Electricity + Control October 2016

COMMENT

W ell, Moody’s says 30% likelihood of a down- grade. Whereas it’s not 0%, as a colleague said, it’s not 50% ... (oh, joy). The challenges facing our industry remain im- mense. Notwithstanding the fact that there seems to be a growing positive sentiment out there (al- though you do need to look quite hard to find it), many hurdles to growth and development remain obstinately in place. Over the years I have made similar ‘cautioning’ comments – because, just as things seem to turn, the effort exerted to get something back on the road is swept aside by individuals (generally) who swing things by either their actions (or lack thereof). What encourages me is the deeper sense that many ordinary business people are fast losing their patience in this space. It makes one realise that we need to move forward irrespective of the support we get from laws and policies and national, local and city leadership. This sounds rather droll, but the fact is we need to take responsibility for our own success – and let that, and that alone, guide the way we do business. Which brings me to the issue of ethics. When I engage with young people, I describe ethics as our guide in the absence of rules. I consider this to be a fair description. The question, then, is why do we have rules to guide ethics – if ethics, we say, guide our behaviour in the absence of rules?

ethical ... but it is an armaments company. I have no problemwith that. It can be an exciting environment inwhich towork. Though not everyone would agree. And there it is. We formulate ethical rules and rules of common behaviour to try to capture the best ap- proach we can, because not everyone necessarily shares the same ethics. There are many examples of this in business and in our own lives. But, in essence, we need to be ethical in what we do and how we do it; and always ensure that our deci- sions are based precisely on our desire to be ethical. As this comment has been prompted by recent de- velopments in the LV protection industry, I cannot avoid the elephant in the room: At no point should business interests override issues such as human safety, protection of property, and the like. I simply cannot imagine how those who should know better do not consider these things. Frankly, if you are marketing and selling products into our industry, best you fully understand those products – what they are and what they are not.

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And if a simple test can make the case – then do the test.

Electricity+Control is supported by:

Ian Jandrell Pr Eng, BSc (Eng) GDE PhD, FSAIEE SMIEEE

(We will get there!)

In essence, an ethical approach to anything means a fundamental commitment to do the least harm. Interestingly, sometimes harm is done (think, for example, of a medical experiment) but the test is: Is the good greater than the harm?

Secondly, an ethical approach entails honesty in everything one does.

Nothing can be clearer: Do least harm; and be honest.

Now, in business, in research, in industry – ethics are governed by rules, and forms, and committees – and not just by what is in our heads. It is not easy to articulate the reason for this – but I guess a clue would be that an armaments companymight well be

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA, IESSA or the Copper Development Association Africa

October ‘16 Electricity+Control

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