Working Only in Areas of Competence

Scenario

You are a skilled and experienced software engineer, proficient in building web applications and database management systems. You take pride in your expertise, and your reputation for delivering quality work precedes you.

One day, your company assigns you a project that involves developing a complex artificial intelligence system for autonomous vehicles, a domain you have little experience in. You feel uneasy about this assignment, knowing that it requires specialized knowledge and expertise in machine learning and computer vision, which are not your strengths. As the project progresses, you struggle to grasp the technologies’ intricacies. You realize you cannot handle such a sophisticated system despite your best efforts. You begin questioning your abilities and worry that your lack of expertise will compromise the project’s success.

Now, you must decide whether to continue struggling with the project, risking its success and compromising your principles, or to communicate honestly with your team about your limitations and be ready for the potential consequences.

You are caught between your desire to succeed and the ethical responsibility to work only in areas where you have the necessary skills. What do you do in this scenario?