Phase I: Imagining the future and the challenges it will present to engineering
Phase II: Considering how engineering education should prepare for that future
3
Engineer as a Professional
What is a Profession?
A status symbol
Professions enjoy a high social status, regard and esteem
conferred upon them by society
4
What is a Professional Engineer?
5
Products and Processes Have Consequences for Society
If the bridge has an inadequate support, it will fail.
If the gas tank is positioned too close to the bumper, it might
explode from a small accident.
If a medical instrument isn’t accurate, improper doses of
medication can be given.
If the process for refining gas produces too much toxins, it harms
the local community.
If an aircraft is not maintained to airworthy standard, it may
crash.
6
The Essence of Your Engineering Career
Engineering is one of the most important professions in society.
7
Two Dimensions of Ethics in Engineering
Ethics is part of engineering for two main reasons
8
Technical and Ethical
Responsibilities of Engineers?
9
Engineering Ethics
Engineering is a profession serving society.
As such, society imposes special obligations on engineers.
10
Interaction Rules of Behaviour
Etiquette
Law
Morality
Ethics
11
Etiquette
13
Morality
Personal rules of right and wrong behavior derived
from a person’s upbringing, religious beliefs, and
societal influences
15
Ethics vs. Law
Examples of the Categories
16
Recognizing & Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
The hijacked plane with 200 people is approaching
a complex facility with 50,000 people
18
A Recurring Ethical Dilemma
Engineering commitment to safety
vs
All of the factors management must consider
“Is it time to take off your engineering hat and put on your
management hat?”
Ethical Problems are . . .
19
Professional Ethics
Who decides?
20
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ACT
(CHAPTER 253, SECTION 36)
21
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ACT (CHAPTER 253)
An Act to establish the Professional Engineers Board, to provide for
the registration of professional engineers, to regulate the
qualifications and conduct of professional engineers and to regulate
corporations, partnerships limited liability which supply professional
engineering services
Engage in PE work
If you want to engage in PE work you must be a registered PE
Supply PE services
If you want to supply or offer to supply PE services as an individual,
you must be a registered PE on your own or as partner in a
partnership ( licensed partnership, LLP or partnership of all PEs)
22
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ACT
Key Areas
23
Registering to be a Professional Engineer
How to be a Professional Engineer?
24
Examinations
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam FEE
which tests the applicant’s knowledge of fundamental engineering
subjects in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering
25
PPE Examination – Common Paper
26
USA National Society of Professional Engineers
NSPE Code of Ethics
Preamble
Engineering is an important and learned profession. As
members of this profession, engineers are expected to
exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
27
USA National Society of Professional Engineers NSPE
Code of Ethics
Fundamental principles
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competency
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful
manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and
trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation
and usefulness of the profession.
29
Public Interests
This means that an engineer must hold paramount the
safety, health and welfare of the public.
30
Why Isn’t Conscience Enough?
What would it be like to be an engineer if
“engineers did not generally hold paramount the
safety, health, and welfare of the public”?
The gas tank design was flawed and was not in line
with accepted engineering standards, even though it
did meet applicable federal safety standards at the
time. 32
Case 1 : Ford Pinto
Ford engineers were aware of the dangers of this design.
Following crash tests, the conclusion was that the rear end
structure was not satisfactory.
Ford figured they would kill 180 people with the pinto,
which would cost them 49.5 million dollars.
Suggested changes would have cost about $11 per car (12.5
million cars = $137 million). A confidential company memo
directed that the safety features not be adopted at that
time until required by law.
Since the cost of the projected law suits was less than the
cost of making the car safe. Ford made the death trap.
34
Case 1 : Ford Pinto
The dilemma faced by the design engineers who worked on
the Pinto was to balance
35
Solution to Ethical Dilemma
36
Case 2 : Therac-25
Conclusions
• Insufficient resources to develop software (1 engineer)
• Insufficient testing, inappropriate reuse of prev-gen control software
• Initial denial, slow reaction to reports of problems
37
Duplicate
USA National Society of Professional Engineers
NSPE Code of Ethics
Fundamental principles
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competence
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically and
lawfully so as to enhance the honour, reputation and
usefulness of the profession.
