Engineering Ethics

What are Ethics?

Engineering Ethics

How are Ethics relevant to the engineering discipline?

As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.I pledge:•To give the utmost of performance;•To participate in none but honest enterprise;•To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct;•To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations.In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

Adopted by National Society of Professional Engineers, June 1954

Engineering Ethics

How are Ethics relevant to engineering design?

To design means to “accept responsibility for creating designs for people” [1].

[1] C.L. Dym, P. Little, “Ethics in Design,” in Engineering Design, 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009, ch. 12, pp. 294.

Engineering Ethics

Parallels in Engineering Design and Ethical Decision MakingA uniquely correct response is rarely possibleSome solutions better than others

Engineering Ethics

How are Ethics related to the law?

Engineering Ethics

How are Ethics related to the law?

Legal / Ethical Illegal / Ethical

Legal / Unethical Illegal / Unethical

Engineering Ethics

How are Ethics learned?

Values held common by many Values worked out by human societies For ethical situations unique to a profession, codes of ethics act as guides

Professional Ethics ASCE (Civil Engineering) http://www.asce.org/Ethics/ASCE-Code-of-Ethics/

ASME (Mechanical Engineering) http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/governance/3675.pdf

IEEE (Electrical Engineering) http://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html

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Professional Ethics National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

◦ http://www.nspe.org/resources/pdfs/Ethics/CodeofEthics/Code-2007-July.pdf

International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)◦ http://www.incose.org/about/ethics.aspx

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Handling Ethical Conflicts

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Relevant Ethical Discussion

USAToday report:◦ Larry Copeland, “35 educators indicted in Atlanta

cheating scandal”, USAToday, 3/31/13

Selected quotes:“A grand jury today indicted 35 Atlanta educators on racketeering and other charges in the 4-year-old Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal…”

“state investigators found that cheating occurred at 44 Atlanta schools and involved 178 educators, including 38 principals…”

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School Cheating Scandal

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2013/04/02/exp-nr-atlanta-schools-cheating-scandal.cnn Accessed: 11/5/2013

Only need first minute summary◦ This story first came to light in 2011◦ Indictments of educators, administrators, on 4/2/13.

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School Cheating ScandalEthical Dilemma(s)?Who are the stakeholders?How are the stakeholders affected?What are the ethical standards that have been violated?What would have been other alternatives – how would this have impacted the outcome?

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School Cheating Scandal

New scenario: Engineering professors just ‘gave you a grade’ because it was easier for everyone.

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Evaluating Ethical Dilemmas

1. Identify the Ethical Question2. Identify the stakeholders impacted by the ethical

situation3. How are the stakeholders affected? What are there

motivating factors?4. Consider Ethical codes and theories5. How do these codes / theories apply to different

decisions made about the ethical situation6. Analyze different possible actions and alternatives7. Choose an action based on thoughtful assessment of

impacts

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Professional Ethics Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public

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Professional Ethics Perform services only in areas of their competence.

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Professional Ethics Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

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Professional Ethics Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

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Professional Ethics Avoid deceptive acts.

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Professional Ethics Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

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REQUIRED READING Due: Tuesday, April 15

To Ship or Not to Ship – Example Ethical Case Study◦ http://ethics.tamu.edu/Portals/3/1995Cases/

MechanicalEngCase/ship%20or%20not%20to%20ship.pdf

◦ Read and analyze for next class – this exercise will assist in your upcoming assignment!◦ Ethics Evaluation Paper

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