Work Ethics – Be Dependable

Arun Mahadevan is a commercial tendering engineer and works as a

part of Contract Price Estimation Group.
Tender for a major government long term contract is getting submitted
next day at 9 am. Company has strict internal approval process in place
and in-fact after several reviews, price to be quoted is approved by
Global Head.
This internal process is complete and final approval has been received .
Team is now in the process of consolidating the Offer papers for
signature and submission. Arun discovers a major error ( accidentally
while checking on something else) in estimating certain taxes and
duties which will have a negative impact on the price. Time is 5 pm –
the previous evening. Arun is in a dilemma and afraid. Revealing would
certainly cost his job. But he also knows that there are atleast four big
Competitors and Company may not win the job. May be keep quiet. No
one will ever know.

You are Arun – What next?

Work Ethics – Be Dependable
Arun has the following options
a. Keep quiet. It is too late and may cost his job. There can
be two eventualities :
1. After all we may not win the job and error goes
undetected. Why flag?
2. We have contingency reserve provision in the price
calculation – may be we adjust the loss if we win the
contract
b. Talk to your Boss and set a chain of action in motion
irrespective of personal consequences.
c. Blame it on Finance Manager. Tax calculation is not
your expertise.
Work Ethics – Be Dependable
THE DECISION :

Option B. Arun had the courage to call Commercial

Head/ CEO late in the evening to flag the mistake.
Global head was appraised and revised price was
approved. Contract was lost. But gave an opportunity
to critically look into the process and set it right.
While Arun was appreciated for his dependability but
was asked to be more proactive in the process.