38
Area of Competence
An engineer should offer services, advice or undertake
professional assignments only in their areas of competence.
39
Signing Plans
40
A Qualified Person
41
Case 3 : Hotel New World Disaster, 15 Mar 1986
新世界酒店坍塌事件
Originally Lian Yak Building, previously known as New
Serangoon Hotel. Built in 1971
36 reinforced concrete columns
supporting 6 concrete floors
33 deaths, 17 survivors
42
Hotel New World Disaster
43
Hotel New World Disaster
45
To be honest and realistic in stating claims or
estimates based on available data
46
Duplicate
USA National Society of Professional Engineers
NSPE Code of Ethics
1. Fundamental principles Hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competency
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful
manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and
trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation
and usefulness of the profession.
48
Conflict of Interest
49
Duplicate
USA National Society of Professional Engineers
NSPE Code of Ethics
1. Fundamental principles Hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competency
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful
manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and
trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation
and usefulness of the profession.
51
Volkswagen called them “clean diesels,” branding them as the fun-
to-drive alternatives to hybrids as it dominated the U.S. market for
the engine technology. VW Scandal
Turns out the increasingly eco-conscious buyers of the sporty
German cars have been unwittingly pumping smog into the air —
because of software VW installed to cheat on U.S. emissions tests.
The automaker will have to recall all the vehicles and modify the
emissions systems at its own expense, regulators said.
Additionally it could face a fine of about $18 billion, or $37,500 per
car, federal environmental officials said. 52
Duplicate
USA National Society of Professional Engineers
NSPE Code of Ethics
1. Fundamental principles Hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of public
2. Perform services in area of competency
3. Issue public statement in an objective and truthful
manner
4. Act for employer or client as a faithful agent and
trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation
and usefulness of the profession.
54
Whistle-Blowing
55
Examples of Problems that Might Warrant
Whistle-Blowing
Incompetence
Criminal Behavior
Unethical Policies
Threat to Public Safety or environment
Injustices to Workers
56
Types of Whistle-Blowing
57
Laws Protecting Whistle Blowers U.K. Public Interest Disclosure
Act 1998
Protected disclosures:
making a qualifying disclosure made to the
employer or through internal procedures, a
prescribed person, a legal adviser or a Minister
making a qualifying disclosure about an
exceptionally serious failure
making a qualifying disclosure more generally
disclosure about health and safety matters
58
Example of Whistle Blowing
After Goldstein lost his case, Congress amended the federal nuclear
whistleblower law to provide protection reports made to internal
systems and prevent retaliation against whistleblowers.
59
Moral Guidelines to External Whistle-Blowing
It is morally permissible for engineers to engage in external whistle-
blowing concerning safety:
1. If the harm that will be done by the product to the public is serious and
considerable
2. If they make their concerns known to their superiors
3. If getting no satisfaction from their immediate superiors, they exhaust
the channels available within the corporation, including going to the board
of directors.
4. They must have documented evidence that would convince a
reasonable, impartial observer that their view of the situation is correct
and the company policy wrong.
60
Big Picture
Codes of ethics are not a law
Ethical behavior is not always protected by law
Frequently ethical behavior may be perceived as
disloyalty
Many companies realize that ethical behavior is
essential for their long term prosperity
• Ethically-aware companies providing help to
employees facing ethical conflicts
• Allow employees to raise ethical concerns
anonymously
• Explicitly prevent any forms of retaliation for
reporting unethical behavior
61
Ethics is the cornerstone of
Our reputation at TI depends upon all of the decisions we make and all
the actions we take personally each day. Our values define how we will
evaluate our decisions and actions and how we will conduct our
business. We are working in a difficult, demanding, ever-changing
business environment.
63
Summary
Engineering professional goals or virtues, such
as protecting public safety and client and
employee honesty, lead to the trust and
progress of the engineering profession.