foundations of engineering ethics esi 4554 ise senior design

Foundations ofFoundations ofEngineering EthicsEngineering Ethics

ESI 4554ESI 4554

ISE Senior DesignISE Senior Design

Goals of this LectureGoals of this Lecture

Give some basic concepts and tools for moral analysis and reasoning.

Promote understanding that engineering work, no matter what branch, can have a great impact on society.

Engineers have great power, through their technical knowledge, to bring about social change!

Reinforce your inclinations to act and reason morally.

““Ethics"Ethics"From the word ethos, Greek word

for character.Concerns concepts of the

individual or group by which actions are judged “right” or “wrong”.

Some DefinitionsSome Definitions 1. a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.

2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.

3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.

4. (usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Source: www.dictionary.com

Engineering and EthicsEngineering and Ethics

Engineering:Definition:

Application of scientific principles through the use of models and technology.

Purpose:Design new systems and improve existing ones for the benefit of the human race.

Ethics examines the moral significance of the creative ability.

The Development Stages of The Development Stages of MoralMoral

1. Pre-conventional level

2. Conventional level

3. Post-conventional level


1. Pre-conventional level

Most primitive.

Conduct judged by actions that directly benefit

the person.

Motivation: desire to avoid punishment, power,

self-gratification.

Natural to young children, may be significant in

some adults.


2.Conventional level.

Standard of morality is stated by one’s family, group, society.– ie.: We do what our parent’s say we should do.

Motivation is to please others, to fit in within a social group.

Self-interest is suppressed.

Morality is equal to legality.

Most people don’t go beyond this level.


3. Post-conventional Level

Individual is autonomous, thinks for

him/herself. Does not accept customs or precepts without analysis.

Analysis is based on general principles.

Motivation: to act morally, above self-interest.

Moral integrity, self-respect and respect for

Others guides all his/her activities.

The Three Phases of Moral InquiryThe Three Phases of Moral Inquiry

What do to when facing a moral dilemma…

1. Gather factual information.

2. Study and analyze information.(based on concepts, principles and related problems)

3. Evaluate the issue in light of ethical norms and standards.

Ethics transcends the legal Ethics transcends the legal system.system.

They overlap when you believe the probability of “being caught” on a legal wrong is nearly zero.

Then, you are your own judge.

Is it ethical?

Isit legal?

?

Why Have a System of Ethics?Why Have a System of Ethics?

Gives engineer integrity and consistency in behavior in

all matters: personal and professional.

This is the essence of professional peace.

Most important possession a person will ever have is a

spotless reputation.

– No amount of money, fame or knowledge is an adequate

substitute.

Your Professional ReputationYour Professional ReputationRegard your good name as the richest jewel

you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire;

when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it,

but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

Socrates

What to Engineering Students Think What to Engineering Students Think about Ethics?about Ethics?

In your view, what are the characteristics

of ideal professional engineers?

Survey of Engineering Students Survey of Engineering Students at University of Illinois (2004)at University of Illinois (2004)

Pool included:

– 9 students not taken a course on ethics

– 77 students taking the class Engineering Ethics

Adapted From: http://repo-nt.tcc.virginia.edu/ethics/links.htm

Survey of Engineering Students Survey of Engineering Students at University of Illinoisat University of Illinois

Survey results showed students grouped them into four kinds:

– Technical competence and knowledge, problem solving skills and creativity.

– Communication skills for effective teamwork.– Conscientiousness, diligence, persistence, and a

drive toward maximal performance.– High moral standards.

(Notice that ethics was not mentioned, however honesty is implied.)



One electrical engineering student wrote:

“A professional engineer seeks to apply their sound moral reasoning, technical competency, communication ability, ethical behavior to ALL situations they are faced with, BOTH on and off the clock. I will know that I am a professional engineer when other people see as someone who possesses the traits I listed above.”



