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Ethical Issues

14 replies [Last post]
Tue, 2007-11-06 23:26
Khalil Masoud
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Gentlement;

I work as claims specialist for the consultant in a construction project. My friend is a project manager (Contractor) for (ANOTHER) project which belongs to the same client that my project belongs to. He asked me to help him to prepare an Extension of Time claim for his project to be sent to his client who is also, by coincidence, my client!!!!
IS IT AN ETHICAL CONDUCT IF I HELPED MY FRIEND TO PREPARE HIS CLAIM FOR HIS PROJECT WHICH IS COMPLETELY SEPERATE FROM MY PROJECT, BUT THE CLIENT IS THE SAME....
Thank you
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Replies

Fri, 2007-11-09 15:02
#1
Christian Adrian ...
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Only Dubai?? What about Abu Dhabi??

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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:41
#2
James Griffiths
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Ok then, bo**ocks to the beer....I’ll just go for the hug.

Anyone up for it???
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:37
#3
Khalil Masoud
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My friend is conservative and doesn’t drink!!!hahaha, its okay guys I already advised him to seek help from his head office and he will join the PP very soon. Invite you for beer next claim James, James & Atkins hahaha
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:32
#4
James Griffiths
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Shall we all go to Dubai, have a beer and a group-hug?
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:24
#5
James Barnes
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Gerome’s idea is a very good one.

Invite him to PP!
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:23
#6
Jerome Atkin
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buy me a beer and i’ll meet you on night in Dubai !!!
Tell him to bring a laptop and the programme and i’ll get him on his way. !!!
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:21
#7
Khalil Masoud
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Good suggestion Atkin haha... I appreciate that but you know such topics for ppl experiencing this for the first time in their life need to be illustrated face to face like the case with my friend, that is why I am keen to find way help him. All your discussions guys are valuable although not similar.
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:13
#8
Jerome Atkin
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or get him to post on PP and ill help him !!!
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:11
#9
Jerome Atkin
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James,

Sorry if my post read any different.
Over a beer would be the best way to get this information to him...
Sorry forgot to say any advice on work issues where the same client is involved should be done off work time. !

All i ment was give his the information but make him sort out the tools for the job !
I would not see how some advice could be a blame tool later on.
It is up to your friend to sort out his mess, not you.
But i do not see any harm in giving him a lession on "how"
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Wed, 2007-11-07 06:07
#10
James Barnes
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meh, I know what you’re saying Gerome but that’s a fine line to tread. The politics could pan out that your boss asks you "did you help this person to the detriment of our client or not?" long explanations about yes I did but only giving guidance etc ect would likely fall on deaf ears.

As for keeping a friendship intact, if a friend of mine decided he didn’t want ot be my friend any more because I refused to do something for him that might threaten my livelyhood, then I’d know why he had been my friend in the first place.

Certainly a bit of verbal advice over a beer or something, but I’d be very careful indeed of going any further.
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Wed, 2007-11-07 05:57
#11
Jerome Atkin
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There are many way in which you can help your friend without putting you stamp on it !!
You could first teach him how to identify the best type of analysis to apply to his plan.
Tell him to get the baseline correct, no minus lag, stupid constraints (zero free float, etc), Logic, correct use of milestones etc. All activities have a predecessor and successor. This can be done very simple by running a schedule report. Checking each item to ensure they are applied correctly.
Any changes he makes to his baseline must be logged down in a spreadsheet. Listing all information and comments on why the change was made.
Make sure he copies the baseline first before changing it, so if anyone applies his changes which he has entered in the spreadsheet they will come up with the same revised baseline plan.
Once his plan is robust he can than start using the impact technique.
Again I do not think you have to do it for him, I would think your advice and guidance would be enough to help him understand what is needed. He could then instruct his planner do to the impact.

This should keep your name out of the way and still ensure your friendship stays intact.
I would not think you would get in trouble by giving advice.
Do not do any of the work on his plan yourself; do not look at it as you could really find yourself in hot water with your company and the client.
Hope this helps.
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Wed, 2007-11-07 05:56
#12
Khalil Masoud
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James & James;

Thank you for your advice, I was really confused but your advice helped me endup with the right conclusion.
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Wed, 2007-11-07 05:33
#13
James Barnes
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Kahlil

I basically agree with James. From what you said, I assume that you would be "helping" your friend as a favour rather than as part of your work for your employer (the consultant you work for)?

In this case stay well away. You can only lose. Explain the situation to your friend. He or she should understand.

Conflict of Interest is indeed the active phrase here
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Wed, 2007-11-07 03:50
#14
James Griffiths
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Hi Khalil,

You are in an interesting position, here!!!

In my opinion, there IS a CONFLICT OF INTEREST and you should not become involved. By all means offer your friend some guidance on the principles of preparing an EOT claim. However, you must not make an independent assessment of his case.

If your friend’s claim is successful, and your client discovers that YOU helped him, your client is likely to be extremely upset and try to get you fired. Moreover, if it goes to court, you will be considered to be biased and that the evidence may have been "doctored". On the other hand: if your friend’s claim fails - your friend might blame you for not having prepared him properly.

You are in a Lose-Lose situation here. Stay well away.

James.
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