Communication and Ethics-

PT2301
Lecture 1:
Introduction to Ethics: Responsibilities of engineers/
scientists, Engineers vs managers. Social context of
technological development and personal ethics
 What is ethics?
•Ethics is the code of moral principles and values that governs the behaviors
of a person or group with respect to what is right & wrong
•Ethics sets standards as to what is good or bad in conduct and decision
making
• An ethical issue is present in a situation when the actions of a person or
organization may harm or benefit others
 7 principle of Engineering ethics

Key concepts of engineering ethics : Among the

universal ethical values are honesty, integrity,
promise-keeping, fidelity, fairness, respect for others,
responsible citizenship, pursuit of excellence and
accountability
 Engineering ethics
• Black and White Areas – Easy:
Right vs. Wrong
• Gray Areas – Tougher:
Right vs. Right –
Lesser of the Evils/Dilemma
• Other Factors
Time/Money
Family
Career
Reputation
 Ethics:
• Principles, • Personal ethics is a foundation of
professional ethics.
Morale,
• There is a difference between
Believes, professional ethics and personal
Standards, ethics.
…etc • Obvious difference; professional
ethics has to do with the ethical
standards accepted by a professional
community.

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 Ethics:
• Engineering Ethics: is about
• how we have to act and live as an engineer/
• Principles, Engineering technologist
Morale, • what we have to consider when making
decisions,
Believes,
• acording to what standards are these actions
Standards, right or wrong.
…etc
Shortly Engineering ethics is how engineers
morally act as an Engineer. This is professional
ethics NOT personal ethics.
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 According to what standards are
these actions right or wrong?
• Case 1:
Mary discovers that her plant (factory) is discharging a substance into the
river that is not regulated by the government. She decides to do some
reading about the substance and finds that some of the studies suggest that
it is carcinogen. As an engineering technologist, she believes she has an
obligation to protect the public, but she also wants to be a loyal employee.
The substance will probably be very expensive to remove, and her boss
advises, “Forget about it until the government makes us do something. Then
all the other plants will have to spend money too, and we will not be at a
competitive disadvantage.” What should Mary do?
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 According to what standards are these
actions right or wrong?
• Case 2:
Tom is designing a new chemical plant. One of his responsibilities is
to identify the valves to be used in a certain portion of the plant.
Before he makes his final decision, a salesperson for one of the
firms that manufactures valves invites Tom to a golf game at the
local country club. Should Tom accept the offer?

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 According to what standards are
these actions right or wrong?
• Consider the cases as a • What you have to consider
professional engineering when making decisions in
technologist. those cases.

• According to what
standards are these
actions right or wrong in
those cases.
Things to consider and standards:

• What are your OBLIGATIONS /

RESPONSIBILITIES as a professional
engineering technologist?
 Things to consider and standards:
• NSPE Codes (National Society of Professional Engineers)
• As a professional engineer it is your obligation / responsibility to
obey NSPE codes.

Therefore;

• Engineering Ethics (NSPE codes): shows you how you have to act
and live as an engineer. What you have to consider when making
decisions. According to NSPE codes these actions are right or
wrong. 11
 According to what standards are
these actions right or wrong?
• Case 1:
Mary discovers that her plant (factory) is discharging a substance into the
river that is not regulated by the government. She decides to do some
reading about the substance and finds that some of the studies suggest that
it is carcinogen. As an engineering technologist, she believes she has an
obligation to protect the public, but she also wants to be a loyal employee.
The substance will probably be very expensive to remove, and her boss
advises, “Forget about it until the government makes us do something. Then
all the other plants will have to spend money too, and we will not be at a
competitive disadvantage.” What should Mary do?
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Mary is facing an ethical dilemma, and her decision should consider various ethical principles. Here
are some ethical considerations and potential courses of action for Mary:

1. Utilitarianism: Mary could weigh the consequences of her actions on

both the public and her company. If the substance is indeed a
carcinogen, it poses a significant risk to public health. Removing it
might be costly, but it could prevent harm to the community. From a
utilitarian perspective, she should report the issue to the relevant
authorities or her superiors.
2. Duty Ethics: Mary may consider her professional and moral duty to
protect the public. As an engineering technologist, she has a
responsibility to ensure the safety of the systems she works on. This
may outweigh her loyalty to her employer.
Mary is facing an ethical dilemma, and her decision should consider various ethical principles. Here
are some ethical considerations and potential courses of action for Mary:

3. Virtue Ethics: Mary might reflect on her personal values and virtues. If she values
integrity, honesty, and a commitment to public safety, she should report the issue.
Virtue ethics would encourage her to act in alignment with these values.

4. Rights-Based Ethics: Individuals have the right to live in an environment free

from harmful pollutants. If Mary believes that the substance being discharged into
the river violates these rights, she may have an ethical obligation to report it.

