DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Assess the ethics of buying-in on a cost-and- materials project from both the perspective of the categorical imperative (pages 16-17) and utilitarianism (pages 42-43). 2. Are there circumstances in which buying-in on a cost-and-materials contract could be illegal? If so, state them. 3. Suppose you learn through the grapevine that your opponents in a competitive bid are buying-in on a time-and-materials contract. Does this change your answer to question 1? 4. Suppose you are a project manager who is preparing a request for a proposal on a cost-and- materials systems development project. What can you do to prevent buy-ins? 5. Under what circumstances do you think buying-in on a fixed- price contract is ethical? Use either the categorical imperative or utilitarian perspective or both. What are the dangers of this strategy? 6. Explain why in-house development projects are always time-and-materials projects. 7. Given your answer to question 5, assess the ethics of buying-in on an in-house project from the perspective of the categorical imperative and utilitarianism. Are there circumstances that will change your ethical assessment? If so, state what they are and why. 8. Suppose you ask a senior manager for advice as described in the guide. Does the manager's response absolve you of ethical responsibility? Suppose you ask the manager and then do not follow her guidance. What problems could result? 9. Explain how you can buy-in on schedule as well as costs. 10. For an in-house project, what is an ethical response to the marketing manager who says the project should be canceled if it will not be ready for the trade show? In your answer, suppose that you disagree with this opinion because you know the system has value regardless of whether it is done by the trade show.