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From: rupp@noscvax.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Newsgroups: net.columbia,net.space
Subject: Re: Morton-Thiokol Engineering Claims
Message-ID: <267@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Mar-86 12:23:30 EST
Article-I.D.: noscvax.267
Posted: Thu Mar 13 12:23:30 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 20:07:18 EST
References: <1301@decwrl.DEC.COM> <758@ism780c.UUCP> <6486@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 23
Xref: watmath net.columbia:2650 net.space:6450
Summary: Too little time to resign?

In article <6486@utzoo.UUCP>, henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) writes:
> > You can not go to the press unless the manager's judgement is so bad
> > that you are sure disaster will occur.  (Not probably occur, WILL occur).
> 
> Either they weren't sure, in which case some of the more hysterical finger-
> pointing at management is out of order, or they were, in which case they
> take a large share of the blame.  They can't have it neither way.
> 
> Incidentally, it is possible to resign without holding a press conference.
> If management overrules you on something important, and you know damn well
> that you know the score and they don't, how can you ethically stay with
> that management?  Why were there no quiet resignations at M-T?
> -- 
> 				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology

I tend to agree with those who feel that the engineers did about all they
could to protest the dangerous decision of management, considering their
status in the organization.  It is certainly easy to say after the fact that
they should have done thus and so.  Regarding Mr. Spencer's idea that they
should have resigned quietly, is that realistic considering the time frame
involved?  Was there really time to resign, quietly or
otherwise?  I do believe that in a situation drawn out over many days or
weeks, the quiet resignation option could be appropriate.