5. Long-term Consequences: Mary should consider the long-term consequences of

her actions. Ignoring the issue until it becomes regulated might save her company
money in the short term, but it could lead to legal and reputational issues in the
future.
Mary is facing an ethical dilemma, and her decision should consider various ethical principles. Here
are some ethical considerations and potential courses of action for Mary:

7. Whistleblowing: If Mary's attempts to address the issue internally

are unsuccessful, she may need to consider whistleblowing—reporting
the problem to relevant regulatory agencies or the media. However,
she should be aware of potential consequences and legal protections
for whistleblowers in her jurisdiction.

8. Seek Guidance: Mary can consult with colleagues, mentors, or ethics

experts to get their perspectives on the situation. Their insights may
help her make an informed decision.
Mary is facing an ethical dilemma, and her decision should consider various ethical principles. Here
are some ethical considerations and potential courses of action for Mary:

In conclusion, the best course of action for Mary should align with her
ethical values and professional responsibilities.
Ultimately, her primary obligation should be to protect public safety
and adhere to ethical standards, even if it means taking actions that
might not be in the company's short-term financial interest.
However, she should also explore avenues for addressing the issue
within her organization before considering more drastic measures like
whistleblowing.
 According to what standards are these
actions right or wrong?
• Case 2:
Tom is designing a new chemical plant. One of his responsibilities is
to identify the valves to be used in a certain portion of the plant.
Before he makes his final decision, a salesperson for one of the
firms that manufactures valves invites Tom to a golf game at the
local country club. Should Tom accept the offer?

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Tom's situation presents an ethical dilemma related to potential conflicts of interest and the
appearance of impropriety. To determine whether he should accept the salesperson's offer to play
golf, he should consider various ethical principles:

1. Conflict of Interest: Tom should evaluate whether accepting the golf

invitation could create a conflict of interest. If the salesperson expects
something in return for the invitation, such as a favor or preference in
selecting valves for the plant, it could compromise Tom's professional
judgment.

2. Transparency: Transparency is an important ethical principle. Tom

should consider whether accepting the invitation might raise concerns
about transparency. If it's not clear to others in the organization why
he's meeting with the salesperson outside of professional channels, it
may give the appearance of impropriety.
Tom's situation presents an ethical dilemma related to potential conflicts of interest and the
appearance of impropriety. To determine whether he should accept the salesperson's offer to play
golf, he should consider various ethical principles:

3. Impartiality: As a professional responsible for selecting valves for the

plant, Tom should strive to make impartial and objective decisions. If
accepting the golf invitation could influence his choice of valves, it
would undermine impartiality.

4. Company Policies: Tom should also review his company's policies

regarding interactions with suppliers and vendors. Many organizations
have strict policies in place to prevent situations like this to maintain
ethical standards and prevent conflicts of interest.
Tom's situation presents an ethical dilemma related to potential conflicts of interest and the
appearance of impropriety. To determine whether he should accept the salesperson's offer to play
golf, he should consider various ethical principles:

5. Gifts and Gratuities: Tom should consider whether the golf game could be seen
as a gift or gratuity from the salesperson's company. Accepting lavish gifts from
suppliers can be ethically problematic, as it might influence decision-making.

6. Alternative Ways to Interact: Tom could explore alternative ways to interact with
the salesperson that are more transparent and do not raise concerns about
impropriety. For example, he could arrange a formal meeting at the workplace to
discuss valve options.

7. Consult Company Ethics Committee: If Tom is unsure about the ethical

implications of accepting the invitation, he could seek guidance from his company's
ethics committee or a supervisor. They can provide specific guidance based on the
organization's policies and values.
Tom's situation presents an ethical dilemma related to potential conflicts of interest and the
appearance of impropriety. To determine whether he should accept the salesperson's offer to play
golf, he should consider various ethical principles:

In conclusion, whether Tom should accept the golf invitation depends

on the specific circumstances and his organization's policies.
However, as a general guideline, to avoid potential conflicts of interest
and maintain ethical integrity, it's often advisable for professionals like
Tom to decline such invitations or explore alternative, more
transparent ways to interact with suppliers and vendors.
What is a Profession?
• Paid occupation, especially one that requires advanced education,
characteristics and training.
 Differences:
❑Personal ❑ Common ❑Professional Ethics
Ethics Morality is the set of standards
is the set of is the set of adopted by
ones own moral ideals professionals in so far as
ethical shared by most they see themselves
commitments. members of a acting as professionals.
culture or society. It can be different from
personal ethics and
common morality.
Ethics =Morality
The following examples shows some of the possible
relationships between professional, personal, and common
morality.

• An engineer refuses to design military hardware because she believes war is in-moral.
This refusal is based on personal morality.

• A civil engineer refuses to design a project he believes will be contrary to the

principles of sustainable (maintain) development.

