ENGINEERING AS SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION

Engineering is inherently a risk activity SO.....

It should be viewed as experimental process

Involving people

Whenever great risk to human life is involved…. “safe exit” should be provided.

The Engineering Process Concept Engineering: Design Produce Install Operate Intended outcomes: User satisfaction Company profits Unintended outcomes

Engineering experiment vs Standard experiments Similarities Contrasts Experimental control Informed consent

Lack of established channels of communications

Misplaced pride in not asking for information

Embarrassment at failure or fear of litigation.

Learning from the Past It might be expected that engineers would learn not only from their own earlier design and operating results, but also from those of other engineers. It is not sufficient for engineers to rely on handbooks and computer programs without knowing the limits of the tables and algorithms underlying their favorite tools.

Learn from workers and foremen.

How satisfied the customers are.

Engineers as Responsible Experimenters Engineers responsibility is shared with management, the public, and others. Engineers’ expertise places them in a unique position to monitor projects, to identify risks, and to provide clients and the public with the information needed to make reasonable decisions.

Engineers as Responsible Experimenters A primary obligation to protect the safety of human subjects and respect their right of consent. A constant awareness of the experimental nature of any project, imaginative forecasting of its possible side effects, and a reasonable effort to monitor them.

Engineers as Responsible Experimenters Autonomous, personal involvement in all steps of a project Accepting accountability for the results of a project.

Characteristic features Conscientiousness (awareness) Relevant information Moral autonomy Accountability (responsibility)

Conscientiousness Conscientiousness implies consciousness (in the sense of awareness). Open eyes, open ears, and an open mind are required to recognize a given situation, its implications, and who is involved or affected.

Relevant Information To grasp the context of one’s work (i.e) knowing the moral implications of work To shift the responsibilities and blames to others in the organizations Engineers must act as responsible agents

Moral Autonomy Moral beliefs and attitudes should be held on the basis of critical reflection rather than passive adoption of the particular conventions of one’s society, church, or profession. Must be integrated into the core of individual’s personality.

Accountability Responsible people accept moral responsibility for their actions. The general disposition of being willing to submit one’s actions to moral scrutiny and be open and responsive to the assessments of others.