White paper

• Sep 25, 2017

• #2

KootK

Structural

Oct 16, 2001

18,690

CA

I'd take a white paper to be a statement of opinion implying no professional responsibility whatsoever. Quite similar to a published research paper or a journal article. Perhaps even less weighty than those owing to the less rigorous requirements for peer review. Sounds to me like you're in judgment-land.

Can we see this white paper?


I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

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• Sep 25, 2017

• Thread starter
• #3

StrP88

Civil/Environmental

Feb 4, 2016

189

US

KootK (Structural,
Ha that's the issue. The consulting company has asked handful money for a white paper. The white paper is not prepared to us yet.
I wanted to explore the legality and soundness of the document to decide if is worth it to grant them the work

 

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• Sep 25, 2017

• #4

KootK

Structural

Oct 16, 2001

18,690

CA

Well, if the other guys are experts at what they do, then I'd say that holds some water. Still though, it's still your stamp on everything all the live long day.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

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• Sep 25, 2017

• #5

hokie66

Structural

Jul 19, 2006

23,557

AU

I only know that term to refer to reports made by, or commissioned by, governments.

 

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• Sep 26, 2017

• #6

MotorCity

Structural

Dec 29, 2003

1,787

US

I have found that a white paper is merely an (usually unpublished) article on a technical topic. In other words, the author puts in out there for all to read, but it may or may not be in a printed trade publication. As with any article, you should consider the source and take it with a grain of salt. Unless it is signed and sealed, I would think it has no legal standing. As for you taking action based on information from a white paper, I think it comes down to the standard of care in terms of what is generally accepted by the engineering community. Did you find some obscure "white paper" on the internet or was it a white paper endorsed by a respected professional organization or written by a widely known and accepted expert in the field? If publishing wrong information was illegal, we would not have the internet!

 

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• Sep 26, 2017

• #7

WARose

Structural

Mar 17, 2011

5,594

US

Like the others have said: I'd take just about any white paper with a grain of salt. In many instances, companies just have them on their web site as marketing tools. (In part to get them to show up in on-line searches.)

They are typically too nebulous to run with anyway.

 

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• Sep 26, 2017

• #8

dik

Structural

Apr 13, 2001

26,126

CA

...even with technical papers, I read them, and then use my own judgement.

Dik

 

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• Sep 26, 2017

• #9

IRstuff

Aerospace

Jun 3, 2002

44,904

US

Is the structural issue a safety issue? Is the consultant a PE? If yes to both, then the consultant is behaving unethically, essentially withholding his duty-bound responsibility to public safety for cash.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

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• Sep 26, 2017

• #10

dik

Structural

Apr 13, 2001

26,126

CA

IRS:
We don't know if he is 'selling out'. It may be an opinion of a PE, or some other tekkie... and if he's an expert (at least in law) the value of his opinion has weight, and, greater weight if he is a recognised expert.

Even with experts, I weigh the information and use my own judgement...

Dik

 

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