This refusal is based on personal morality and professional code of ethics.

 Aims of studying ethics
 Moral Imagination: To minimize the chances of being taken
by surprise, engineers must exercise great imagination in
considering possible alternatives and their likely
consequences.
 Recognizing (Moral) Ethical Issues:
 Analyzing Concepts:
 Eliciting (Bring out) a Sense of Responsibility:
 Addressing un-clarity, un-certainty, and disagreement.
 Unethical acts of engineers
Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywjumob-SoA
 Ethical responsibilities:
Scientist, Engineer vs Manager
As the fundamental canon of engineering codes of ethics states, it is vital that
“the safety, health, and welfare of the public” is upheld in professional practice
and in research activities. Another responsibility that researchers have is
to avoid practices that erode the public's trust.

As managers, engineer's moral responsibility is to produce safe and useful

products that are also profitable
 Ethical responsibilities:
Researcher/ Scientist
• Researchers have a broad range of ethical responsibilities to their colleagues,
their institution, and the public, and only a short list of them will be
mentioned here. One of the key responsibilities that researchers have is to
communicate research findings in an honest, sincere, complete, and
competent way.
• Also, researchers must ensure that the integrity of their work is maintained to
the greatest degree possible. Transparency can be a crucial step in this regard.
It can include disclosing a relevant conflict of interest to appropriate entities
such as a funding source, a journal editor, or an institutional committee.
 Ethical responsibilities:
Engineer vs Manager
• Engineers are often salaried employees and they are usually hierarchically
below managers.
• This can lead to situations of conflict because they have, on the one hand, a
responsibility to the company in which they work and, on the other hand, a
professional responsibility as engineers.
 Ethical responsibilities:
Types of Responsibility
• Role Responsibility
• Moral Responsibility
• Professional Responsibility
 Ethical responsibilities:
Types of Responsibility
• Role Responsibility
• Moral Responsibility
• Professional Responsibility
 Ethical responsibilities:
Types of Responsibility
Role Responsibility:
• The responsibility that is based on the role one has or plays in a certain
situation.
• Since a person often has different roles in life he/she has various role
responsibilities.
• One role may have responsibilities that conflict with the responsibilities
that accompany another role.
Eg: Engineer in the Challenger case both had a role as an employee and as an engineer. As an employee he was
expected to be loyal to his company and to listen to his superiors, who eventually decided to give positive advice
about the launch.As an engineer he was expected to give technically sound advice taking into account the possible
risks to the astronauts.
 Ethical responsibilities:
Types of Responsibility
Moral Responsibility:
• Responsibility that is based on moral obligations, moral norms or
moral duties.
• It is based on the obligations, norms, and duties that arise from moral
considerations.
• Moral responsibility can extend beyond roles.
• In the Challenger case, it was part of the engineer’s moral responsibility
to care for the consequences of his advice for the astronauts and for
others.
 Ethical responsibilities:
Types of Responsibility
Professional responsibility:
• The responsibility that is based on one’s role as professional in as far it
stays within the limits of what is morally allowed

Eg: As engineering technologist, we have a responsibility to ensure safety

in our designs, products and operations
 Case: The Forklifter
Engineering student Bryan Springer has a high paying summer job as a
forklift operator. This job enables him to attend university without having
to take out any student loans. He was now staring at a 50-gallon drum
filled with used machine coolant, wondering what he should do.
Just moments ago, Bryan's supervisor, Max Morrison, told him to dump
half of the used coolant down the drain. Bryan knew the coolant was
toxic, and he mentioned this to Max. But Max was not swayed.
 Case: The Forklifter
Max: The toxins settle at the bottom of the drum. If you pour out half and dilute it with tap
water while you're pouring it, there's no problem.
Byran: I don't think that's going to work. Besides, isn't it against the law?
Max: Look, kid, I don't have time for chat about a bunch of laws. If I spent my time worrying
about every little regulation that comes along, I'd never get anything done -- and neither
will you. Common sense is my rule. I just told you --Toxins settle at the bottom, and most of
them will stay there. We've been doing this for years, and nothing's happened.
Byran: You mean no one's said anything about it? That doesn't mean the environment isn't
being harmed.
Max: You aren't one of those "environmentalists," are you? You students spend too much of
your time with "theory”. It's time to "get real" -- and get on with the job.
 Case:The Forklifter
Byran: But....
Max: But nothing. Time to get real-and get on with the job. You know, you're very lucky to have a
good paying job like this, kid. In three months you'll be back in your university. Meanwhile, how
many other students do you think there are out there wondering if they'll be able to afford to go
back -- students who'd give everything to be where you are right now

Max then left, fully expecting Bryan to dump the used coolant. As Bryan stared at the drum, he
pondered his options.
What options do you think he has? What do you think he should do?