Senior Design II

Engineering Ethics
Ihssan S. Masad, Ph.D. Capstone Senior Design Coordinator Biomedical Engineering Department College of Engineering King Faisal University

ME 496, EE 496, CEE 496

Presentation Purpose
Introduce ethical concepts Help you recognize ethical issues Introduce a code of ethics Stimulate your ethical imagination Promote a sense of responsibility

Presentation Outline
What is Engineering Ethics? Basic Concepts and Moral Theories Code(s) of Ethics Engineers and Others

Society, Public, Clients, Employers, Other Engineers

Concluding Remarks

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

Engineering ethics is

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)

Core Ethical Values

Integrity Honesty Truthfulness Fidelity

Charity Responsibility Self-Discipline

www.engr.washington.edu/~uw-epp/Pepl/Ethics/

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?

Basic Concepts

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

Two Moral Standards

Utilitarianism

Those actions are right that produce the greatest total amount of human well-being.

Rights Analysis

Those actions are right that equally respect each human person as a moral agent.

Utilitarianism

Method of Analysis
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
1.

Problems

What is well-being? Requires extensive knowledge of facts to evaluate the happiness objective function Can lead to injustice for certain individuals

Rights Analysis

Method of Analysis
1. 2. 3.

Determine the audience of action or policy Evaluate the seriousness of the rights infringement each action will impose 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

Code of Ethics
NSPE Code of Ethics ASME Code of Ethics IEEE Code of Ethics NCEES Model Rules of Professional Conduct

NSPE Engineers' Creed

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

Ethical Priorities
1.

2.
3. 4. 5. 6.

7.

Society and the public The law The engineering profession Engineers client Engineers firm Other involved engineers The engineer personally

Engineers, Society, and Public

Primary duty to protect public welfare Social benefit vs. technological risk

Risk definition, assessment, evaluation, and management are complicated

voluntary vs. involuntary, near-term vs. long-term

No self-laudatory advertising and indicate if anyone benefits from statements Notify others if public safety or welfare is compromised

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

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

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

Engineers and the Environment

How clean, is clean? Objection as an engineer or citizen?

Often regulated by law

Often neglects cost/benefit analysis

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

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

Holtzapple-Reece: Foundations of Engineering (2000)

Guidelines to solve ethical dilemmas

1. 2.

3.
4. 5.

6.
7. 8.

9.

Determine the facts in the situation Define the stakeholders Assess the motivations of the stakeholders Formulate alternative solutions Evaluate proposed alternatives Seek additional assistance, as appropriate Select the best course of action Implement the selected solution Monitor and assess the outcome

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

As a Last Resort
Anonymity Resigning

Outside

resources

IEEE Ethics Committee 11/11/96

Question
Does the current version of the NPSE Code of Ethics for Engineers allow an engineer to work on a technology that contributes to global warming? Discuss and analyze this issue, as a group:
a.

Indicate on the provided checklist any relevant portions of the NPSE Code.

b.

Locate one source that would help you answer this question. Summarize this source.
Would you recommend the NPSE Code be modified to address this issue?

c.

Submit via email or hardcopy by Feb 24, 2008.

Engineers have an obligation to

protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public be aware of the experimental nature of projects, use imaginative forecasting of possible side effects, and make reasonable efforts to monitor them be personally involved in all steps of a project

Martin and Schinzinger: Ethics in Engineering (2000)

Final Thoughts

Engineering involves risk-assessment and resource allocation. Engineers must make difficult decisions. Engineering codes of ethics are important.

Engineers are responsible for the results of their work!

References

onlineethics.org ethics.tamu.edu www.niee.org www.ppi.com

nspe.org asme.org ieee.org ncees.org