Chris smiled as he received the analysis packet from his supervisor. He had been working from home for GEH Mortgage Company, analyzing mortgage applications, for the past 3 years. This particular application involved not just a home mortgage but also an entire farmstead, a home and business. Whenever he received an assignment, he did not know how to analyze, he would call on his friend Joel, whom he had known since high school, to help him accomplish such tasks. He compensated Joel, usually with a case of beer, when they got together on the weekends. Chris knew he could trust Joel to do a good job on the analysis, because Joel had double majored in finance and accounting at a regional university. Chris would then tailor the analysis according to the way the firm expected reports to be submitted. He quickly e-mailed the application packet to Joel.
Chris was perceived as one of the most dependable analysts in the division because of his past work, much of which had been farmed out to Joel. He had received accolades and raises as a result and was enjoying his successful career with the firm.
Questions
The method used by Chris is obviously successful, and the company is satisfied with the results. Is it just good business, or is there an ethical dilemma present?
Should Chris confess to his supervisor or just continue the successful deception?
What are the privacy issues, given that the information used in these analyses is proprietary and sensitive?
Does this activity fit the notion of plagiarism?
Do electronic communication and the telecommuting arrangement make Chris’s actions more likely than if he were in the office?
