GE 6075-PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN ENGINEERING FAQ
FINAL YEAR, VIII- SEMESTER (B.Tech.IT)
SYLLABUS: (REGULATION 2013)
GE6075-PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN ENGINEERING L T P C 3 0 0 3
OBJECTIVES:
To enable the students to create an awareness on Engineering Ethics and Human Values, to instill Moral
and Social Values and Loyalty and to appreciate the rights of others.
UNIT I HUMAN VALUES 10
Morals, values and Ethics – Integrity – Work ethic – Service learning – Civic virtue – Respect for others –
Living peacefully – Caring – Sharing – Honesty – Courage – Valuing time – Cooperation – Commitment –
Empathy – Self confidence – Character – Spirituality – Introduction to Yoga and meditation for professional
excellence and stress management.
UNIT II ENGINEERING ETHICS 9
Senses of ‘Engineering Ethics’ – Variety of moral issues – Types of inquiry – Moral dilemmas –
Moral Autonomy – Kohlberg’s theory – Gilligan’s theory – Consensus and Controversy – Models
of professional roles – Theories about right action – Self-interest – Customs and Religion – Uses of Ethical
Theories
UNIT III ENGINEERING AS SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION 9
Engineering as Experimentation – Engineers as responsible Experimenters – Codes of Ethics – A Balanced
Outlook on Law.
UNIT IV SAFETY, RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS 9
Safety and Risk – Assessment of Safety and Risk – Risk Benefit Analysis and Reducing Risk – Respect for
Authority – Collective Bargaining – Confidentiality – Conflicts of Interest – Occupational Crime –
Professional Rights – Employee Rights – Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) – Discrimination
UNIT V GLOBAL ISSUES 8
Multinational Corporations – Environmental Ethics – Computer Ethics – Weapons Development – Engineers
as Managers – Consulting Engineers – Engineers as Expert Witnesses and Advisors – Moral Leadership –
Code of Conduct – Corporate Social Responsibility
TOTAL: 45 PERIODS
OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to apply ethics in society, discuss the ethical
issues related to engineering and realize the responsibilities and rights in the society
TEXTBOOKS: 1. Mike W. Martin and Roland Schinzinger, “Ethics in Engineering”, Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 2003.
2. Govindarajan M, Natarajan S, Senthil Kumar V. S, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall of India,
New Delhi, 2004.
REFERENCES: 1. Charles B. Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2004.
2. Charles E. Harris, Michael S. Pritchard and Michael J. Rabins, “Engineering Ethics – Concepts
and Cases”, Cengage Learning, 2009
3. John R Boatright, “Ethics and the Conduct of Business”, Pearson Education, New Delhi, 2003
4. Edmund G Seebauer and Robert L Barry, “Fundametals of Ethics for Scientists and Engineers”, Oxford
University Press, Oxford, 2001
5. Laura P. Hartman and Joe Desjardins, “Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and
Social Responsibility” Mc Graw Hill education, India Pvt. Ltd.,New Delhi 2013.
6. World Community Service Centre, ‘ Value Education’, Vethathiri publications, Erode, 2011 Web sources:
1. www.onlineethics.org
2. www.nspe.org
3. www.globalethics.org
4. www.ethics.org
UNIT –I PART A
1. Define a moral.
2. What are the levels of moral development?
3. Define consensus and controversy.
4. Define caring.
5. How character and values are related? APR 2014
6. What do you mean by human values?
7. What are ethical values?
8. Distinguish values from ethics and culture.
9. What is integrity?
10. Define work ethics. APR 2014
11. What is service learning?
12. Mention some civic virtues.
13. Write short notes on caring and sharing.
14. What is honesty?
15. What is courage as a value?
16. Define cooperation.
17. Define empathy.
18. Define spirituality. DEC 2015
19. Define integrity.
20. Define compromise.
21. List out any two aspects of honesty.
22. Define self-respect and self-esteem.
23. What is commitment?
24.What is meant by self-confidence?
