Engineering Ethics

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488

Spring 2015

Ethics
ABET Program Outcome (f):
an understanding of professional and ethical
responsibility

What is Ethics?
ethics\eth-iks\n
A set of moral principles or values
A theory or system of moral principles or
values
The principles of conduct governing an
individual or group
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineering Ethics
The study of moral issues and decisions
confronting individuals and
organizations involved in engineering
The study of related questions about
moral conduct, character, ideals, and
relationships of people and
organizations involved in technological
development
Martin and Schinzinger, Ethics in Engineering (2000)
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Core Ethical Values

Integrity

Charity

Honesty

Responsibility

Truthfulness

Self-Discipline

Fidelity

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Basic Concepts
Factual issues

Is the issue true or false

Conceptual issues

What is the meaning or scope of the term or

concept?

Moral issues

Is a moral principle relevant or applicable?

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Moral Theory
Moral Standard

A criterion test of what is right and wrong

Moral Principles

Categorize different actions as right or wrong

Moral Judgments

Statements about right and wrong

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Moral Standards
Utilitarianism

Those actions are right that produce the

greatest total amount of human well-being.

Rights Analysis

Those actions are right that that equally

respect each human person as a moral
agent.

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Moral Standards
Importance: Understanding ourselves
Understanding others

Utilitarianism

Rights Analysis

Needs of
the Many

Ethical
Egoism

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Rights of the
Individual

Utilitarianism
Method of Analysis
1. Determine the audience of action or policy
2. Determine the positive and negative effects of
the alternatives
3. Decide which course produces the greatest
overall utility

Problems

What is well-being?
Requires extensive knowledge of facts to
evaluate the happiness objective function
Can lead to injustice for certain individuals
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Rights Analysis
Method of Analysis
1. Determine the audience of action or policy
2. Evaluate the seriousness of the rights
infringement each action will impose
3. Chose the action that produces the least serious
rights infringement

Problems

Can be too permissive

Can be too restrictive
Calls for a hierarchy of rights
Can lead to implausible results that conflict
overall welfare
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Code of Ethics
A code of ethics provides a framework for ethical
judgment for a professional. No code can be totally
comprehensive, rather a code serve as a starting
point for ethical decision making.
NSPE Code of Ethics
ASME Code of Ethics
IEEE Code of Ethics
NCEES Model Rules of Professional Conduct

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Organization of the NSPE Code

I.

Fundamental Cannons
Basic principles, intended to guide

II. Rules of Practice

Provide specific enforceable rules for cannons 1-5.
III. Obligations to the Profession
Specific enforceable rules for cannon 6
For the project consider all clauses and sub-clauses

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

NSPE Code of Ethics: Fundamental Canons

1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public
2. Perform service only in areas of their competence
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner
4. Act in professional matters for each employer or client
as faithful agents or trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor reputation and
usefulness of the profession of engineering.
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Ethical Priorities
1. Society and the public
2. The law
3. The engineering profession
4. Engineers client
5. Engineers firm
6. Other involved engineers
7. The engineer personally
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers, Society, and Public

Primary duty to protect public welfare
Social benefit vs. technological risk
No self-laudatory advertising and indicate
if anyone benefits from statements
Notify others if public safety or welfare is
compromised

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers, Clients, and Suppliers

Primary duty to protect public welfare
Client interests must be protected
Not bound by what client wants
Confidential information belongs to client
Avoid conflicts of interest and appearance of
conflicts of interest
Deliverables must be complete, definite, and
specific
Must fully explain consequences and admit errors
Only paid once for services and no gifts, discounts,
or indirect compensation

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers and Employers

Loyalty to employer vs. obligation to
society
Primary duty is to society
Ethical employees seek to protect
company assets
Competitive bidding is not prohibited

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers and Profession

Keep skills at state-of-the-art level
Recognize limitations technical and time
Develop appreciation and understanding of the
engineering profession
Do not ruin reputation of other engineers but inform
authority of wrongdoing
Do not review another engineers work unless other
engineer is informed (if engineering is still
employed)
Do not try to replace other engineers
Freely report useful information if permissible
ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers and the Environment

How clean, is clean?
Objection as an engineer or citizen?
Often regulated by law
Often neglects cost/benefit analysis

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers Must
Protect the public safety, health and welfare
Perform duties only in areas of competence
Be truthful and objective
Behave in an honorable and dignified manner
Continue to sharpen technical skills
Provide honest and hard work to employers
Inform authorities of harmful, dangerous, or
illegal activities

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Engineers Must
Be involved with civic and community affairs
Protect the environment
Not accept bribes or gifts that would interfere
with engineering judgment
Protect confidential information of employer
Avoid conflicts of interest

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Guidelines to Solve Ethical Dilemmas

1.

Determine the facts in the situation

2.

Define the stakeholders

3.

Assess the motivations of the stakeholders

4.

Formulate alternative solutions

5.

Evaluate proposed alternatives

6.

Seek additional assistance, as appropriate

7.

Select the best course of action

8.

Implement the selected solution

9.

Monitor and assess the outcome

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Guidelines for Dissent

Make sure the issue is sufficiently important
Try to catch problems early, and work with
the lowest managerial level
Establish a clear technical foundation
Keep arguments on a high professional plane
Use organizational dispute resolution
mechanisms
Keep records and collect paper

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

As a Last Resort
Anonymity
Resigning
Outside resources

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013

Professional Ethics
Assignment

The description of the assignment and related

material can be accessed at the course website.

Note:
This is an individual project and therefore each
student must work alone.

The assignment should be e-mailed to the

instructor by April 28, 2015.

ECE 406 ENGR 411 ME 488 Spring 2013