Professional Ethics

Dr. Saba Zam Zam

Lecture - 1
 Academic Schedule – Spring
2024
Ser Event Dates

1. Spring Semester 2024 Starts 12 Feb, 2024

2. Mid Term Exam 1-5 April, 2024

3. Final Exam Spring Semester 2024 7-14 June, 2024

4. Semester Break 17-28 June, 2024

 Exam Weightages

Ser Nature of Exam Duration Frequency Weightage (%)

a. Final Semester Exam ~3 hrs 1 40

b. Mid Semester Exam 1-2 hrs 1 30

c. Quizzes - 4 Minimum 10

d. Assignments - 4 Minimum 10

e. Mini-Project/Class - - 10
Participation
What is Meant by Ethics?

http://manofthehouse.com/money/career-advice/business-ethics-in-the-workplace
¢ The study of moral principles

¢ Morals: Set of principles of

conduct governing behavior
of an individual or a group
http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/reference/define-ethics.html
Ethics - The investigation of
what is:
u Right or Wrong
u Just or Unjust
u Good or Bad
u Virtue or Vice

A Framework for Reasoning about Ethical Issues, Eric H. Gampel, Ph.D.

Ethics: Why Do We Need It?

u Ensure harmony of the group while

providing mutual benefits to the
individual

u Basis for how we should treat others

u It override self-interests

A Framework for Reasoning about Ethical Issues, Eric H. Gampel, Ph.D.

Who Decides What is Ethical?
Moral?
u Source of Morality
u Divine Command?
u Absolute truths
u Based on religion
u Human Nature?
u Sympathy/Empathy
u Reason
Moral Theories
u Utilitarian
u Provides the most good and the least harm
u Justice
u Maintains all equals should be treated equally
u Rights
u Best protects and respects rights of others
u Harm/Care
u Ensures kindness and gentleness to those in need
u Virtue
u If the action is consistent with virtue

All help in regulating self-interest and

promoting social harmony
Ethics in an Engineering
Course????
We have been studying
engineering, such as design,
analysis, and performance
measurement.

Where does ethics fit in?

http://www.free-clep-prep.com/Business-Ethics-and-Society-DSST.html
How Ethics Fits into
Engineering
¢ Engineers have responsibilities because. . .

— Engineers build products such as cell phones,

home appliances, heart valves, bridges, &
cars. In general they advance society by
building new technology.

— Engineers develop processes, such as the

process to convert salt water into fresh water
or the process to recycle bottles. These
processes change how we live and what we
can accomplish.
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.
Ford Pinto Gas Tank

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UMTS optimization
Decisions made by engineers
usually have serious
consequences to people --
often to multitudes of people.

Ethics and moral reasoning

guide decision-making.
The Essence of Your
Engineering Career
¢ Engineering is one of the most important professions in
society.

¢ As engineers we don’t just build things and develop

processes.

¢ We build things and make processes in order to better

society.

¢ In order to make society better we have to reflect

constantly on the products and processes that we
make.
Social Responsibility
u Social Responsibility requires taking into consideration
the needs of society.

u One main connection between ethics and engineering

comes from the impact that engineered products and
processes have on society.

u Engineers have to think about designing, building, and

marketing products that benefit society.
Typical Ethical Issues that
Engineers Encounter
u Safety
u Acceptable risk
u Compliance What is the correct way to
u Confidentiality manage them?
u Environmental health
u Data integrity
u Conflict of interest
u Honesty/Dishonesty
u Societal impact
u Fairness
u Accounting for uncertainty, etc.
What we Will Discuss

u The code of ethics for engineers.

u Practicing ethics as an engineering student.

u How to identify and analyze ethical dilemmas through

case analysis.

u Specific examples of ethical situations you may

encounter.
 Professional Ethics

What is engineering ethics?

The behavior of a person or group in a business
environment. Like values, professional ethics provide
rules on how a person should act towards other people
and institutions in such an environment.

NOTE
Unlike values, professional ethics are often codified as
a set of rules, which a particular group of people use.
This means that all those in a particular group will use
the same professional ethics, even though their values
may be unique to each person.
 Engineering Ethics

What is engineering ethics?