25. What is stress management?
26. Define yoga with its types.
27. What do you mean by meditation?
28. Define distress.
29. What are the qualities of a self-confident people? DEC 2015
UNIT –I PART B
1. What are human values? List few key principles that compose the foundation of human values.
2. Explain work ethics in detail. (8) DEC 2013
3. Write short notes on honesty (8). APR 2014, DEC 2015
4. Explain the importance of self confidence in ethics.
5. What is time management? List some time wasters. Write down the steps required to manage
one’s time.
6. Explain the importance of following human values:
i) caring ii) sharing
ii) cooperation and iv)commitment
7. What is meant by empathy? What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? List the
benefits of empathy.
8. Explain civic virtue and respect for others and also explain importance of cooperation.
9. Explain character and spirituality and their importance in ethics. APR 2014
10.Write brief notes on Yoga and meditation for professional excellence and stress management.
DEC 2015
11. What are the characteristics of Stress? Explain.
12. What is meant by honesty? How society discourages honesty?
13. Explain why the study about human values is very essential to engineers. Also list some
important human values and sub values.
14. List the various characteristics of moral values.
15. Differentiate between the following:
i) ‘Good’ and ‘evil’
ii) ‘Morality’ and ‘ethics’
16. What is service learning? Why is service learning important?
17. What is courage? What are some salient features of courage?(8)APR 2014, DEC 2015
18.What is your take on “Time is a moral value”?
19. What is meant by spirituality? How does it differ from religion? APR 2014
UNIT-II PART-A
1. Define Ethics. Describe the various disciplines of ethics. DEC-2014
2. Define Ethics. Mention some universally accepted ethical standards. DEC 2013
3. What are the senses of Engineering Ethics? DEC 2013
4. List the types of Inquiry. JUN 2013, MAY 2015, DEC 2015
5. Define Moral Dilemma.
6. What is Moral Autonomy? JUN 2013, DEC 2014, MAY 2015, DEC 2015
7. State Kohlberg’s theory.
8. State Gilligan’s theory.
9. Define moral values with suitable examples DEC 2013, MAY 2015
10. What is meant by consensus?
11. State the implications of Controversy.
12. Mention few steps in confronting Moral Dilemma.
13. Mention the models of professional roles(or cycles). DEC-2014
14. State the theories about right action.
15. State the significance of Self Interest.
16. Give two examples of customs followed in your area. APR 2014
17. State the significance of religion.
18. Mention various ethical theories available.
19. State the problem of vagueness.
20. When dilemma occupies the centre stage in an individual’s activity? APR 2014
21. Specify the problem of conflicting reasons.
22. State the principle of Utilitarianism.
23. State the various types of Inquiries available?
24. What is meant by ethical egoism?
25. What is meant by customs relativism?
26. What is the need for engineering ethics?
27. What is moral autonomy and self respect? MAY 2014
28. What is ethical Pluralism?
29. Define Professionalism MAY 2015
30.What is conceptual inquiry?
31. What are the objectives of studying engineering ethics?
32. Define engineering ethics. DEC 2013, JUN 2013, APR 2016
33. State the uses of ethical theories. APR 2016
34. Why it is necessary for engineering students to study engineering ethics?
35. What are ethical theories? How can you classify them?
36. What is meant by virtues? Do engineers need virtues?
UNIT-II PART-B
1. (a). Explain the scope of Engineering Ethics . Highlight the importance of Ethics.
(b). Explain in details about the senses of Engineering Ethics.
2. (a).Discuss in detail the various types of Moral issues DEC-14
(b). Specify the various types of Ethical inquiries available. DEC 2013 DEC-14
3. Discuss in detail about the concept of
a).Moral Dilemmas. JUN 2013,
b).Moral Autonomy.
