Ethics? Over reaction? LO22357
Kathy Toner (ktoner@cats.ucsc.edu)
Wed, 28 Jul 1999 08:32:05 -0700
I need some advice! Yesterday, I and a few colleagues met with a training
materials vendor to review their skill-building training product....their
3 series include interpersonal communication, team building nd customer
service skills. We went through one 1-hour module and I quickly reviewed
several others. In addition to other concerns with the quality,
methodology and usefulness, I was troubled by the lack of references or
attribution where others' ideas were used. The example I'm thinking about
were a few modules with nicely printed participant workbooks and
facilitator guides teaching about "undiscussables" and learning how to
speak from the "left hand" column. I know these ideas from the 5th
Discipline Fieldbook--but I did not find, nor could the salesman direct me
to any references or attribution. I've loaned my Fieldbook, but I would
guess it would provide for free reproduction and use of materials, if the
source is acknowledged. And I would guess that the authors would be
delighted that their ideas are being used...I agree, it's great if people
discuss their undiscussables....BUT.....
We all rely on others' ideas, at least I do, and I don't always (but often
do) footnote or reference, especially ideas that have been in the public
domain for a long time,and researched and worked on by many...but when we
are developing trainings esp. training products and using/selling these,
when is it ethically acceptable to use ideas and not attribute? And when
is it not acceptable?
In short, I was disturbed by the vendor's lack of acknowledgement,
especially when the concept and activity seem to be directly borrowed from
anothers work--and results in a commercial product Am I overreacting?
What do you think???
--
Kathy Toner <ktoner@cats.ucsc.edu>
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