Code of Ethics

• The main objectives of the engineering code of ethics are to (i) protect the public, (ii) protect and further develop the profession.

Engineering ethics

• Engineering Ethics is the study of moral issues and decisions confronting individuals and organizations engaged in engineering.

• The Study of related questions about moral ideals, character, policies and relationship of people and corporations involved in technological activity.

Outcome of Engineering Ethics• Teaching engineering ethics can achieve at least four

desirable outcomes: • a) increased ethical sensitivity; • b) increased knowledge of relevant standards of conduct; • c) improved ethical judgment; and • d) improved ethical will-power (i.e., a greater ability to

act ethically when one wants to).Davis, M. “Teaching ethics across the engineering curriculum.” Proceedings of

International Conference on Ethics in Engineering and Computer Science. Available online at: http://onlineethics.org/essays/education/davis.html.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY • “Ethical responsibility...involves more than leading a decent,

honest, truthful life. . . . And it involves something much more than making wise choices when such choices suddenly, unexpectedly present themselves. Our moral obligations must . . . include a willingness to engage others in the difficult work of defining the crucial choices that confront technological society”

Langdon Winner, 1990. “Engineering ethics and political imagination.”pp. 53-64 in Broad and Narrow Interpretations of Philosophy of Technology: Philosophy and Technology 7, edited by P. Durbin. Boston: Kluwer. Cited in Joseph R. Herkert, “Continuing and Emerging Issues in Engineering Ethics Education,” The Bridge, 32(3), 2002.

Code of Ethics

• Engineering Ethics does not have a single uniform system, or standard, of ethical conduct across the entire profession

• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)• IEEE code of ethics (IEEE)

Roles of Codes

• Inspiration and Guidance• Support • Difference and Discipline • Education and Mutual Understanding• Contributing to the Profession’s Public Image• Protecting the status Quo • Promoting Business Interests

Roles of Codes

• Inspiration and Guidance : Codes provide a positive stimulus for ethical conduct and helpful guidance concerning the main obligations of engineers .

• Inspire using language with positive overtones • Codes should be brief to be effective , they

offer mostly general guidance

Engineering Societies that have published Code of Ethics

Examples of Engineering Codes of Ethics

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Roles of Codes

• Support : Codes give positive support to those seeking to act ethically.

• A Publicly proclaimed code allows an engineer who is under pressure to act unethically to say : “Iam bound by the code of ethics of my profession , which states that …”. This by itself gives engineers some group backing in taking stands on moral issues.

Roles of Codes

• Difference and Discipline :Codes can also serve as the formal basis for

investigating unethical conduct.Paralegal Proceedings designed to get at the

truth about a given charge without violating the personal rights of those being investigated .

Roles of Codes

• Education and Mutual Understanding : Codes can be used in the classroom and elsewhere

to prompt discussion and reflection on moral issues to encourage a shared understanding among

concerning the moral responsibilities of engineers . - professionals, - the public, and - the government organizations

Roles of Codes

• Contributing to the Profession’s Public Image – Codes can present a Positive image to the public

of an ethically committed profession .– Help engineers more effectively serve the public – Can win greater powers of self-regulation for the

profession itself -Not Properly Dressed :- increase public cynicism

( distrust)

Roles of Codes

• Protecting the status Quo :• Codes establish ethical conventions( agreements)• Help promote an agreed upon minimum level of

ethical conduct• Example: In 1932 , two engineers were expelled

from ASCE for violating a section of its code forbidding public remarks critical to other engineers

Roles of Codes

• Promoting Business Interests : – Business Dealings can benefit

ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) Code of Ethics

The Fundamental Principles

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering profession by:

I. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare;

II. being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the public, their employers, and their clients;

III. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and,

IV. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

ABET Code of Ethics of EngineersThe Fundamental Canons

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence. 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest. 5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others. 6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the profession. 7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

Ethics in ABET Program OutcomesEngineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have• Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, engineering• Ability to design and conduct expts, analyze and interpret data• Ability to design system, component, or process• Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams• Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility• Ability to communicate effectively• Broad education necessary to understand engineering impact in a

global and societal context• Recognition of need for and ability to engage in life-long learning• Knowledge of contemporary issues• Ability to use techniques, skills and modern engineering tools

necessary for engineering practice

IEEE Code of Ethics

• Last revised in 1990.• All members are required to abide by the Code.