4. Discuss in details about
a) Gilligan’s Theory for moral development(8) JUN 2013, MAY 2015 (8) DEC 2014, DEC 2015
b) Kohlberg’s Theory for moral development(8) JUN 2013,DEC 2014,APR 2016
5. Explain about Consensus and Controversy (8 Marks) APR 2016
6. Explain the following:
i))Moral autonomy (4) (8) DEC 2013
ii) Consensus and Controversy (4)
iii) Professions and Professionalism. (4)
iv) Professional ideals and virtues (4) APR 2016
7. Explain in details the professionalism ideals and virtues. JUN 2013,
8. Discuss in detail the uses and limitation of ethical theories (16) JUN 2013, MAY 2015
9. Explain in detail the traits of Self Interest, Customs and Religions.(8)
10. Explain in detail the various ethical theories and their uses.
11. Discuss the three types of inquiry.(4) (6) DEC 2014,MAY 2015,APR 2016
12. Where and how do moral problems arise in engineering?
13. Discuss how Gilligan’s theory of moral development differs from Kohlberg’s theory. DEC 2013
14. What is meant by self-interest? How does it relate with the concept of ethical egoism? DEC2015
15. How are ethical theories useful in resolving moral dilemmas?
16. Briefly explain the three main levels of moral development developed by Lawrence Kohlberg. (12)APR 2016
17. What are the different types of model of professional roles?(8) DEC 2014, DEC 2015
18. Explain the theory of human right ethics and its classifications.(8) DEC 2015
19. Why the integrity should be maintained in private professional responsibilities? Explain with
suitable examples (16) APR 2014
20. Explain the need of tolerance for different customs and ethical pluralism in a diverse society
with suitable examples (16) APR 2014
21. Mention the different types of ethical theories. What are its uses?(8) DEC 2013
UNIT III PART-A
1. What are the conditions required to define a valid consent?
2. Define informed consent? MAY 2015
3. What are the conditions are essential for a valid informed consent? DEC 2015
4. What are the general features of morally responsible engineers?
5. What is the purpose of various types of standards?
6. Define Code?
7. Enumerate the roles of codes?
8. What are the limitations of code of ethics? DEC 2014, DEC 2015
9. Why engineers are considered as responsible experimenters? MAY 2015
10. What are the problems with the law in engineering?
11. What is the need to view engineering projects as experiments? APR 2016
12. Differentiate scientific experiments and engineering projects?
13. What are the uncertainties occur in the model designs?
14. List the advantages of industrial standards. MAY 2015
15. Give any two prominent features of contemporary engineering practice that differentiate casual
influence and moral accountability in engineering?
16. Mention some universally accepted ethical principles.
17. What are the features of Engineering Experimentation. DEC 2014
18. State the importance of Ethical codes.
19Discuss the different models of professional roles. DEC-2014
20. What do you understand by balanced outlook on law. JUN 2013,
21. Discuss three types of inquiry. DEC-2014
22. In what ways engineering experiment differs from standard experiments.
23. What are the general responsibilities of engineers to society?
24. What is meant by conscientiousness?
25. What are limitations/objections of codes of ethics?
26. Define Research ethics. APR 2016
27. What is said to be a regulated society?
28. What are industrial standards? List their purposes giving some suitable examples.
29. In what ways the engineering societies can promote ethics?
30. What is learning from the past? APR 2014
31. Write the two reasons that prevented safe exit for passengers and crew of the titanic ship. APR
2014
32. List the methods that can be applied when testing is inappropriate. DEC 2014
UNIT III PART-B
1. What are the four features of engineers as ‘responsible experimenters’? How do the functions of
standards, regulations and laws differ from one another in their effects on engineering products
and practice?(16) APR 2016
2. Explain how the codes of ethics guides an engineer in the professional behaviour.(8) (10) DEC
2013, JUN 2013, DEC 2014, MAY 2015
3. What are the different roles and function of codes of ethics. (16) DEC 2015
4. Compare and contrast engineering experiments with standard experiments. DEC 2014
5.Explain with help of examples of that engineers would learn not only from their earlier design and
operating results, but also from those of those of engineers of other engineers.
6. Explain in detail about engineers as responsible experimenters. JUN 2013,
7. Explain detail about balanced outlook on law.
8. Explain the importance of industrial standards. JUN 2013, MAY 2015
9. Explain detail about engineering as experimentation.
10. State the various problems of law in Engineering.
11. Which functions of the codes of ethics are the most valuable, in the perspective of engineering
as social experimentation?
