Real-Life Decision Making
Optical engineers deal not just with numbers, light and instruments, but
with real people too. Optical engineers may be asked to consult with clients
and to provide feedback on projects. Communication is important. Sometimes
poor communication can result in a botched job.
You are an optical engineer who has just been hired by a new client. You
have been consulting with clients for a while, but this job is different because
you are the supervisor, or senior projects engineer. You are geared up to
do well.
One Monday morning, you and the client, Mr. Stone, meet for a couple hours
to discuss the project. His company wants to design a music CD that, when
played, creates a hologram in front of the listener. Watchers of the hologram
will see the musicians groove right in front of their very eyes.
Of course, the project is going to be very complicated. You are happy to
hear that Mr. Stone will not demo the CD until six months from now. You shake
hands, Mr. Stone leaves and you begin outlining the process. Time is going
to be tight. You agree to meet again in two weeks to discuss progress.
You and Mr. Stone meet again. He seems a little stressed out and tells
you that he's sorry, but he has made a mistake. He doesn't want holograms
to be produced when you play a music CD. He wants to create holograms with
DVDs or movies. And it will not be a hologram of the entire movie,
but just a brief 10-minute hologram of the lead actor talking to the audience.
Mr. Stone says that this hologram can even be placed on a separate DVD.
You look at all the elaborate outlines you have drawn out and the big plans.
You softly sigh. You have learned that these things happen. You nod and ask
to postpone the meeting until next week. He agrees. You shake on it.
The next week, you come fully prepared with your schedule and planned design.
You are guiding Mr. Stone through the process and tell him that you will be
able to test the design in five months. From there, you can tweak the design.
"Five months?" he shouts. "My boss wants to see the actor hologram in three
and a half months."
What do you do?