Factors in this statement:

- External validation

- “Both on and off the clock”

- Professionalism is integral to the person’s identity.


Professionalism for EngineersProfessionalism for Engineers

Professionalism is an individual state of mind.

It is a way of thinking, working, and living.

It is a way of adding something valuable to

competence.

Professionalism for an engineer means: Professionalism for an engineer means:

Striving to improve his/her work until it becomes a model for those in his/her field, as a minimum using the most up-to-date techniques and procedures.

Proper credit for work done and ideas developed by subordinates.

Loyalty to his/her employer or client, always with concern for the public safety in construction, product design, plant operation, and all other phases of engineering.

Professionalism for an engineer means: Professionalism for an engineer means:

Leadership of less experienced colleagues and subordinates toward personal development and an enthusiasm for the profession.

Activity in technical societies in order to keep current in his/her field.

Participation in professional societies.

Registration.

How to know if an issue becomes How to know if an issue becomes an ethical issue?an ethical issue?

Some decisions are easy to make.Others leave that feeling of uncertainty that

continues to make us question our decision. An Ethics Quick Test applied to the

decision-making process might help. – Provides seven checks to examine the ethical

implications of your decisions.

An Ethics Quick Test An Ethics Quick Test

1. Is the action legal? (*)

2. Does it comply with your understanding of your company’s values? (*)

3. If you do it, will you feel bad?

4. How would it look in the newspaper?

5. If you know it is wrong, do not do it.

6. If you are not sure, ask. (*)

7. Keep asking until you get an answer. (*)


An Ethics Quick Test (*)An Ethics Quick Test (*)

(*) You can get help with the first two and the last two, by having information regarding the applicable rules, procedures and policies.

However, the middle three depend solely on your personal principles and values.


What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light?Often you may see warning signs that we

are making an especially tough decision that might require special considerations.

If traffic light is green or red, few decisions to make. Choice may be clear.


What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light?If the light is yellow, when it is not a clear

decision, that is when the decision-making gets tough.

You must look out for these signs or flags.Must be careful to examine every aspect of

the problem.


What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light?

Like in driving, you may not see a warning…

We can be:

– distracted by a passing concern or a speeding diversion.

– Your eyes are not on the road.

– Don’t understand the rules or perhaps the dangers.

– For whatever reason, we do not recognize the warning.

What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light?Consider the following questions to help identify the ethical problem:

1. Would I decide differently or change my opinion

if the financial costs were significantly altered?

2. Am I placing a monetary value on my ethics?

3. Are others pushing this decision onto me because

nobody else wants to make it?

4. If I make this decision, am I going to feel bad?

What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light?5. Does it conflict with my natural instincts or my

basic values? 6. Do my personal values and my professional

values come in conflict over this decision? 7. Is someone being treated unfairly in my decision?

Will anyone be harmed? 8. Am I responsible for delaying a decision in this

matter? 9. Am I making this decision or taking this action

out of the view of others? Am I tempted to shield it from my co-workers?

What to do in a yellow light?What to do in a yellow light? A "yes" answer to any of them might indicate

that this situation may require time for extra caution and consideration in your decision-making.

Time for checking your decision with a friend or co-worker, your manager or supervisor

Be careful: this could be a very important decision for you and for those who work around you.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR CODE OF ETHICS FOR ENGINEERSENGINEERS

SUMMARYSUMMARY

(for thorough text, see Appendix) (for thorough text, see Appendix)

PreamblePreambleThe engineer, to uphold and advance the

honor and dignity of the engineering profession and in keeping with high standards of ethical conduct:

Will be honest and impartial, and will

serve with devotion his/her employer,

his/her clients, and the public;

Will strive to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession;

Will use his/her knowledge and skill for the advancement of human welfare.

Section 1: General Behavior Standards.Section 1: General Behavior Standards.

The Engineer will be guided in all The Engineer will be guided in all his/her professional relations by the his/her professional relations by the

highest standards of integrityhighest standards of integrity

He/she will be realistic and honest in all estimates, reports, statements, and testimony.

