Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Introduction
What do we mean by Ethics? a body of moral principles Standards, rules and guidelines Socially approved conduct Distinguished from matters of legality A set of rules and behaviors
Professional Ethics
Who Decides? Standards adopted by Professional Community IEM, BOE,ASME, etc. May conflict with personal ethics Case studies used to set examples, standards
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. a) If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate. b) Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards. c) Engineers shall not reveal facts, data or information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by law or this Code. d) Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in business ventures with any person or firm that they believe are engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise. e) Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required.
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Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties. Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with the work for which they are responsible. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental or quasi-governmental body or department shall not participate in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organizations in private or public engineering practice. Engineers shall not solicit or accept a contract from a governmental body on which a principal or officer of their organization serves as a member.
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Social Contract
Service
Promoting well being of general public Ensuring competence of professionals
Self-Regulation
Create and enforce high standards Autonomy
Responsible Engineering
What we do matters a great deal
Accidents are costly Public health at stake Environmental impact
Formulate an Opinion
As engineers we do not have the luxury of postponing questions or leaving a question unresolved Decide which of the compelling viewpoints is the most compelling The committee approach (voting) is advantageous because the decision is representative of the general public
Case Studies
Engineering ethics is often times best explained through the use of case studies. Case studies allow examples of good and bad decision making in a real world context.
Credit for Engineering Work Introduction Engineer A is designing a bridge as part of an elevated highway system Engineer B is asked to help with the design and helps design critical elements of the bridge. Engineer A enters the bridge design into a national competition and wins, but fails to credit Engineer B for her part in the design.
Credit for Engineering Work Question Was it ethical for Engineer A to fail to give credit to Engineer B for her part in the design?
Code of Ethics References Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements or testimony. Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice which is likely to discredit the profession or deceive the public. Engineers shall not accept financial or other considerations, including free engineering designs, from material or equipment suppliers for specifying their product. Engineers shall, whenever possible, name the person or persons who may be individually responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments.
An Engineers Right to Protest Introduction, continued After an extended disagreement about the subcontractors work, management places a warning in Kims file and places Kim on probation, warning of future termination
An Engineers Right to Protest Question Does Engineer A have an ethical obligation, or an ethical right, to continue his efforts to secure change in the policy of his employer under these circumstances, or to report his concerns to proper authority?
Withdrawal of Offer
Peter, an unemployed graduate engineer who recently received certification as an Graduate Engineer, is seeking employment with a consulting firm. Peter is contacted by Engineer A, a principal with a large consulting firm. After a long discussion including such matters as working conditions, salary, benefits, etc. Engineer A offers and Peter accepts a position with the firm. Peter cancels several additional job interviews with other individuals.
Withdrawal of Offer
Two days later, in a meeting with other principals of the firm, it was agreed by the firm's management, including Engineer A, that the vacancy should be filled by an engineering technician. Not until a week and a half later did Engineer A contact Peter and rescind the firm's offer. Did the actions of Engineer A in his relations with Smith constitute unethical conduct?
Withdrawal of Offer
Discussion: Engineers should be faithful to employer. Employer should disclose fully all information to employees on working conditions and other conditions of employment. Just as a prospective engineer employee has an obligation to act in good faith with a potential employer, an engineer employer owes a duty to deal honestly, fairly and openly with a prospective engineer employee.
Withdrawal of Offer
Engineer A knowingly made commitments to Peter which were relied and acted upon by Peter. Engineer A, as a principal in the firm, knew or should have known all necessary facts and circumstances involved in filling the vacancy in the firm. Engineer A let a week and a half pass before informing Peter that the offer had been rescinded. The actions of Engineer A, in his relations with Peter, constituted unethical conduct. Furthermore, the involvement of all the principals of the firm, in connection with the withdrawal of the employment offer, constituted unethical conduct.
Engineering Disaster
The Ford Pinto Case
not to weigh an ounce over 2000 pounds and not to cost a cent over $2000. Lee Iacocca Crash tests reveal defect in gas tank Rear-end collisions over 25 mph resulted in rupture and explosion
$11 at manufacture stage would have fixed problems Refused on Cost-Benefit analysis
Cost to make safe cars 12.5 million cars x $11 = $137 million Benefits 180 Deaths, 180 Injured, 2100 Burned Cars = $ 49.5 million
Ford Pays
Lawsuits and personal injury cases total over $450 million even as Ford continues to argue the car was safe if driven correctly Over 500 documented deaths related to rear-end collisions in Pintos Company nearly folds after lawsuits and lack of trust in Ford products
Pinto Debate
Who is to blame for Fords design?
Chairman, Engineer, Designer
Was the decision making unethical? Is cost-benefit analysis a reliable ethics technique?