CVS Ethics and Continuous Improvement 2

Question 1

A CVS discovers that a value study sponsor wants the team to inflate projected savings to justify a predetermined design change. What is the most ethical response?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to misrepresent the findings and report only validated savings estimates

Answer

Inflate the savings slightly since the sponsor pays for the study

Answer

Report inflated savings but note assumptions in an appendix

Answer

Withdraw quietly from the study without explanation

Question 2

During a value engineering workshop, a team member proposes an alternative that closely resembles a competitor's patented design. The CVS facilitator should:

Accepted Answer

Flag the potential intellectual property issue and have it reviewed before development

Answer

Develop the idea since workshop ideas are exempt from patent law

Answer

Discard the idea immediately without documentation

Answer

Present it to the client without mentioning the patent concern

Question 3

Which practice best demonstrates continuous improvement of a value program at the organizational level?

Accepted Answer

Conducting post-study audits that compare implemented savings against workshop projections

Answer

Repeating the identical workshop agenda for every project

Answer

Limiting value studies to projects that previously succeeded

Answer

Increasing the number of ideas generated without tracking implementation

Question 4

A CVS is asked to lead a value study on a project where their spouse owns stock in the primary contractor. The CVS should:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the conflict of interest to the client before accepting the engagement

Answer

Accept the engagement since spousal holdings are not the CVS's own

Answer

Accept and simply avoid discussing contractor selection

Answer

Sell the stock after the study concludes

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of a lessons-learned session held after a value study?

Accepted Answer

To capture process insights that improve future value studies

Answer

To assign blame for ideas that were rejected

Answer

To renegotiate the facilitator's fee

Answer

To document only the ideas that were implemented

Question 6

A CVS maintaining certification is ethically obligated to claim continuing education credits only for:

Accepted Answer

Activities actually completed that meet the recertification requirements

Answer

Any activity loosely related to engineering, completed or not

Answer

Events they registered for even if they did not attend

Answer

Activities completed by colleagues on the same team

Question 7

During a workshop, a senior client executive dominates discussion and dismisses junior members' ideas. The ethical and effective facilitator response is to:

Accepted Answer

Use facilitation techniques that ensure all participants can contribute equally

Answer

Allow the executive to lead since they control the budget

Answer

Privately tell junior members their ideas will be ignored

Answer

End the creativity phase early to avoid conflict