He/she will admit and accept his/her own

errors.

Section 1: General Behavior Standards.Section 1: General Behavior Standards.

He/she will advise his/her client or employer when he/she believes a project will not be successful.

He/she will not actively participate in strikes, picket lines, or other collective coercive action.

Section 2: Safety and Welfare of the Section 2: Safety and Welfare of the PublicPublic The Engineer will have proper regard for the safety,

health, and welfare of the public in the performance of his/her professional duties.

If his/her engineering judgment is overruled by non-technical authority, he/she will clearly point out the consequences.

Section 3: Dignity of the ProfessionSection 3: Dignity of the Profession The Engineer will avoid all conduct or practice

likely to discredit or unfavorably reflect upon the dignity or honor of the profession.

The Engineer shall not advertise his/her professional services but may utilize the following means of identification:

– Professional cards and listings in recognized and dignified publications

– Signs on equipment, offices and at the site of projects– Brochures, business cards, letterheads and other factual

representations– Listings in the classified section of telephone directories

Section 4: Safeguarding the profession.Section 4: Safeguarding the profession.

The Engineer will endeavor to extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering and its achievements and to protect the engineering profession from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

He/she shall not issue statements, criticisms, or arguments on matters connected with public policy, which are inspired or paid for by private interests, unless he/she indicates on whose behalf he/she is making the statement.

Section 5: Qualifications & Section 5: Qualifications & CapabilitiesCapabilities The Engineer will express an opinion of an

engineering subject only when founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction.

The Engineer will insist on the use of facts in reference to an engineering project in a group discussion, public forum or publication of articles.

Section 6: Qualifications and Section 6: Qualifications and CapabilitiesCapabilities

The Engineer will undertake engineering The Engineer will undertake engineering assignments for which he/she will be assignments for which he/she will be responsible responsible only when qualified by training or only when qualified by training or experienceexperience; and he/she ; and he/she will engage, or advise will engage, or advise engaging, experts and specialists whenever engaging, experts and specialists whenever the client's or employer's interests are best the client's or employer's interests are best served by such service.served by such service.

Section 7: ConfidentialitySection 7: Confidentiality

The Engineer will not disclose confidential

information concerning the business affairs or

technical processes of any present or former

client or employer without his/her consent.

Section 8: Conflicts of InterestSection 8: Conflicts of Interest

•The Engineer will endeavor to The Engineer will endeavor to avoid a avoid a

conflictconflict of interest with his/her employer or of interest with his/her employer or

client, but when unavoidable, the Engineer client, but when unavoidable, the Engineer

shall fully disclose the circumstances to shall fully disclose the circumstances to

his/her employer or client.his/her employer or client.

•An engineer shall not solicit or accept an

engineering contract from a governmental

body on which a principal or officer of

his/her organization serves as a member.

The Engineer will uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for those engaged in engineering work.

He/she will not undertake or agree to perform any engineering service on a free basis, except for civic, charitable, religious, or eleemosynary nonprofit organizations when the professional services are advisory in nature.

Section 9: Compensation and Section 9: Compensation and WagesWages

He/she will not undertake work at a fee or salary below the accepted standards of the profession in the area.

When hiring other engineers, he/she shall offer a salary according to the engineer's qualifications and the recognized standards in the particular geographical area.

Section 9: Compensation and Section 9: Compensation and WagesWages

The Engineer will not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service, or for services pertaining to the same work, unless there is full disclosure to and consent of all interested parties.

He/she will not accept commissions or allowances, directly or indirectly, from contractors of other parties dealing with his/her clients or employer in connection with work for which he/she is responsible.

Section 10: CompensationSection 10: Compensation

The Engineer will not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service, or for services pertaining to the same work, unless there is full disclosure to and consent of all interested parties.

