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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional
association
ASME Principles
The Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering
profession by:
I. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare;
II. being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity their clients (including their
employers) and the public; and
III. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering
profession by:
1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the
environment;
2. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers
and clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession;
and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a professional
association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated
disciplines)
We the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in
affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal
obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby
commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:
1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the
safety, health
and welfare of the public, and to disclose prompt factors that might endanger the
public or the environment.
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose
them to
affected parties when they do exist.
3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data.
4. to reject bribery in all its forms.
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and
potential consequences.
6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake
technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after
full disclosure of pertinent limitations.
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and
correct
errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others.
8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender,
disability, age, or national origin.
9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or
malicious
action.
10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to
support them in following code of ethics.
Engineers involve in weapons development because of the following reasons:
It gives one job with high salary.
One takes pride and honor in participating in the activities towards the defense of the
nation (patriotic fervor).
One believes that he fights a war on terrorism and thereby contribute to peace and
stability of the country. (Ironically, the wars have never won peace, only peace can
win peace!)
By research and development, the engineer is reducing or eliminating the risk from
enemy weapons, and saving one’s country from disaster.
By building-up arsenals and show of force, a country can force the rogue country,
towards regulation.
Engineers as experimenters have certain duties towards environmental ethics,
namely:
Environmental impact assessment: One major effect of technology is wastage and
the resulting pollution of land, water, air and even space.
Establish standards: To study and fix the tolerable and actual pollution levels.
Counter measures: Study protective or eliminating measures are available for
immediate implementation
Environmental awareness: Study on how to educate the people on environmental
practices, issues, and possible remedies.
Computer ethics is defined as
study and analysis of nature and social impact of computer technology
formulation and justification of policies, for ethical use of computers.
This subject has become relevant to the professionals such as designers of
computers, programmers, system analysts, system managers, and operators.
The use of computers have raised a host of moral concerns such as free speech,
privacy, intellectual property right, and physical as well as mental harm.
Different types of problems are found in computer ethics
Computer as the Instrument of Unethical Acts
b) Breaking privacy
c) Defraud a bank or a client
Computer as the Object of Unethical Act
a) Hacking
b) Spreading virus
c) Health hazard
Problems Related to the Autonomous Nature of Computer
a) Security risk
The engineers, who act as expert-witnesses, are likely to abuse their positions in the
following manners:
1. Hired Guns
Mostly lawyers hire engineers to serve the interest of their clients. Lawyers are
permitted and required to project the case in a way favorable to their clients. But
the engineers have obligations to thoroughly examine the events and
demonstrate their professional integrity to testify only the truth in the court.
They do not serve the clients of the lawyers directly. The hired guns forward
white lies and distortions, as demanded by the lawyers. They even withhold the
information or shade the fact, to favor their clients.
2. Money Bias
Consultants may be influenced or prejudiced for monitory considerations, gain
reputation and make a fortune.
3. Ego Bias
The assumption that the own side is innocent and the other side is guilty, is
responsible for this behavior.
An inordinate desire to serve one’s client and get name and fame is another
reason for this bias.
4. Sympathy Bias
Sympathy for the victim on the opposite side may upset the testimony. The
integrity of the consultants will keep these biases away from the justice. The
court also must obtain the balanced view of both sides, by examining the expert
witnesses of lawyers on both sides, to remove a probable bias.
Role of engineer as expert witness
The engineers are required to give their view on the future such as in planning, policy-
making, which involves the technology.
For example, should India expand nuclear power options or support traditional energy
sources such as fossil fuels or alternative forms like solar and wind energy?
Various issues and requirements for engineers who act as advisors are:
1. Objectivity
The engineers should study the cost and benefits of all possible alternative
means in objective manner, within the specified conditions and assumptions.
2. Study All Aspects
They have to study the economic viability (effectiveness), technical feasibility
(efficiency), operational feasibility (skills) and social acceptability, which include
environmental and ethical aspects, before formulating the policy.