– Stated on membership form which they sign

• Violations of the Code are subject to appropriate action.

IEEE Code of EthicsIEEE Code of Ethics

• We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:

1. Safety, health and welfare of the public

• to accept responsibility in making decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;

2. Conflicts of interest

• to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;

3. Honest and realistic on claims

• to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;

4. Reject bribery

• to reject bribery in all its forms;

5. Improve understanding of technology

• to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;

6. Technical competence

• to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;

7. Honesty in criticism and credit

• to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;

8. Fair

• to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;

9. Truthful

• to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;

10. Supportive

• to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.

Ethical Aspects of Engineering Practiceto the Public:Public Safety and Welfare Expert Information on Public

Issues; Whistle-blowing Volunteering

to the Client: Disclosure of Design Errors Confidentiality Adherence to Codes Monitoring of Sub-Contractors

to the Profession: Recruiting/Service the Public Institutions for the public good; Participation in Professional Societies

Conflict of Interest: Occurs whenever an engineer is in a position to make a decisionthat can result in his/her personal gain. Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest; Competition with Former Employer Employers Related Private Consultation After Public EmploymentFair Trade Practices: Intellectual Property Rights Criticism of Competitors Competence Inflated Claims in Advertising Shared Credit Maintaining Professional Standards Letters of Recommendation Signing off on Drawing

The Challenger Case

• After much delays Challenger’s 8th flight was set

• Up to 28th Jan 1986 Allan McDonald of Morton – Thiokol who designed the solid–rocket booster knew the problems with the field joints on previous cold weather joints. And 28th Jan was expected to be cold.

http://www.hss.iitm.ac.in/courses/mathews/What%20is%20Engineering%20Ethics1.pdf

• Seal experts Arnold Thompson and Roger Boisjoly of Morton – Thiokol, explained to NASA representatives how upon launch the booster rocket walls bulge and the combustion gases can blow past one or even both of the O-rings that make up the field joints.

• The rings char and erode, as had been observed on many previous flights. In cold weather the problem is aggravated because the rings and the putty packing are less pliable then (more brittle)

• Senior Vice President Jerry Mason told Bob Lund (Vice President Engineering) “TO TAKE OFF YOUR ENGINEERING HAT AND PUT ON YOUR MANAGEMENT HAT”. The managers (not engineers) voted that the seals COULD NOT BE SHOWN TO BE UNSAFE.

The temperature at launch was 36 F. As the rocket carrying the Challenger rose from the ground, cameras showed smoke emanating through the O-rings.Soon these turned into a flame that hit the external fuel tank and a strut holding the boosterrocket.

The slippery slope fallacyAt what temperature was it safe to launch?

Non-experts making decisions

Cases - Deadline• Ruskin Manufacturing has guaranteed Parker Products that it will deliver

the complete order of small machines by the 10th of the month, a Friday. Parker had already extended its deadline once. This time, it insists, the date must be met. Tim Vinson, head of quality control, had been confident the deadline would be met. But on the 8th he learns that a new component of the machines is in short supply. He thinks of several options:1. Approve breaking up and regrinding the remaining supply of the old

component that was being replaced. This could probably be accomplished in time, but the speed at which it would have to be done raises concerns about impurities in the process.

2. Approve using the old component in place of the new one. The product would still function well, and it would be unlikely that Parker would ever detect the difference. Although Parker would not be getting exactly what it ordered, the product would meet minimal safety and durability standards.

3. Discuss the problem with the design engineer and see what he suggests.

• Which of these options would you recommend? Can you think of any other options that might be preferable?

*From NSF Engineering Ethics Case Report. http://ethics.tamu.edu/1992nsf.htm

Engineering Ethics Case Reports

• Review the following web page (or others):http://www.onlineethics.org/Your group should prepare a 10-min powerpoint

presentation on one case that you will present to class and articulate an opinion on the proper ethical conduct of those involved.

Let me know by e-mail which case you will present by no later than Monday.