Real-Life Decision Making
You are a binder of fine books. Your specialty is hand-binding limited editions of art books for discerning clientele.
One day you are approached by an artist who wants you to make an oversized book. It is a very large project. His personal copies of his prints span 30 years of his work. You cannot afford to make a mistake.
The artist assures you that cost is no object. He would like to set a deadline, as he will be leaving on a tour of Europe and wants to take the book with him.
Right away, you recognize that there may be a problem finding the oversized materials for binding the book properly. You prefer not to work with materials that are cut across the grain, as there will inevitably be some warping or twisting of the binding.
You advise the artist that you must place special orders for oversized materials from your suppliers. You may or may not be able to obtain these special materials. He agrees and asks if you can meet the deadline.
You will have three months to finish this book. He goes on to say that the reason he has chosen you is that he has done considerable research on finding a binder whose skills are impeccable. In his opinion, you are the best in the business.
Flattered and challenged, you agree to take on this superhuman effort. You tell the artist that yes, you are sure that you can overcome any apparent problems. The artist begins to choose materials from your samples.
He is adamant about his choice of very expensive paper and also chooses only the best quality linens, silks and leathers for the covers. He has drafted a design for the highly ornate leather cover. You agree that it can be done under his supervision.
You spend the next six weeks ordering the materials and are alarmed at the accumulating costs. You advise your client. He tells you no problem and to go ahead with his book. He visits your studio on a regular basis, supervising the ornamentation of the leather cover.
Finally, you are ready to add the endpapers, attach the boards and cover the book. The artist is still not satisfied with his design of the cover. He wants to make last-minute embellishments to the leather tooling.
You only have two weeks left before he leaves on his European tour. Still flattered that he chose you to bind his book, you agree to work night and day until the cover is finished to his satisfaction.
Then, to your horror, you notice that one of the parchment dividers has a flaw, a small imperfection in the calf hide. You had never used real animal skin parchment before. Although you have the grain of all the parchment dividers placed in the correct direction and there should be no warping or twisting, there is a tiny hole you had not noticed before!
What do you do?