(1) the study of moral issues and decisions
confronting individuals and organizations involved
in engineering.
(2) the study of related questions about moral
conduct, character and relationships of peoples
and organizations involved in technological
development.
 Codes of Ethics

u Ethics are moral principles that guide behavior.

u A code of ethics is a statement of principles

made by an organization to aid its members
in serving their ethical obligations to society.
u An example most relevant to
electrical/electronics/mechatronics
engineers is the code of ethics of the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
 Engineering codes of ethics (ECE)

u Guidelines and principles for evaluation of ethical conflicts

u Not laws but often basis for laws
u Developed for most engineering disciplines
u Formally accepted by professional engineers
u ECE engineering covered by
u NSPE Code of Ethics
u IEEE Code of Ethics
What are the purposes for Code of Ethics for
Engineers?

• Provide positive stimulus for ethical conduct

• Helpful advice concerning the primary obligation of “engineers”
• Guideposts in interpreting ethical dilemmas
 Part 1: The Code of
Ethics for Engineers

http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/index.html

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Role-Responsibilities

¢ Ways ethical issues can apply to one’s life are based on

role-responsibilities. Role responsibilities are responsibilities
that attach to us in virtue of a role that we have. Each of
us has different roles that we play in our life.
— Engineering Student
— Friend
— Citizen
— Employee
Role Responsibilities
Friend Look out for the interests of your
friend.

Athlete Play your sport in a professional

manner.

Employee Perform the duties of your job.

Parent Look after your children and

their interests

Citizen Follow the laws of the country in

which you live.

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The Engineering Code of
Ethics
The Engineering Code of Ethics has three components:

¢ The Fundamental Canons: which articulate the basic

components of ethical engineering.

¢ The Rules of Practice: which clarify and specify in detail

the fundamental canons of ethics in engineering.

¢ Professional Obligations: which elaborate the obligations

that engineers have.
NSPE Fundamental Canons of
Ethics
Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
u Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public.
u Perform services only in areas of their competence.
u Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
u Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees.
u Avoid deceptive acts.
u Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically,
and lawfully, so as to enhance the honor, reputation,
and usefulness of the profession.
Try it yourself
¢ You are supervising a product with specifications that
only U.S.-made parts may be used.
¢ Late in the project you discover a sub-contractor has
supplied a part with foreign-made bolts.
¢ They aren’t very noticeable and would function
identically to U.S.-made bolts.
¢ Your customer urgently needs the finished product.

What should you do?

Important Notes about
the Code of Ethics
u It is not a legally binding document.

u It is not something that we want (or need) engineers to

memorize.

u It is something we want engineers to understand and be

able to live by as engineers.

u However, in the beginning knowing the code is a guide

to understanding how to apply it.
u Engineers have professional responsibilities to various
stakeholders within society; in their professional
relationships with clients, employers, other engineers,
and the general public;

u These obligations include

u honesty and competence in technical work,
u confidentiality of proprietary information,
u collegiality in mentoring and peer review,
u the safety and welfare of the public,
u Because engineers' decisions can significantly affect

society and the environment

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Preamble NSPE Code of Ethics

• Engineering is an important and learned profession.

• Engineers are expected to exhibit the highest

standards of honesty and integrity.

• The services provided by engineers require honesty,

fairness and equity, and must be dedicated to the
protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare.
• Engineers must perform under a standard of
professional behavior that requires adherence to
the
highest principles of ethical conduct
 NSPE Rules of Practice
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public.
a. If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger
life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such
other authority as may be appropriate.
b. Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are
in conformity with applicable standards.
c. Engineers shall not reveal facts, data or information without the
prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required
by law or this Code.
d. Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in
business ventures with any person or firm that they believe are
engaged in dishonest enterprise.
e. Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice of
engineering by a person or firm.
f. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code
shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies
 NSPE Rules of Practice
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas
of their competence.

