SEE 4012

Professional Engineering Practice

Summary
Text by Fleddermann

CONTENT

Ch. 2

Professionalism & Code of Ethics

Ch. 3

Understanding Ethical Problems

Ch. 4

Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques

Ch. 5

Risk, Safety & Accidents

Ch. 6

The Rights & Responsibilities of

Engineers

Ch. 2: Professionalism & Code of Ethics

What determines profession?
Skills
Responsibilities

What is a profession?
1. Work requires sophisticated skills, judgment & discretion
2. Extensive formal education, not simply training &
apprenticeship
3. Allowed by the public to form special societies controlled by
members of the profession
4. Its practice results in significant public good.

Ch. 3: Understanding Ethical Problems

- based on Western Ethics
4 ethical theories:
1. Utilitarianism seek to produce a balance
between good & bad consequences of an
action, considering everyone affected.
2. Duty Ethics there are duties to be
performed regardless of whether these acts
lead to the most good.
3. Rights Ethics we all have moral rights
and any action that violates these rights is
ethically unacceptable.
4. Virtue Ethics regards actions as right that
manifest good virtues and bad as that
display bad charater virtues

Cost-Benefit Analysis
Maximizing the wellbeing of society

Dont account for

overall good of the
society very well

Focuses on the type of

person we should strive
to be

Non-Western ethical thinking:

Muslim, Chines, Indian, Buddhist

Tools in engineering analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Problem 1: hard to evaluate benefits in terms of $
Problem 2: cant account for subjective items e.g loss of scenic
wilderness, species extinction etc.
Those who get the benefits = those who pay for the cost

Which theory to use?

None of these
One of these
Combinations of these

Ch. 4: Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques

Types of issues in ethical problems:
1. Factual what is known about the case
2. Conceptual the meaning and applicability of an idea
3. Moral clearer once factual & conceptual issues are
determined

Ethical problem-solving techniques:

1. Line Drawing technique
Negative
Paradigm

2. Flow Charting technique

Positive
Paradigm

 3 ways to solve conflict problems:

1. Easy choice
2. Creative middle way
3. Gut feeling

Bribe
Bribe something (money or favour) offered or given to
someone in a position of trust in order to induce him to act
dishonestly.
Bribe vs. gift depends on:
- Value of the gift
- Intent of the gift

Why bribery is NOT tolerated?

1.
2.
3.
4.

It corrupts free-market economic system & is anticompetetive

It does not reward the most efficient producer
It is a sell-out to the rich corrupt justice & public policy
It treats people as commodities that can be bought or sold

Ch. 5: Risk, Safety & Accidents

Risk the possibility of suffering harm or loss.
Safety freedom from damage, injury or risk.
Most important duty of an engineers:
- To protect the safety and well-being of the public

Factors in determining risk level:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Voluntary vs. Involuntary

Short-term vs. Long-term consequences
Expected probability
Reversible effects
Threshold levels for risk
Delayed vs. Immediate risk

 4 criteria in safe design:

1. The design must comply with the applicable law.
2. The design must meet the standard of accepted engineering
practice.
3. Alternative designs that are potentially safer must be explored.
4. Engineers must attempt to foresee potential misuse of the
product & design to avoid this problem.
5. Finished devices must be rigorously tested.

Designing for safety:

Define problem Generate several solutions Analyse each
solution Test the solutions Select best solution Implement
the chosen solution

 Categories of accidents:
Type

Source

How to Overcome

Result of bad choice

Failure to follow
procedure
Failure to follow design
rules

> training
> supervision
> strict enforcement of
laws & regulations

2. Engineered

Flaws in design

> knowledge gained

thru testing
> rigorous field test

3. Systematic

Characteristic of very
> understanding on the
complex
system
technology/organization Be creative in
Small problem that could
determining how things
lead to disaster
can be designed to avoid
mistakes.

1. Procedural
(most common)

Ch. 6: Rights & Responsibilities of Engineers

Responsibilities of Engineers:
1. Keeping Confidentiality & Proprietary Information

keep certain info of their client confidential

Why? Wont affect their bility to compete

2. Avoiding Conflict of Interest

3 types of Conflict of Interest Actual, Potential, Appearance
How to avoid Conflict of Interest? Follow the guidance of
company policy/ ask co-workers/ refer to Code of Ethics

3. Prohibition of Competitive Bidding

To avoid engineers cutting corners in providing services to offer
competitive price and endanger public safety.

 Rights of engineers:
1. Rights of Professional Conscience the rights to exercise
professional judgment in an ethical manner
2. Rights of Conscientious Refusal refuse to engage in
unethical behaviour
3. Whistleblowing an act by an employee of informing the
public or higher management of unethical or illegal behaviour
by an employer or supervisor.

Whistleblowing
Types of
whistleblowing

Internal
(within
company)

Acknowledged

External
(outside
company)

Anonymous

Acknowledged

Anonymous

 Only attempt whistleblowing if 4 conditions are met:

1. Need a clear & important harm that can be avoided by
whistleblowing
2. Proximity No hearsay, need first hand knowledge
3. Capability must have a reasonable success in stopping the
harmful activities
4. Last resort no one else more capable of whistleblowing and
that all other means are shut off.

4 ways to prevent whistleblowing:

1. Strong corporate ethics culture
2. Clear lines of communication within the organization
3. All employees must have reasonable access to high-level
managers to bring any concerns forward
4. Willingness of the management to admit mistakes.