FACULTY OF ENGNEERNG

COMPUTER ENGNEERNG
DEPARTMENT
2016

ENGNEERNG ETHCS
chapter 4 : Ethical Problem-Solving
Techniques

Introduction
Nearly everything an engineer designs has
some health or safety risk associated with it.
Mention some of them ?

The exact nature of the hazard is only poorly

understood.
How then does an engineer decide whether it
is ethical to work on a particular product or
process?
What tools are there for an engineer who
needs to decide which is the ethically correct
path to take?

Introduction
The problem is how to analyze and resolve
ethical dilemmas when they occur.
In solving engineering problems, it is always
tempting to look for an appropriate formula,
plug in the numbers, and calculate an answer.
This approach is less useful for ethical problem
solving.
There are theories that help us to frame our
understanding of the problem, but there are
no formulas and no easy plug-and-chug
This chapter will show how to analyze problems
from an ethical viewpoint.

Analyzing Ethical
Problems
1st Step completely understand all issues
involved
Understanding these issues helps to put an ethical
problem in the
proper framework and often helps point the way to a
solution.
Issues involved in understanding ethical problems can be
split into three categories.

Types of Issues in
Ethical Problem Solving
Factual issues :
what is actually known about a case?
What the facts are?
Facts of a particular case are not always clear and may be
controversial.
Factual issues can often be resolved through research to establish
the truth.
For example, global warming is of great concern to society as we
continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat in the
atmosphere.
This is thought by climate scientists to lead to a generalized
warming of the atmosphere as emissions from automobiles and
industrial plants
is a controversial topic !!!!

Types of Issues in
Ethical Problem Solving
Conceptual Issues

applicability of an idea.

the meaning or

In engineering ethics, this might mean defining what crete a

bribe as opposed to an acceptable gift, or determining whether
certain business information is proprietary.
What isnt known is whether accepting it will lead to unfair
influence on a business decision.
For example, conceptually it must be determined if the gift of
tickets to a sporting event by a potential supplier of parts for
your project is meant to influence your decision or is just a nice
gesture between friends.
Conceptual issues are not always clear-cut and will often result
in controversy as well.
Conceptual issues are resolved by agreeing on themeaning and
applicability of terms and concepts

Types of Issues in
Ethical Problem Solving
Moral which moral principle is applicable to the

situation.

Once the factual and conceptual issues have been resolved,

what remains is to determine which moral principle is
applicable to the situation.
Once the problem is defined, Resolution of moral issues is
obvious
In our example of a gift offered by a sales representative,
once it is determined whether it is simply a gift or is really a
bribe, then the appropriate action is obvious.
If we determine that it is indeed a bribe, then it cannot
ethically be accepted.

Application to a Case Study: Paradyne Computers

In 1980, Paradyne, a computer company, bid to supply the Social
Security Administration (SSA) with new computer systems.
Well look at the factual issues first.
Paradyne didnt have any system running & never tested the
operating system on it.
The employment of a former SSA worker by Paradyne to help lobby
SSA for the contract is also clear.
The conceptual issues involve whether bidding to provide an offthe-shelf product when the actual product is only in the planning
stages is lying or is an acceptable business practice.
Is placing a Paradyne label over the real manufacturers label
deceptive?
Does lobbying your former employer on behalf of your current
employer constitute a conflict of interest?
The moral issues then include the following:
Is lying an acceptable business practice?
Is it alright to be deceptive if doing so allows your company to get
a contract?
The answers : ?????

