Overview of Engineering Ethics G. Scott Rutherford, Professor Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Washington (Original Notes by Dr. Ron Buckman, Affiliate Professor, CEE, UW)
Stakeholders Conflict of Interest Significant Professional Relationship Family Members Insider Trading Confidential or Proprietary Information Outside Employment Bribes Kickback Harassment Definition of Key Terms
A. ETHICS VS. MORALS Morals and ethics often used interchangeably I – INTRODUCTION
II – THE ETHICAL ENGINEER A. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PROFESSIONS 1990 Survey of Executives of 200 National Companies Question: Which of the following types of professionals do you think is the most ethical? Doctors Dentists Lawyers Investment bankers Certified public accountants Engineers
Results Engineers37% Certified Public 26% Accountants Doctors19% Lawyers 9% Dentists 8% Investment Bankers 1%
As a Result of the Results More is expected of Engineers by the public.
B. CORE ETHICAL VALUES FOR ENGINEERS Integrity Honesty Fidelity Charity Responsibility Self-Discipline
III - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY A. “RIGHTS” due to law & tradition B. RESPONSIBILITY for what you do C. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Loyalty - Perform to best ability - Focus on goals
IV - NINE BASIC STEPS TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING A. Step 1 Practice ethical behavior actively (ethical awareness training) B. Step 2 Beware of “new ethics” (Postmodernism) C. Step 3 Define the ethical problem when it arises D. Step 4 Formulate and list alternatives
IV - NINE BASIC STEPS TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING E. Step 5 Evaluate the alternatives F. Step 6 Seek additional assistance G. Step 7 Choose ethical alternative H. Step 8 Implement the action I. Step 9 Monitor the outcome Examles: Oil Business & Forecasting
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Nov 7, 1940
Tacoma Narrows Bridge 40 MPH Wind
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
NEW Tacoma Narrows Bridges
Ethical Issues?? First, designed by State Engineer Conventional 25 ft girders, $11 Million Next, fancy NYC Eng. Moisseiff (Golden Gate Bridge) 8 Ft I Beams Total cost $8 Million
Kansas City Hyatt Disaster July 17, 1981 Walkways in Hyatt Fall 114 dead & 200 injured (most ever) Design detail changed by fabricator Dispute on approval by structural firm Huge loses, lost PE licenses, bankruptcy
Kansas City Hyatt Disaster
Hyatt Ethical Issues Who is responsible for reviewing shop drawings? Who is responsible for meeting building codes? What can we do to avoid these problems in the future? Avoid 442 page court rulings!!
Minneapolis Bridge Collapse
2006 Inspection Report
Bridge Collapse Issues Steel Bearings Steel Gusset Plates Construction Vibrations Construction Truck Loads Secret CIA Sponsored Research at UM Train Vibrations Deck…..
Ethics Warm-up You and 9 others have been held captive by FARC rebels for 2 months in the jungles of Columbia. You have paid a guard to smuggle you out but he can only take 6 people total. Since you paid it’s up to you to pick who goes. The others will be tortured, raped and executed when they become aware of the escape.
Ethics Warm-up Who Will You Pick?? Yourself 9 year old twin girls (2) Your 85 yr old grandmother Your best friend since 2 nd grade Female 7 months pregnant Your favorite professor A recently married young couple (2) Your fiancée Total 6
Ethics Case Studies Thursday 10/11/08 Assemble in groups Choose two case studies previously assigned Pick a: group manager time manager note taker other
Ethics Case Studies Read and discuss two case studies. What are the major ethics issues? What would you do? What should the person in the case study do? Prepare Business Memo to Professor Reference where you got format of memo