Department of Industrial Engineering

School of Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering

Semester: Spring 2018

ENGG450/650 – Engineering Profession & Ethics Midterm Solution

Question 1 (10 points):

1. A profession is a number of individuals in the same occupation voluntarily organized to earn a

living by openly serving a moral ideal in a morally permissible way beyond what law, market,
morality, and public opinion would otherwise require.

2. In general, it is easier to enforce positive rules than negative ones and that is why professional
codes are formulated in terms of positive rules that can be enforced.

3. The problem of many hands usually occurs in large organizations where one individual has a
hand in causing the harm.

4. The results of using the golden rule as a test of morally permissible action seem to vary
depending on the values and beliefs of the actor.

5. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for
services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the
circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

6. Universalizability is when an ethical judgment could become equally applicable so that

everyone could act upon in similar circumstances.

7. A fact, unlike a factual issue, is a matter that has already been settled but is still
controversial.

8. Standard of care is not a norm.

9. Professions are those forms of work involving advanced expertise, self-regulation,

and concerted service to the public good.

10. The main emphasis in engineering ethics is supporting the engineer responsible conduct.

Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Answer T F F T T T F F T T

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Question 2 (30 points)

Choose the most correct answer. Only one answer may be marked. Questions with more
than one answer will automatically get a zero mark. Wrong answers do not penalize
correct ones. The weight for each question is 2 points.
1. Engineering professionals do not need to have:
a. Extensive academic and professional training.
b. A hardcopy of their engineering society code of ethics.
c. Vital knowledge and skills to perform their tasks.
d. Autonomy in the workplace.

2. The idea of social contract is central to the:

a. Professional model.
b. Business model.
c. Financial model.
d. All of the above.

3. The first priority of a professional engineer from an ethical perspective should be:
a. Respect the public.
b. Do good.
c. Promote the engineering profession.
d. Not to cause harm.

4. Responsible action by a professional engineer may be impeded by:

a. Critical thinking.
b. Acknowledging mistakes.
c. Groupthink.
d. Having an open mind when analyzing ethical issues.

5. There are situations in which two or more moral rules or duties seem to apply and in
which they appear to imply different and incompatible moral judgments. This occurs
often in engineering ethics, as in other areas. It is a case of:
a. Common morality
b. Creative middle way solutions
c. Values
d. None of the above

6. Moral perspective(s) that can be helpful in framing moral problems would be:
a. The utilitarian ideal of promoting the greatest good.
b. Respect for persons.
c. (a) and (b).
d. None of the above.

7. Autonomy in the engineering ethics field means:

a. The principle that the engineer should tell the truth (honesty is the best
policy).
b. The principle of respect for persons, and of individual self-determination
consistent with personal liberty of action in accordance with a plan chosen
only by oneself.

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c. Moral principle that the engineer should help others further their
important and legitimate interests.
d. The principle that an engineer should keep one's promises.

8. ‘‘Engineers shall not disclose confidential information concerning the business affairs
or technical processes of any present or former client or employer without his
consent”. This statement may best describe:
a. Preventive clause of the code of ethics.
b. Aspirational clause of the code of ethics.
c. Neutral clause of the code of ethics.
d. Balanced clause of the code of ethics.

9. When Applying Engineering ethics , an engineer’s priority and primary

responsibility is to protect first:
a. The client who brings in the investments to the company (to your
employer).
b. The public/community safety, welfare, and health.
c. The environment.
d. All of the above

10. In framing Cases the approaches that are usually followed are:
a. Cost-benefit approach, act utilitarian approach and/or rule utilitarian
approach.
b. General principles and/or common grounds.
c. Golden rule approach, self-defeating approach, and/or respect for persons
approach.
d. Duty ethics, rights ethics and/or virtue ethics.

Question 3 (20 points):

Some classmates argue that engineering should not be considered a profession in Lebanon.
So, there should be no need to register in NAQABA (Order of Engineers and Architects);
which requires certain degrees and number of credits. The argument continues to claim that
any person, with little of knowledge and training, should be allowed to do any engineering
work. Therefore, it should not be considered as a profession. They claim that engineering is
not as critical as health or law professions rather it is just a regular occupation like any other
ordinary occupation.

Would you agree with such categorization? Justify your answer based on the definition of
profession.