3. Values
Engineers have to posses the qualities, such as (a) honesty, (b) competence
(skills and expertise), (c) diligence (careful and alert) (d) loyalty in serving the
interests of the clients and maintaining confidentiality, and (e) public trust, and
respect for the common good, rather than serving only the interests of the clients
or the political interests.
4. Technical Complexity
The arbitrary, unrealistic, and controversial assumptions made during the future
planning that are overlooked or not verified, will lead to moral complexity. The
study on future is full of uncertainties than the investigations on the past events.
On the study of energy options, for example, assumptions on population increase,
life style, urbanization, availability of local fossil resources, projected costs of
generating alternative forms of energy, world political scenario, world military
tensions and pressures from world organizations such as World Trade
Organization (W.T.O.) and European Union (EU) may increase the complexity in
judgment on future.
5. National Security
The proposed options should be aimed to strengthen the economy and security
of the nation, besides safeguarding the natural resources and the environment
from exploitation and degradation.
Given below are the four main kinds of multinational corporations :
Multinational Decentralized Corporation: Every branch office has a decentralized
management structure with no central chain of command for decision making.
Global Centralized Corporation: A centralized firm manages and controls the
international units from the headquarter in the home country.
International Company: In this, the global branches adhere to the parent company’s
technology. All the research work for new product development and improvisations
occurs in the headquarter.
Transnational Enterprise: It is a blend of all the above three forms of MNCs. The
parent company guides but not controls the functioning of its global branches
MNCs and Morality
The economic and environmental conditions of the home and host countries may vary.
But the multinational institutions have to adopt appropriate measures not to disturb or
dislocate the social and living conditions and cultures of the home countries. A few
principles are enlisted here:
MNC should respect the basic human rights of the people of the host countries
The activities of the MNC should give economic and transfer technical benefits, and
implement welfare measures of the workers of the host countries
The business practices of the multinational organizations should improve and
promote morally justified institutions in the host countries
The multinationals must respect the laws and political set up, besides cultures and
promote the cultures of the host countries
The multinational organizations should provide a fair remuneration to the employees
of the host countries.
If the remuneration is high as that of home country, this may create tensions and if it is
too low it will lead to exploitation.
Multinational institutions should provide necessary safety for the workers when they
are engaged in hazardous activities and ‘informed consent’ should be obtained from
them.
Adequate compensation should be paid to them for the additional risks undertaken.
Moral Responsibility of the Multinational Corporations
The ten international rights to be taken care of, in this context are:
Right of freedom of physical movement of people
Right of ownership of properties
Freedom from torture
Right to fair trial on the products
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of race or sex. If such discrimination against
women or minorities is prevalent in the host country, the MNC will be compelled to
accept. MNCs may opt to quit that country if the human rights violations are severe
Physical security. Use of safety gadgets have to be supplied to the workers even if the
laws of the host country do not suggest such measures.
Freedom of speech and forming association
Right to have a minimum education
Right to political participation
Right to live and exist (i.e., coexistence). The individual liberty and sanctity of the
human life are to be respected by all societies
Patents
A Patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. It provides the patent owners
with protection generally for a period of 20years. With the patent rights one can
access any material reward for their marketable innovations. Once the patent
protection is granted, that invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed
or sold without the patent owner’s consent.
Trademarks
Trade marks are signs that identify certain goods or services produced or provided
by an individual or a company. These trademarks ensure the belongingness of
products to the authorized owners. The protection offered through the trademarks is
limited for a period, but can be renewed indefinitely upon payment of the
corresponding fee.
Industrial Designs
The ownership of an industrial design protects it from any duplication. Industrial
designs make an article attractive and appealing and add commercial value to the
product. This further increases marketability.
Geographical Indications
The geographical location indications are helpful for the customers to identify the
original and quality products, which are produced using the raw materials of that
geographical area. This indication guarantees the customers that a product was
produced in certain place and has certain characteristics that are due to the place
of production. It may be used by all the producers who make products that share
certain qualities in the place designated by a geographical location. Some examples
include “Brazil” for coffee beans, “Bordeaux” of France for wine, and “Habana” of
Cuba for tobacco.
