Question

Your company sent several staff members for UML training. An outside vendor provided the training. Everyone who attended the training received a copy of the instructor’s materials, which included study guides and sample exam questions and solutions.After completing the training course, you are eligible to sit a certification exam. If you pass the exam, you will be credentialed as a "UML Expert" by an independent agency. You can parlay these credentials into a higher salary and boost your career.A coworker who did not attend the training asks for a copy of the training materials.He wants to take the exam without "wasting his time in class." Should you give him a copy of the training materials? If you do, how might this diminish your accomplishments? If you don’t, would you be hurting the team by not helping another member become more knowledgeable about the UML?

Answer 1

This a purely ethic question. Both options have their pros and cons. But there is a reason why the wisest thing to do, would be not giving him the training materials.

You attended the training course, which required time, effort, and dedication to complete, why you did this? Because you want to grow, you want to get your credentials and achieve greater things, that is why you are willing to invest your resources in the course. Your coworker seems to consider this "a waste of time", which implies that you wasted your time attending the training course. This reveals that maybe he is not as committed as you are to his cause, and his recklessness may cause him (and you) trouble. Your accomplishments will be diminished because you will give away something you worked hard for, to someone who did not do anything to deserve.

By not giving him the materials, you will not hurt the team, because if this person wanted to be a qualified member, and get his credential, he could have attended to the training, in the end, even after giving him the training materials, there is no way to know that he will not fail the test, because he didn't pay attention to the class. This person is hurting the team on his own with his lack of commitment and responsibility.