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, 3 rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009, ch. 12, pp. 294.

Engineering Ethics  Parallels in Engineering Design and Ethical Decision Making  A uniquely correct response is rarely possible  Some 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 / UnethicalIllegal / 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) ASME (Mechanical Engineering) IEEE (Electrical Engineering) 8.htmlhttp:// 8.html 8

Professional Ethics National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) ◦ s/Code-2007-July.pdfhttp:// s/Code-2007-July.pdf International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) ◦ 9

Handling Ethical Conflicts 10

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…” 11

School Cheating Scandal atlanta-schools-cheating-scandal.cnn Accessed: 11/5/2013http:// atlanta-schools-cheating-scandal.cnn Only need first minute summary ◦This story first came to light in 2011 ◦Indictments of educators, administrators, on 4/2/13. 12

School Cheating Scandal  Ethical 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? 13

School Cheating Scandal New scenario: Engineering professors just ‘gave you a grade’ because it was easier for everyone. 14

Evaluating Ethical Dilemmas 1.Identify the Ethical Question 2.Identify the stakeholders impacted by the ethical situation 3.How are the stakeholders affected? What are there motivating factors? 4.Consider Ethical codes and theories 5.How do these codes / theories apply to different decisions made about the ethical situation 6.Analyze different possible actions and alternatives 7.Choose an action based on thoughtful assessment of impacts 15

Professional Ethics Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public 17

Professional Ethics Perform services only in areas of their competence. 18

Professional Ethics Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. 19

Professional Ethics Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 20

Professional Ethics Avoid deceptive acts. 21

Professional Ethics Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession. 22

REQUIRED READING Due: Tuesday, April 15 To Ship or Not to Ship – Example Ethical Case Study ◦ EngCase/ship%20or%20not%20to%20ship.pdfhttp://ethics.tamu.edu/Portals/3/1995Cases/Mechanical EngCase/ship%20or%20not%20to%20ship.pdf ◦Read and analyze for next class – this exercise will assist in your upcoming assignment! ◦Ethics Evaluation Paper 23