BE

Factors influencing ethical behaviour?

Family
Influences
(esp. early
childhood)

Personal
Conscience

Friends/
Acquaintances

Desire for
money/
power/
influence

Political
views

Religious
beliefs

School/
Education

Desire to
preserve/
enhance
status

Loyalty to
Family/
Friends/
Company

Company
Ethos

Professional
Ethics

Cultural/
societal
values

Media
influences/
coverage

Legal
constraints
(Government)

Enforcement
(Legal/
Professional/
Religious)

BE
Ethical behaviour is built on a number of pillars
A. Personal Moral
Principles

D. Company or
Organisational
Ethos

B. Legal
Considerations

C. Ethos of
Professional Peers

E. Societal Ethos

F. Professional
Ethical
Considerations

BE
Society

Professional
Bodies

Workplace

Individual

Edward Conlons (2010) framework for understanding different approaches to

engineering ethics, based on work in the field of sociology

BE
Ethical behaviour is built on a number of pillars
C. Ethos of
Professional Peers

A. Personal Moral
Principles

B. Legal
Considerations

(Individual: micro-subj.)

(Society: macro-objective)

(Work: micro-obj./
Prof Soc: macro-subj.)

E. Societal Ethos

F. Professional
Ethical
Considerations

D. Company or
Organisational
Ethos
(Work: micro-objective)

(Society: macro-objective)

(Prof Soc: macro-subj.)

BE

http://www.engineersireland.ie/media/engineer
sireland/aboutus/governance/codesandbyelaws/
CodeOfEthics2010.pdf

BE
Engineers Ireland Code of Ethics (2010)
1.0 RELATIONS WITH COLLEAGUES, CLIENTS, EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES & SOCIETY IN GENERAL
2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Members shall;
2.1 ..at all times be conscious of the effects of their work on the health and safety of individuals
and on the welfare of society. ..strive to eliminate risks to health and safety. ..minimise or
eliminate any adverse impact on the natural environment arising from the design and execution
of all project work that they are engaged in.
2.2 ..promote the principles and practices of sustainable development and the needs of present
and future generations.
2.3 ..strive to accomplish the objectives of their work with the most efficient consumption of
natural resources which is practicable economically, including the maximum reduction in energy
usage, waste and pollution.
2.4 ..promote the importance of social and environmental factors to professional colleagues,
employers and clients with whom they share responsibility and collaborate with other
professions to mitigate the adverse impacts of their common endeavours.
2.5 ..foster environmental awareness within the profession and among the public.
3.0 MAINTENANCE & DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND STANDARDS
PE1003 Introduction to Process & Chemical Engineering

BE
Engineering ethics case study; Challenger
See:
NASA: Challenger Disaster LIVE (4:34)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac9jUrm8Vrc&feature=related

Challenger Explosion, ABC News 28 Jan 1986 (5:39)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUALwYsXSm8&feature=related

BE
Engineering ethics case study; Challenger
outside

inside

BE
Engineering ethics case study; Challenger