a. Engineers shall undertake assignments only when qualified

by education or experience in the specific technical fields
involved.
b. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or
documents dealing with subject matter in which they lack
competence, nor to any plan or document not prepared under
their direction and control.
c. Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for
coordination of an entire project and sign and seal the
engineering documents for the entire project, provided that each
technical segment is signed and sealed only by the qualified
engineers who prepared the segment.
 NSPE Rules of Practice
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner.
a. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional
reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all
relevant and pertinent information in such reports,
statements, or testimony, which should bear the date
indicating when it was current.
b. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that
are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence
in the subject matter.
c. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or
arguments on technical matters that are inspired or paid for
by interested parties, unless they have prefaced their
comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on
whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the
existence of any interest the engineers may have in the
matters.
 NSPE Rules of Practice
4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees.
a. Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of
interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or
the quality of their services.
b. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise,
from more than one party for services on the same project, unless the
circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested
parties.
c. Engineers shall not accept financial or other valuable consideration,
directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with the work for
which they are responsible.
d. Engineers in public service governmental body or department shall
not participate in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided
by them or their organizations in private or public engineering practice.
 NSPE Rules of Practice
5. Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts.
a. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit
misrepresentation of their or their associates' qualifications. They
shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in or for
the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other
presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall not
misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, or
past accomplishments.

b. Engineers shall not offer, solicit or receive, either directly or

indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by
public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the
public as having the effect of intent to influencing the awarding of
a contract. They shall not offer any gift or other valuable
consideration in order to secure work. They shall not pay a
commission, percentage, or brokerage fee in order to secure
work.
 Professional Obligations
1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the
highest standards of honesty and integrity.

2. Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public

interest.
3. Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that
deceives the public.
4. Engineers shall not disclose, without consent,
confidential information concerning the business affairs or
technical processes of any present or former employer on
which they serve.
5. Engineers shall not be influenced in their professional
duties by conflicting interests.
 Professional Obligations
6. Engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or
advancement by untruthfully criticizing other engineers.
7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure or falsely harm the
professional reputation of other engineers. Engineers
who believe others are guilty of unethical shall present
such information to the proper authority for action.
8. Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their
professional activities, provided, however, that Engineers
may seek indemnification for services arising out of their
practice for other than gross negligence, where the
Engineer's interests cannot otherwise be protected.
9. Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those
to whom credit is due, and will recognize the proprietary
interests of others.
 NSPE – code of ethics
u NSPE – National Society of Professional Engineers
u PEC – Pakistan Engineering Council
u Professional engineer (PE)
u Hold professional license, member of NSPE
u Providing professional services to public, clients or
government
u PE are governed by statute and have very formal code of
ethics
u NSPE published first version of code of ethics in 1952
u Several revisions until present form
u Consists of
u Fundamental cannons = fundamental principles
u Rules of practice = practical implementation of cannons
u Professional obligations = specifies guidelines for
professional conduct
u NSPE provides Board of Ethical Review to the members
 IEEE - code of ethics

u IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

u Formed in 1963 as a merger of AIEE (American Institute of
Electrical Engineers) and IRA (Institute of Radio Engineers)
u Worlds largest professional/technical organization for
advancement of technology
u Majority of IEEE societies are in areas of ECE
u IEEE membership requires adherence to IEEE code of
ethics
 IEEE - code of ethics
1. to accept responsibility in making 6. to maintain and improve our technical
decisions consistent with the safety, competence and to undertake
health and welfare of the public, technological tasks for others only if
and to disclose promptly factors qualified by training or experience, or
after full disclosure of pertinent
that might endanger the public or limitations;
the environment;
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of criticism of technical work, to
interest whenever possible, and to acknowledge and correct errors, and
disclose them to affected parties to credit properly the contributions of
when they do exist; others;
3. to be honest and realistic in stating 8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of
such factors as race, religion, gender,
claims or estimates based on disability, age, or national origin;
available data;
9. to avoid injuring others, their property,
4. to reject bribery in all its forms; reputation, or employment by false or
malicious action;
5. to improve the understanding of
technology, its appropriate 10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in
application, and potential their professional development and to
support them in following this code of
consequences ethics
Note 1: IEEE overlap with NSPE
fundamental cannons
Note 2: Code is broader than NSPE
 Example 1: TI Ethics Quick Test

• Is the action legal?

• Does it comply with our values?
• If you do it, will you feel bad?
• How will it look in the newspaper?
• If you know it's wrong, don't do it!
• If you're not sure, ask.
• Keep asking until you get an answer.
 Big picture
u Codes of ethics are not a law
u Ethical behavior is not always protected by law
u Frequently ethical behavior may be perceived as disloyalty
u Many companies realize that ethical behavior is essential
for their long term prosperity
u Ethically aware companies provide
u Help to employees facing ethical conflicts
u Allow employees to rise ethical concerns anonymously
u Explicitly prevent any forms of retaliation for reporting
unethical behavior
Discussion