12. Explain in detail the powerful support and proper role of law in engineering.(8) DEC 2015
13. With a case study explain the “learn from the past” in engineering experimentation.(8) DEC 2015.
14. Explain briefly four cases where, plain neglect to learn from the past mistakes lead to repetition
of accidents/mistakes.(16) APR 2014
15. Explain the responsibilities of engineers to society.(16) APR 2014
16. Why engineering projects are viewed as experiments?(8) DEC 2013
UNIT-IV PART-A
1. Define ‘Safety’. JUN 2013,
2. Define Risk. DEC 2014
3. Define disaster? DEC 2013
4. What shall be the approach of Government Regulator towards Risk mitigation? JUN 2013,
5. Draw the assessment curve on safety and risk.
6. What is the use of risk analysis? DEC 2013, MAY 2015
7. State the significance of Scenario Analysis.
8. ‘Safety is paramount important to the engineers’-Justify
9. What are the factors for safety and risk? APR 2016
10. What kind of responsibility should an engineer hold to ensure the safety, health and welfare
of the public?
11. State the advantages of Risk benefit analysis. APR 2016
12. Define risk benefit analysis DEC 2015
13. What are the internal responsibilities of engineers?
10. Mention few steps to reduce risks.
11. List the factors that enhance the self confidence in a person. MAY 2015
12. What is meant by Safe Exit?
13. What is causal responsibility?
14. What is Intellectual Property Rights? JUN 2013
15. Mention the different types of IPR. DEC 2013
16. What is meant by collective bargaining? JUN 2013, APR 2016
17. What do you mean by conflict of interest? Give example.
18. Distinguish between authority and power.
19. Specify few employee rights.
20. What is disadvantages of collective bargaining?
21. What is meant by occupational crime?
22. Define Respect for authority.
23. Define unionism.
24. What are the external responsibilities to the outside world?
25. Define trade secret.
26. What is meant by patent?
27. What is the difference between bribe and gift? DEC 2014
28. What the types of conflict of interest?
29. What are the differences between general conflicts of interest and professional conflicts of
interest?
30. When is a gift a bribe?
31. What is moonlighting? Does it create conflicts of interest?
32. Define occupational crime.
33. What are the types of rights?
34. What is meant by whistle blowing? DEC 2014, DEC 2015
35. What is the prime objective of Intellectual Property Rights legislation? APR 2014.
36. Classify Intellectual Property Rights? APR 2016
37. Define discrimination.
UNIT IV PART-B
1. What is Intellectual Property Rights? Explain various elements of IPR in detail.(10). DEC 2014,
DEC 2015,APR 2016
2. Define Risk Benefit Analysis. Why is it conducted? What are the limitations of risk benefit
analysis?(8) DEC 2013.(16) APR 2016
3What is Occupational crimes? Explain any one in detail.(8) JUN 2013, DEC 2013,DEC 2015
4. Distinguish between employee rights and professional rights. DEC 2013, MAY 2015
5. Discuss the significance of Intellectual Property rights. Also explain the legislation covering IPR
in India. DEC 2013
6. Discuss the concept of Risk Benefit analysis. JUN 2013, DEC 2014
7. Define the term Risk and Safety. How we an engineer assess the safety? DEC 2013, APR 2014
8. What are the factors that affect risk acceptability? What is the use of knowledge of risk
acceptance to engineer?
9. Discuss the features, guideline and procedures of whistle blowing.
10. Explain the concept of liability with suitable example.
11. Write a brief note on:
i) Institutional authority (8)
ii) Discrimination (8) MAY 2015
12. Describe the concept of Confidentiality in professional ethics. JUN 2013,
13. What are the types of conflicts of interests and the different ways to avoid conflicts of
interests?
14. What is meant by discrimination? Discuss your experience of some situations where you are
discriminated.
