Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You don't take the job.
You tell your partner that taking the job is the wrong thing to do and
if, for some reason, you destroy the portrait due to the application of the
cheaper solvent, the reputation of the company will be destroyed. It's
not worth sacrificing your reputation in order to gain a customer.
You explain to your customer that, in your experience, there is no way
you can do an adequate job for under $2,000.
"Many of our decisions in this area are guided by knowledge of applied
science, applied chemistry, and by intuition that is garnered from experience,
says restorer Sarah Spafford-Ricci.
"With lots of money available, you can almost always do a perfect job.
However, in the world of private conservation, there are bound to be tight
budgets, restricting what can be done in a treatment.
"The consequences of poor decision making are quite great,
since many of these objects have high cultural or financial value."
The customer agrees with your evaluation and is wondering if she can pay
you the extra $500 in installments. You agree and start working on the portrait
that night.