in subsequent contacts. In addition to recalling Ted as a very bright and conscientious young man, Rob found him to be very pleasant conversationalist -- a good listener who seemed to have a real knack for bringing out the best in what Rob was trying to say. At the same time, Ted always made it very clear where he stood on matters.

How should Rob respond to Harvey?

II
Rob speaks very favorably of Ted, pointing out, however, that he has had limited contact with Ted. "Still," he says to Harvey, "on the basis of my acquaintance with Ted, I think he could do very well as an ombudsman."

Two days later Rob is attending a professional engineering meeting and he runs into an old acquaintance, Dan Wicks. Dan worked with Ted Ackley when Rob and Ted first met. In the course of their conversation Ted's name comes up. Much to his dismay, Rob learns why Ted left his earlier job. Apparently Ted was notorious for his blatantly racist remarks. Several women employees also complained of sexual harassment. When confronted by his supervisor, Ted agreed quietly to leave the company.

"Terrific," Rob says, "just two days ago I gave Ackley a glowing recommendation for an ombudsman's job! Maybe I'd better make a call." "Well," Dan replies, "I don't feel too comfortable about that. If there's nothing in his file about what he did at our place, I'm not so sure it's right for us to interfere. I probably shouldn't have said anything to you about this. On the other hand, if there is something about it in his file, you don't have to say anything at all."

What should Rob do?

III
The next day Rob is still mulling over what he should do. His phone rings. This time the caller is someone Rob has never met. "Hello, Mr. Smith, my name is Amanda Johnson. I work with Dan Wicks. He told me about your conversation about Ted Ackley yesterday. I hope you will call your friend back and set him straight on Ackley. That guy is really scary. At first he was "Mr. Nice Guy," big talker about affirmative action, and so on. But as soon as things didn't go his way, he got really ugly. One day he started throwing things in his office and shouting racist obscenities. Can you imagine what kind of ombudsman he'd make? I'm really upset about this guy and what he might do in a position like that. If you're not going to call your friend, please give me his number and I'll do it!"

What should Rob do?

*From NSF Engineering Ethics Case Report.

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