Two analysis techniques

Line Drawing
Flow Charting

Line Drawing
Useful for situations in which the applicable moral
principles are clear, but there seems to be a great deal of
gray area about which ethical principle applies.
Draw a line, at one end is placed the positive
paradigm, an example of some-thing that is
unambiguously morally acceptable.
At the other end, negative paradigm, an example of
something that is unambiguously not morally acceptable,
is placed.
In between is placed the problem under consideration.
Those examples that more closely conform to the
positive paradigm are placed near it, and examples
closer to the negative paradigm are placed near that
paradigm
Problem under consideration is placed in the appropriate
place along the line to determine whether the problem is
more like the positive or negative>

Elementary line-drawing
technique
Negative paradigm
(NP)

Positive paradigm
(PP)

Example - Problem 1
Dispose of a little hazardous waste into
lake.
Water source for nearby town.
EPA limit 10 ppm.
Average concentration of disposal 5
ppm
Expect no health problems.
Person not able to detect (taste) compound.

Problem 1 hypothetical
considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Dump 5 ppm waste in lake; harmless, but

unusual taste.
Towns water-treatment system can effectively
remove waste.
Town can remove waste with company-purchased
equipment.
Town can remove waste with taxpayer-purchased
equipment.
Occasional (rare) illness, lasts for an hour.
At 5 ppm people get fairly sick, lasts one week,
no long term effect.
Special equipment can reduce ppm to 1.

Hypotheticals on line and

problem estimate
Negative paradigm

Positive paradigm

(NP)

(PP)

6 5

4 1 P 7 2,3

Flow Charting
Helpful when there is a sequence of events or a series of
consequences that flows from each decision.
Gives a visual picture and readily allows one to see
results of each decision.

Elementary flow chart

Operation

Decision

Example - Problem 2
We can illustrate this technique by applying a simple fl ow
chart to a disaster that happened at Union Carbides plant in
Bhopal, India.
Next flow chart illustrates the decision-making process that
might have gone on at Union Carbide as they decided
whether or not to build a plant at Bhopal
Should Union Carbide build a plant at Bhophal? Investigate
Laws.
Safety standards.
Cost considerations.

Union Carbide
-Flow Chart

Another possible Flow Chart of Union

Carbide

Bribery vs. Gifts

Since the difference between a gift and a bribe can be
ambiguous, it is important to avoid even the appearance
of a bribe
Bribery is illegal because it inhibits competition of a free
market economy

Bribery vs. Gifts

Bribery the practice of offering something, usually
money, in order to gain an illicit advantage
Gift something that is bestowed voluntarily and without
compensation

Bribery vs. Gifts

Examples of

Bribes
Large sums of money
and items of large
monetary values often
cross that fine line

Gifts
Coffee mugs, t-shirts,
and pens are often seen
as simple promotional
items

Analyzing the Situation

3 Issues to Analyze
Factual Issue

Who offered the gift?

What is its purpose and value?
When was it offered?

Conceptual Issue
Determine if the gift has enough value to influence
decision

Moral Issue
Once the facts and concepts are analyzed, the moral
issues are clear

Avoiding Bribes
How can you determine if something is a bribe or gift?
Use line drawing technique
Use flow chart to examine consequences of actions
Adhere to company policy
Seek approval from management

Avoiding Bribes
New York Times Test

Could your actions withstand the

scrutiny of a newspaper reporter? Could
you stand to see your name in the
newspaper in an article about a gift you
received? If you couldnt easily defend
your action without resorting to selfserving rationalizations, then you
probably shouldnt do it.

Ethical Problem Solving

Techniques:
Addressing Airbus 330-300 Case
Study

Incident Summary

Airbus A330-300 departed Vancouver

Substantial amount of smoke and vapor seen emitting from

Engine 2
Emergency landing in Vancouver
Engine 2 shut down
Inspection showed fuel was leaking

Causal Factors

1. Incorrect entry on maintenance office duty board

Did not follow trouble shooting manual (TSM)
Unnecessarily removed LP fuel line from fuel/oil
heat exchanger
2. Unfamiliarity with Equipment
Retainer hidden from view
Did not use Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM)
3. Engine vibration caused detachment of fuel/oil
heat exchanger LP fuel line
Substantial leak from Engine 2

Line Drawing Causal Factor

1, 2
Negative Paradigm

Compliance with
TSM and AMM was
not achieved.

Positive
Paradigm
Compliance with
TSM and AMM was
achieved.