He/she will not accept commissions or allowances, directly or indirectly, from contractors of other parties dealing with his/her clients or employer in connection with work for which he/she is responsible.

Section 11: CompensationSection 11: Compensation

Section 11: CompetitionSection 11: CompetitionThe Engineer The Engineer will not compete unfairly with will not compete unfairly with another engineer by attempting to obtain another engineer by attempting to obtain employment or advancement or professional employment or advancement or professional engagements by competitive biddingengagements by competitive bidding, by taking , by taking advantage of a salaried position, by criticizing advantage of a salaried position, by criticizing other engineers, or by other improper or other engineers, or by other improper or questionable methods.questionable methods.

He/she will not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, or a gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.

Section 11: CompetitionSection 11: Competition

While in a salaried position, he/she will accept part-time engineering work only at a salary or fee not less than that recognized as standard in the area.

An engineer will not use equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of his/her employer to carry on outside private practice without consent.

Section 12: Peer RelationsSection 12: Peer Relations The Engineer will not attempt to injure, maliciously

or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer, nor will he/she indiscriminately criticize another engineer's work in public. If he/she believes that another engineer is guilty of unethical or illegal practice, he/she shall present such information to the proper authority for action.

An Engineer in private practice will not review the work of another engineer for the same client, except with the knowledge of such engineer, or unless the connection of such engineer with the work has been terminated.

Section 13: Name AbuseSection 13: Name Abuse

The Engineer will not associate with or allow the use of his/her name by an enterprise of questionable character, nor will he/she become professionally associated with engineers who do not conform to ethical practices, or with persons not legally qualified to render the professional services for which the association is intended.

The Engineer will give credit for engineering work to who credit is due, and will recognize the proprietary interests of others.

Whenever possible, he/she will name the person or persons who may be individually responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments.

When an engineer uses designs supplied to him by a client, the designs remain the property of the client and should not be duplicated by the Engineer for others without express permission.

Section 14: CreditSection 14: Credit

Before undertaking work for others in connection with which he/she may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions, or other records which may justify copy-rights or patents, the Engineer should enter into a positive agreement regarding the ownership.

Designs, data, records, and notes made by an engineer and referring exclusively to his/her employer's work are his/her employer's property.

Section 14: CreditSection 14: Credit

Section 15: CooperationSection 15: Cooperation

The Engineer will cooperate in extending the effectiveness of the profession by interchanging information and experience with other engineers and students, and will endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development and advancement of engineers under his/her supervision.

He/she will encourage his/her engineering He/she will encourage his/her engineering employees' efforts to improve their education.employees' efforts to improve their education.

He/she will encourage engineering employees to He/she will encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at professional and attend and present papers at professional and technical society meetings.technical society meetings.

Section 15: CooperationSection 15: Cooperation

He/she will urge his/her engineering employees to become registered at the earliest possible date.

He/she will assign professional engineer duties of a nature to utilize his/her full training and experience, insofar as possible, and delegate lesser functions to sub-professionals or to technicians.

Section 15 CooperationSection 15 Cooperation He/she will urge his/her engineering employees

to become registered at the earliest possible date.

He/she will assign professional engineer duties of a nature to utilize his/her full training and experience, insofar as possible, and delegate lesser functions to sub-professionals or to technicians.

He/she will provide a prospective engineering employee with complete information on working conditions and his/her proposed status of employment, and after employment will keep him informed of any changes in them.

Section 15 CooperationSection 15 Cooperation

The Engineer will cooperate in extending the effectiveness of the profession by interchanging information and experience with other engineers and students, and will endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development and advancement of engineers under his/her supervision.

He/she will encourage his/her engineering He/she will encourage his/her engineering employees' efforts to improve their education.employees' efforts to improve their education.

He/she will encourage engineering employees to He/she will encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at professional and attend and present papers at professional and technical society meetings.technical society meetings.

foundations of engineering ethics esi 4554 ise senior design

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