Question 3 Solution

Engineers are a group of well trained, skilled, educated, and licensed individuals who hold
themselves out to serve the public interest through their designs, projects, solutions, or
services.
According to the textbook: “A profession is a number of individuals in the same
occupation voluntarily organized to earn a living by openly serving a moral ideal in a
morally permissible way beyond what law, market, morality, and public opinion would

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otherwise require.” Since engineering is characterized by: “Extensive training, vital

knowledge & skills, control of services, autonomy in the workplace and claim to ethical
regulation” then it is not just an ordinary occupation it is a profession.

Moreover, it is for the benefits of the public safety and health to consider engineering as a
profession. By being a profession, it prevents any unqualified or unscrupulous person from
practicing. It sets firm standards of practice and regulations that protect the public. That is
what some country did in order to protect the public after suffering from undisciplined and
unqualified individuals; for example, Quebec Bridge problem in Canada.
The advantages of being a profession can be summarized as follow:
– Implicit trust relationship with the public (Social contract).
– Hold paramount the safety, health & welfare of the public.
– May seek monopoly or at least considerable control, but this is in order to
protect the public from incompetent providers. In return, the public confers on
professionals a number of benefits.
Not considering engineering as a profession might endanger the public health and safety.

Question 4 (20 points):

You are asked to write specifications for a water expansion system. While you are competent
to do so, you also own a company that manufactures and sells such systems. Does this
constitute a conflict of interest or any other ethical issue? If so, how should it be handled?

Question 4 Solution

The ethical concepts which should be discussed and clarified are:

1- Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
2- Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest which could
influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services.

The engineer may ethically provide consulting services as described only if there is full
disclosure of all the facts and circumstances to his client. In reaching its conclusion, the
company may note that it is preferable if the client could rely on the technical judgment and
recommendations of an engineer without any financial interests in the equipment of any
manufacturer, but it is understood that under some circumstances, the client may wish to
retain the services of an engineer with an apparent conflict of interest. Therefore, the client
must have full knowledge of all the circumstances; otherwise the client has been defrauded.

It could be considered a conflict of interest and therefore unethical for the Engineer to prepare
a set of specifications for a water system and then have his/her company manufacture the
system.

Question 5 (20 points)

Simon is an engineer who works for a leading XYZ Chemical Plant Company and was asked
by his Manager Adam to do a detailed report on a latest chemical spill (‫ )ترسب‬that happened
at the company’s manufacturing laboratory. Adam assumes and expects the spill to be

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minimal and not worth it. However, Simon’s report data and numbers came out different and
clearly indicated that the spill was large and dangerous and imposes a big risk to people’s life
and the environment. Based on Simon’s report numbers, and at this range, Spill Control Code
and regulations required the spill report to be reported immediately to environmental
protection agency, and also enforces XYZ Company to stop work on the spot and take
immediate corrective actions which will also be inspected and certified by environmental
governmental authorities within few days. When Simon presented his report to his manager
Adam, Adam lost his temper and refused to accept the results and send the report. He believes
that Spill Control Code regulations are so over rated and ridiculous. Adam is also very
worried that work at the laboratory will be stopped until things are fully fixed, and therefore
XYZ Company will lose few days of work and a lot of money. Adam asked Simon to go back
to his desk and rework (regenerate / falsify) all those numbers until the report comes out right
and until the report shows that everything is under control within normal limits and according
to Spill Code standards.

Based on the presented case, address the questions in the solution section.

Question 5 Solution

a) What is the ethical dilemma in this specific case? (5 points)

The ethical dilemma is falsifying facts and endangering the public safety, welfare and health.

b) What are the reasonable limits on loyalty to Simons’s employer? (5 points)

It is obvious that an engineer should be a loyal agent to his/her employer and to the public by
respecting and following a professional code of ethics. The engineer’s duty is to alert, inform
and advise the public. Loyalty states different obligations on the agent; first to work as
directed in the contract, second to protect confidentiality, and third to be loyal. Seemingly, all
these are respected by Simon and accordingly he has no obligation to work as directed in case
of unethical or illegal directives and it has been shown in the case that the report should show
that everything is under control which is not really the case. In such a case, Simon should
exercise critical loyalty and not abide by the management directives from both a utilitarian
and respect for persons perspectives.

c) What should Simon ethically do? (10 points)

Simon should ethically refuse to rework and falsify the report. He should stand for his
principle and maintain his integrity. Instead he has to go back to his desk, sign and seal the
original report, store an original copy of the report, write a memo about his conversation with
Adam, and then return to Adam's office and try to resolve it one more time explaining to
Adam how unethical and dishonest and illegal it is to falsify the report and endanger public
well-being. If not convinced, then go with the line management to the upper management and
discuss. She can also resign or ask to be reassigned to another manager or department.

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