Issues in
Engineering Technology
Universiti Kuala Lumpur
Hands on
technical
skills
no formulas and no
easy 'plug-in'
methods for
reaching a solution.
factual
conceptual
moral
can often be
resolved
through
research to
establish
the truth
a
u
t
c
a
F
l
i s s ue
are resolved
are
by agreement,
resolved by
moral
agreeing on
principles
the meaning pertinent and
of terms
how they
should be
and
applied
concepts.
t
p
e
c
n
o
c
ual
i ss u e
moral
is s u e
Related skills
&
characteristics
Moral
communication
Moral
imagination
Moral
awareness
Moral
consistency
Moral
reasonableness
Integrity
Moral
Rational hope
moral
reasoning
Tolerance
of
Respect
diversity
for
persons
Moral
awareness
Rational
Moral
reasoning
Comprehending, clarifying,
and assessing arguments
opposing sides of moral
issues.
Moral
consistency
Moral
imagination
Moral
communication
Moral
reasonableness
discriminating alternative
responses to moral issues &
interest to creative
solutions for practical
difficulties
Precision in the use of a
common ethical language, a
skill needed to express and
support one's moral views
adequately to others
Respect
for
persons
Tolerance
of
diversity
Moral
hope
Enriched appreciation of
the possibilities of using
rational dialogue in
resolving moral conflicts.
Integrity
SCOPES
FIELD
engineers
SERVICES
TECHNICAL
SALES
PRODUCTION
TESTING
MANUFACTURING
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
enginering
technologist
PRODUCT
DESIGN
RESEARCH
Goals;
performance
specifications
Violation of patents /
trade secrets.
Product to be used
illegally
Unrealistic
assumptions
Design depends on
unavailable or
untested materials.
Preliminary
analysis
Uneven
Overly detailed in
designer's area of expertise,
marginal elsewhere
Detailed
analysis
unidentified
methodologies.
Uncritical use of
handbook data and
Simulation,
prototyping
Testing of prototype
done only under most
favorable
conditions or not
completed
Design
pecifications
Scheduling
of tasks
Purchasing
Bribes, kickbacks.
Inadequate testing
of purchased parts
Fabrication
of parts
Assembly/
construction
Variable quality of
materials and
workmanship
Bogus/fake materials &
components not detected.
Workplace
safety
Disregard of repetitivemotion stress on
workers.
Quality
control/
testing
Advertising &
sales
Not independent
tests rushed or
results falsified
False advertising
Product oversold
beyond client's
needs or means
Safety
measures
&
devices
Installation and
training
subcontracted out,
inadequately
Reliance
on overly
supervised.
complex, failureprone safety devices.
Lack of a simple
"safety exit."
Use
Overloaded.
Operations manuals
not ready.
aintenance, parts,
Inadequate supply of
spare parts
repairs
Hesitation to recall
the product when
found to be faulty
Monitoring
effects
of product
Recycling/
disposal
Lack of attention to
ultimate dismantling,
disposal of product,
Detecting
failure
mode
problems/issues
U dont
have to
choose
Use all
the
theories
See different
perspectives
Moral
aspects
Line
drawing
Ethical problem
solving technique
Flow
chart
Line drawing
Drawing a line along which various examples &
hypothetical situations are placed
At one end is placed the positive paradigm
and at the other end a negative paradigm
Place the ethical problem on the completed line
PP
NP
ex5
ex4
ex3
ex2
ex1
PP
NPP
ex5
ex4
ex3
ex2
ex1
Product should
be as advertised
PP
Sell defective
product
NP P
ex5
ex4
ex3
ex2
CONCLUSION:
The approach taken by
Intel in this case wasnt
the best ethical choice
ex1
Flow charting
Familiar because used in computer
program development
Developed as a series of consequences
that flow from decisions
Gives a visual picture of a situation and
allows you to readily see the consequences
CASE STUDY:
DISASTER AT BHOPAL, INDIA
SITUATIONS:
wrong pipe was connected to Methyl Isocyanate tank
Plant maintenance was cut to save money
A refrigeration unit, intended to cool down tank,
stopped working 5 month before accident and had
not been repaired.
A high temperature alarm was improperly set so no
warning was given
A flare tower, designed to burn vapors, was not
functioning
A scrubber unit intended to neutralize toxic
vapors, did not activate until after the release toxins
A similar plant in West Virginia has total of 28 leaks
over previous 5 years with no serious problems.
An internal union carbide memo warned of
potential for a serious
YES
NO
YES
Design according
to local standard
Build plant anywhere
and assume risk
NO
Invest elsewhere
YES
Build plant
Moral concerns
Problem exists with two conflicting moral
values
Solution can be obvious when one is more
significant than the other
When solution is not obvious, use the
creative middle way - middle ground that is
acceptable to everyone
use judgment for the best choice possible
with the information available at the time
v/s
Definition:
-money or favor offered or given
to someone
-intended to influence or
persuade
Consequences:
-illegal, subject to laws
-anti-competitive and corrupt out
free-market economic system
How to avoid
bribery?
Look for company policy
all large corporation & small companies
have very clear rules about what is
acceptable
any deviation from this rule requires
approval
other companies encourage social
interaction & allow employees more
discretion
Are there
normal
accident..?
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