Ethics

Ethics are a very important aspect of life that help to distinguish between right and

wrong. It is important to take ethics into account when making decisions. Ethics play a

significant role in engineering and the workplace. In order to promote a better workspace and

world ethics must not be overlooked.

It is critical to follow a code of ethics and take it into consideration when making

decisions. The purpose of a code of ethics is to clearly establish rules and expectations. That

way people are aware of what is expected of them and can easily establish if something is right

or wrong. When I am faced with an ethical situation, I think back to what my grandma always

says, “if it’s not right it’s wrong”. If I feel weird or like something isn’t totally in the right usually

that is because it’s wrong. This helps me make decisions that I won’t regret later and that don’t

go against my beliefs.

Throughout the course, we discussed several ethical issues. We talked about how

important ethics are in the workplace. We asserted that it is critical to promote an inclusive

workplace as it builds the trust and commitment of employees. If employers' perspectives are

not respected, it can lead to a very hostile work environment. In addition, we discussed how

ethical issues have affected companies in the past. For example, in regard to the pinto car

issue, Ford Motor company clearly violated IEEE ethics codes 1, 2, and 7. Ford put out a

product that was not safe for consumers leading to distrust in the company. We came to the

consensus that the most ethical decision is one that protests human lives and believes even if

you have to put in more time and money to abide by this.

Ethics virtues are very important in both your work and personal life. One issue I

discussed in class was the Amazon Eco Issue. Three virtues that stick out to me in regard to

this issue are honesty, fidelity, and responsibility. Amazon was not completely open and honest

with how much information their devices are collecting on their users. The device even ended
up catching conversations that could be used to solve murder cases. This brings up the issue of

whether amazon should be faithful to their customers or give their information over. It brings up

the question of what Amazon’s responsibility is to do with the data and who owns and has rights

to the data. Charity was less relevant to the issue as it does not relate to the core issue. I feel

like there is not another ethical virtue that relates to the case study that isn’t in the “Virtue of

Ethics” because the overarching virtues are included.

Ethics issues can be complicated and involved but when faced with them it is critical that

you stick to your core virtues and beliefs. Ethics are heavily involved in engineering and the

workplace. It is important companies stick to their values to promote a better workplace.