Ethics Research Reflection...

My ethics research was more difficult than I thought it would be. I had a tough time finding an ethical lapse until I received some much needed help.

The ethical lapse that I will discuss is the one involving Roger Boisjoly and The Challenger Disaster. Mr. Boisjoly had written a memo to his superiors about the effectiveness of the solid rocket boosters, specifically their O-Ring malfunctions. He strongly believed that this issue needed to be addressed. Specifically: "...The "O-Rings" were two rubber rings that formed a seal between two sections of the Solid Rocket Boosters. The rings never functioned according to design. They were supposed to sit in a groove and seal the joint between the sections of the booster. It was found, however, that the pressure of the burning rocket fuel caused the joints in the SRB's to flex during launch, opening a gap through which rocket exhaust could escape. As the joints flexed, the rings would come out of their groves and move to a new position in the joint, a process called extrusion. The extruded ring would form a seal in this new position, but during the time it took for the ring to shift, the joint was unsealed and hot gasses could escape, a process called blow-by. These hot gasses would cause damage to the rings until the seal was achieved.What Boisjoly's investigation showed was that the amount of damage to the O-Ring depended on the length of time it took for the ring to move out of its groove and make the seal, and that the amount of time depended on the temperature of the rings. Colder temperature made the rubber hard and less flexible, meaning that extrusion took more time and more blow-by took place. He determined that if the O-rings were damaged enough they could fail..." He was completely ignored and his theories became reality when both o-rings failed during the shuttle launch, just 73 seconds after take-off.
Mr. Boisjoly was later shunned and forced to resign from the company after being a main witness called by the Presidential Committee to review the disaster. He later became a workplace ethics speaker, he still stands by his theories.


References:
Roger Boisjoly and the Challenger disaster. onlineethics.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
Boisjoly, Roger. Ethical Decisions - Morton Thiokol and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: Telecon Meeting. onlineethics.org. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.

Response to Ethical Lapses Article...

I thought this article really demonstrated the ripple effect that an ethical lapse can create, no matter what its size. Seventy-three percent of workers have encountered ethical lapses on the job according to this survey. I did not realize that ethical lapses were that prevalent. I am not surprised for the reasoning of why employees do not report these lapses. I am not sure how I would handle such a situation. It was almost even when it came to either reporting to company management and handling it yourself. Personally, I would report to company management because there is a thin line between right and wrong in such a situation. I would not want to be associated with having anything to do with the situation.

I never thought about how an ethical lapse may affect even those who are not directly involved. I believe now that it has a tremendous effect on work productivity and employee relations.

Writing On Paper vs. The Web...

Writing on the web and writing on paper are similar and different in various ways. Writing on paper and writing on the web are the same in that they both need to make sense, target a specific audience, get the point across, and relay all necessary information.

Writing on paper is differs from writing on the web because of formality. I believe that writing on paper is more formal than that on the web. People take a lot more time to write on paper and it is more drawn out. Writing on the web usually is in short-hand form and less formal. Writing on the web is to the point and can be built upon by additional pages.

When transferring a document formerly read on paper to the web it is important to remember that the format will be much different. Is important to proofread to insure that everything transferred correctly as well.

Free Write..

It hit me recently that I will be a senior IN COLLEGE next year. Time has flown by so fast I can't believe it. I never believed people when they said it would be like that but they were right! I am on track to graduate in May of 2009 with a degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Administration. I have no idea where I am going or what I am going to do. Very stressful, to say the least.

I hope it isn't just me that is stressed and unsure about where I am headed after school. I have so much going on right now I can hardly keep track. I hope everything slows down soon. And on top of all this I have to find a 400-hour internship for the summer. I can't decide if I should stay in Clemson for the internship or stay home for it. I look forward to having everything set..

Presentations..

I really enjoyed the presentations. It was interesting to see what people chose to present when given the freedom to do so. Overall I thought everyone gave a great presentation. It was something different and I looked forward to each one since I never knew what was coming next!

My favorite presentation would have to be Judith's on shooting sports. I have never been around shooting or guns and have absolutely zero knowledge about them. Her presentation was very informative and easy to understand. As it turns out I talked to Judith about it right after her presentation and she actually scheduled a time for me to meet with her dad for an introductory lesson. My first lesson was last Monday and it taught me so much, really enjoyed it. Her family was so nice and made me feel 100% comfortable considering the fact that I was really nervous! I am so glad I went. I hope to continue my lessons, I can't wait for the next one!

Mock Interview Reflection...

Last Wednesday I had my mock interview with Mrs. Rogers. I was extremely nervous beforehand, as though it was a real interview for a real job. I always get like that though so I was not surprised.
I thought the interview was a great idea, I only wish I had it available to me sooner in my college career. The critique of my resume and cover letter was the most helpful. I was not sure where they both stood so this made me feel more secure and comfortable when I give them to a potential employer. I feel like I did not do my best when it came to answering questions, I was flustered and so nervous. I need a way to get over that! Also, I interviewed with the company I want to intern for over Christmas break but I have to check in with them tomorrow and Mrs. Rogers informed me of the best way to do it which was very helpful.

I wish I would have received more tips on the actual interview like what to say and how to say it. Public speaking has always been tough for me so I take whatever help I can get! I hope this mock interview will help me with the next so I can continute to improve..

My Job...

Since the blog topic for this week is a free topic, I thought I would talk about my new job. I absolutely love it and believe it is perfect for me. I am working at a place called The Better Bark. It is a grooming, boarding, training, and fostering organization for dogs. As everyone knows, I love fostering dogs and now I actually get paid to take care of them. I love it because I actually feel like I am doing something good. It has motivated me to perhaps open my own place one day.
I received a job offer through Upstate Animal Rescue, whom I foster for and volunteer for. My duties include cleaning, grooming, clerical duties, feeding, exercising the dogs, and of course giving them plenty of love! I hope to learn about owning a business when it is catered to the animal world since I have always wanted to do so. I already feel as though I have learned so much and enjoy the lifestyle. I have only been working for a little over a week but I look forward to going every day.
I know I am always talking about animals but it is my passion and I feel like I am supposed to be their voice. So if anyone ever wants a dog please let me know :)