ENGINEERING ETHICS

ASSIGNMENT # 01

SUBMITTED TO: Engr. M. KHALID

NAME: AFIFAH SHAKOOR KHAN

REGISTRATION NO.: 46246

CLASS: BEE 8-D

Question# 1:

From the web site of an engineering professional society, select a code of ethics of interest to
you, given your career plans; for example, the American society of civil engineers, the
American institute of chemical engineers, the American institute of mechanical engineers, or
the American institute of electronic and electrical engineers. Compare and contrast the code
with the NSPE code (see appendix), selecting three or four specific points to discuss. Do they
state the same requirements with the same emphasis?

Being an electrical engineer, I read the code of ethics stated by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers). After doing so I compared it with the code of ethics stated by the
NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) and I found quite a lot in common amongst
them.

The following fundamental canons were given top preference in both the codes:

 To hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and the protection of
the environment.
 To avoid deceptive acts like bribery, false qualifications and acts of discrimination.
 To perform services only in areas of their competence.
 To act with integrity, honesty, responsibility and to avoid conflicts of interest whenever
possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist.

Safety of the people around you and the environment should always be given top priority since
it is the basic rule of humanity as well as ethics. After that come professional obligations like
acts of honesty and responsibility, this is a fundamental duty to ones profession and oneself. By
doing deceptive acts such as taking bribery in any form, will have a negative impact on
employee morale and can lead to lack of progress in one’s profession. Also employees should
undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience. In conclusion it is
necessary for engineers to perform under a standard of professional behavior.
Question# 2:

With regard to the same two codes you used in question 1, list three examples of
responsibilities that you believe would be incumbent on engineers even if the written code
did not exist, and explain why. Also list two examples, if any, of responsibilities created
(entirely or in part) because the code was written as a consensus document within the
profession.

The Code of Ethics sets the rules by which professionals should conduct their professional lives
and gives them a sense of responsibility. But there are a few responsibilities that are incumbent
on engineers even if the written code did not exist. Given below are a few examples:

#1: The safety, health, and welfare of the public and protection of the environment
This is something that should be given paramount importance no matter what or where a
person is working. This rule not just comes under ethics but humanity also. Being a sensible
human being we are obligated to value the life and health of others, and should also take care
of the environment we live in. This is not just our responsibility as an engineer, but also as a
responsible citizen of this country and a general human being.

#2: To avoid deceptive acts.

Deceptive acts in one’s profession can have a lot of consequences. Like taking bribery (both the
giving and taking hand) are creating a chain of evil. This act won’t just ruin the person’s
reputation but can slowly ruin the company’s business too. Similarly, people who falsify their
qualifications to get the job may succeed in getting the job but they cannot progress in the
future. Also, one day or another the truth may come out and it can cause a lot of humiliation
and can ruin one’s career. An engineer’s work shouldn’t just relate to the knowledge and skill
required to practice the profession, but should also include the ethical standards.

#3: to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work and to credit properly the
contributions of others.
Honest criticism can be beneficial for an engineer. It should be taken positively rather than
taken to the heart because it gives you the chance of improving yourself. Once you know where
you lacked last time, you’ll try not to make the same mistake in the future. Thus honest
criticism should be taken as well as offered in professions. Apart from this while working
together in a project it is necessary to credit properly and honestly the contributions of others
and not takes others’ advantage. In this way others will respect you and won’t take advantage
of you either. Thus these are the points that should always be in an engineer’s mind and they
should be incumbent to take these responsibilities in order to be a successful engineer even if
they aren’t mentioned in written form.

Responsibilities created

Other than the responsibilities stated in the code of ethics, there are a few responsibilities that
have been created, given below are two examples:

#1: not to speak ill of your colleagues or supervisor.

Being an honest and a responsible engineer it our duty towards the people around us, to not
speak ill of them no matter what. The famous quote ‘give respect and get respect’ could be
added here. The person should treat everyone with respect. This is the fundamental rule of
moral ethics.

#2: to share work load of your co-workers and colleagues and also cover up for them when
necessary
While working together with a group of people, it is necessary to create a friendly yet formal
environment. Thus we should assist our colleagues and co-workers and also at times share their
work load. If you’re colleague has a lot of work load that day and you don’t have much
comparatively and have the time to assist him, then you should. In this way your kindness will
reciprocate back to you, and when you’ll be in need of assistance you’ll have a helping hand.
Thus being part of a professional society, it is our responsibility to look after the people around
us.