Negative Paradigm: The workers do not follow the Trouble Shooting Manual and
the Aircraft Maintenance Manual resulting in troubleshooting and performing
maintenance without reference
Positive Paradigm: The workers followed the Trouble Shooting Manual and
Aircraft Maintenance Manual so that all troubleshooting and maintenance is
performed with proper reference and guidance.

Flow Charting Causal

Factor 3
Preventive
fuel leak
inspection
needed on
aircraft

Proper
inspection with
use of
elevated
platform?

No
Perform
inspection with
use of elevated
platform

Yes

High-Power
Engine Run
Performed?

Yes

Fuel Leak
Detection
Implemented?

No
Perform
High-Power Engine Run

No
Implement Fuel Leak
Detection

Preventive Fuel
Leak Inspection
Performed

Yes

BELLS AMUSEMENT PARK

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

Accident Summary
April 20, 1997 Two roller coaster cars collided
on the Wildcat roller coaster
The two cars were going up a hill and an antirollback device failed to keep the first car on the
track and it slipped back and crashed into the car
behind it.
The roller coaster was inspected two weeks
before this accident.
One person was killed and five others were
injured.

Causal Factors
1. The chain dog was riding up on the
edge of the chain trough.

If the chain rides up the side of the car and

onto the left leg of the chain near the top
of the hill, the chain can disengage and
the car could slip.

2. Maintenance records/maintenance of
the roller coaster.

There was no documentation for scheduled

or nonscheduled maintenance of The
Wildcat, or for operating procedures.

Flowchart The chain dog Factor

Has the chain dog been
changed?

No

The Wildcat can

operate.

Yes

Has someone inspected the

changes?

No

A maintenance worker
must inspect the
changes.

No

Fix the height of the

chain dog and
inspect again.

Yes

Is the chain log at the proper

height?

Yes
The Wildcat can operate
properly.

Line Drawing-- Maintenance

Negative Paradigm

P
3
Documentation hinders
the performance of each
car.

Positive Paradigm

1.

Every time The Wildcat breaks down, it is documented.

2.

Operating procedure are followed for the most part.

3.

Operators havent been trained at all.

4.

Changes made to the car dont need to be written down.

5.

Proper part replacements should be followed.

Proper documentation
exists and the roller
coaster is acceptable.

Ethics Problem
Solving:
WHITESHELL AIR SERVICE LTD.
AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILURE

Accident Summary:
Airplane departed Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba without
incident
After plane was leveled in air, large backfire heard and
loss of engine power
Pilot landed plane in swampy area with minor and severe
injuries to passengers

Casual Factors
Incorrect installation of airplane
parts
Cylinder push rod tube
Valve adjustment screw protrusion beyond
limits
Caused damage to valve train exhaust valve
would not open overtime

Failure to properly inspect airplane

Field Barometric Power Reference Check
Valve clearance checks on 400-hr schedule

Line Drawing:
Installation of Parts

Incorrect

NP

PP

Airplane parts are

installed incorrectly
causing immediate,
fatal damage

1
Airplane parts
are installed
correctly

1. Parts are installed incorrectly, but corrected immediately

2. Parts are installed incorrectly, and cause minor damage overtime
3. Parts are installed incorrectly, but cause no damage overtime

Flow Chart:
Plane

Failure to Properly Inspect

Should plane be
inspected?

Have parts
been
replaced?

Yes
Inspect plane
before flying

No

Had last
Has pilot
Yes
Yes Inspect plane
Check within
noticed Irregular
before flying
400 hrs?
Sounds?

No
Inspect plane
before flying

No
Inspection
is not needed

Assignment
Work in group to
choose problem and get my permission
before you start sources of info on original
class schedule and syllabus document.
analyze problem using both techniques
shown today.
present your analysis in class using PPT.
send me one copy of your electronic file via
e-mail.
Due November 28th.

Groups 1 - 4
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4

Groups 5 - 8
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8

The End
QUESTIONS??