15. Write short note on
i) Rights of professional conscience
ii) Rights of conscientious refusal
iii) Right to recognition
16. Is it necessary to protect intellectual properties? Why?
17. Describe the concept of
i)Risk Benefit analysis(8)
ii) Fault tree analysis(8) MAY 2015
18. Discuss the human rights, professional rights and employee rights in the engineering field.(16) JUN 2013, DEC 2014,APR 2016
19. Explain in detail the effect of information on risk assessment with an example.(8) DEC 2014
20. Define Collective Bargaining. Explain the role of Collective Bargaining in workpiece rights and
responsibilities.(12) DEC 2014
21. Discuss the various measures of assessing and reducing risks.(8) JUN 2013,
22. What are the safety measures to be taken in establishing an engineering unit? JUN 2013,
23. What are the factors that affect risk acceptability? What are the use of knowledge of risk
acceptance to engineers.(8) DEC 2013
UNIT-V PART-A
1. What are Multinational Corporations (MNCs)?
2. What are the merits and demerits of MNCs?
3. State the roles of engineers? APR 2016
4. List out the international rights suggested by Donaldson. DEC 2014
5. What is meant by moral leadership? DEC 2013 DEC 2014, DEC 2015
6. What is environmental ethics? Give examples. JUN 2013,
7. What are the various environmental concerns for engineers?
8. State the various roles of engineers. APR 2016
9. What is technology assessment?
10. What is meant by computer ethics?
11. What is corporate responsibility?
12. What is social responsibility?
13. Define Code of conduct.
14. Define the terms ‘honesty’ and ‘moral leadership’ MAY 2015
15. What does forensic engineering mean?
16. What do you mean by global issues. APR 2014
17. What is meant by acid rain?
18. What is meant by Globalization?
19. Differentiate Privacy and Anonymity.
20. What are the issues in weapons development? APR 2016
21. What is meant by computer crime?
22. Name any two weapons of mass destruction. APR 2014
23. What is meant by Ethical climate?
24. What is meant by Professional obligations?
25. How to manage a business process model? JUN 2013,
26. What do you understand by ‘business ethics’? MAY 2015
27. Define Conflict resolution.
28. What is Global cyber business?
29. What are the issues in weapons development? APR 2016
30. What is meant by water balances?
31. What are the senses of ‘relative’ values?
32. What are the ethical issues that may arise in environmental protection?
33. What does autonomous computer mean?
34. What is technology transfer? DEC 2015
35. Why do some engineers refuse to do war works?
UNIT V PART-B
1. Explain in detail the various advantages and disadvantages of MNCs.
2. What is Environmental Ethics? Explain its significance. Give some of the environmental
issues of concern to engineers. DEC 2013,APR 2014,DEC 2014,MAY 2015
3. Discuss the ethical issues related on Computer Ethics.(16) JUN 2013, DEC 2013,DEC 2014,DEC
2015
4. Describe in details about the Global issue of Weapons development. DEC 2014
5. Explain the role of Engineers as Managers. DEC 2014
6. Explain the following:
i) Business ethics (4)
ii) Environmental ethics (4)
iii) Computer ethics (4)
iv) Honesty (4) APR 2016
7. Justify Engineers as Expert witness and Advisors with suitable examples. DEC 2014
8. Explain in details about Moral Leadership. JUN 2013,
9. Discuss the various global issues that have an impact on business.(16) MAY 2015
10. Discuss in details about Code of Conduct. JUN 2013,
11. Describe in details about Corporate Responsibility.
12. Explain in details about the Management of conflicts and the Principles of conflict
Resolution.
13. Write short notes on the role of engineers in the voluntary services.
14. Discuss the following:
i) Engineers as managers (4)
ii) Engineers as advisors (4)
iii) Engineers as expert witnesses (4) (8) DEC 2015
iv) Moral leadership (4) APR 2016
15. What is meant by ‘a hired gun’? When do engineers become ‘hired guns’?
16. Who are the consultants? Explain the role of engineers as consultants.(8) DEC 2015
17. What is meant by an ethical climate? How do engineer-managers promote ethical culture in
an organization? JUN 2013,
18. Describe the different approaches used to resolve environmental problems.
19. Illustrate technology transfer with suitable examples.(10) JUN 2013,
20. Explain the moral obligations of an engineer as per the code of ethics. APR 2014
21. Write a short note on ‘business ethics’ JUN 2013,
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