Whistleblowing
Whistleblowing occurs when an employee or former employee conveys information
about a significant moral problem to someone in a position to take action on the
problem and does so outside approved organizational channels (or against strong
pressure).
When the information is passed outside the organization, it is External
Whistleblowing.
When the information is conveyed to someone within the organization, it is Internal
Whistleblowing.
While conveying the information, if the individuals openly reveal their identity, it is
Open Whistleblowing
If one conceals(hides) their identity, it is Anonymous Whistleblowing.
Protecting Whistle Blowers
Whistle blowing entails a substantial risk of retaliation(revenge) which is difficult
and expensive to challenge.
So, the Government introduced protections to the employees of an organization to
protect the whistleblowers against reprisals(combacks) for lawful disclosures of
information believed to show a violation of any law, rule or regulation,
mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority or a substantial and
specific danger to public health and safety.
Laws, when carefully formulated and enforced, provide two types of benefits for the
public, in addition to protecting the responsible whistleblower. They are episodic and
systemic.
The episodic benefits help in preventing any harm to the public in particular
situations.
The systemic benefits are in sending a strong message to the industry to act
responsibly or be subject to public scrutiny once the whistle is blown.
Summary Notes for Chapter 20: Conflict of Interests
1. Definition:
Conflict of interest occurs when personal interests clash with professional
duties, making an individual unreliable.
Examples include situations where personal gains influence professional
decisions, compromising fairness and loyalty.
2. Understanding Conflict of Interest:
A common issue in business where personal and professional interests
conflict.
Fiduciary duty demands prioritizing the organization’s interests over
personal gains.
3. Types of Conflicts:
Bribes and Kickbacks: Unethical payments or advantages for securing
contracts.
Moonlighting: Working for another company outside regular employment,
potentially harming job performance and loyalty.
4. Legal and Ethical Responses:
Individuals are expected to recuse themselves from conflicting situations.
Legal obligations often enforce the removal of conflicted parties to ensure
unbiased decision-making.
Summary Notes for Chapter 21: Occupational Crime
1. Definition:
Occupational crimes involve the misuse of company resources, data, or
funds for personal benefit.
Classified as white-collar crimes due to their non-violent nature and
association with professionals.
2. Types of White-Collar Crimes:
Fraud: Deceptive practices like falsifying revenue or financial data.
Embezzlement: Misusing funds entrusted to an individual for personal gain.
Racketeering: Operating illegal businesses, often under the guise of
organized crime.
Tax Fraud/Evasion: Misrepresentation of income or deductions to avoid
taxes.
Securities Fraud: Manipulating stock markets with false information.
Bootlegging: Unauthorized projects or illegal trafficking of goods.
3. Other Categories:
Blue-Collar Crimes: Violent or manual labor-related offenses (e.g., robbery,
theft).
Government Corruption: Abuse of power by officials for personal gain.
Industry-Specific Violations: Includes environmental crimes like toxic
dumping.
4. Implications:
Financial losses for organizations and governments.
Damage to trust and reputation within professional sectors.
Let me know if you need further details or specific insights!
Summary Notes for Chapter 24: Engineers as Managers
1. Role of Engineers as Managers:
Engineers in management handle project or functional management,
balancing technical expertise with leadership skills.
Responsibilities include leading teams, completing projects on time, and
managing budgets.
2. Key Characteristics:
Promote ethical practices through organizational policies and personal
conduct.
Address conflicts by prioritizing and resolving through mutual understanding
and alternative solutions.
Uphold social responsibility by ensuring products/services are safe, ethical,
and beneficial for society.
3. Conflict Management:
Conflicts arise from schedules, priorities, resource availability, costs,
authority issues, and personal egos.
Resolution strategies:
People: Focus on issues, not individuals.
Interests: Prioritize ethical motives over personal gains.
Options: Generate multiple solutions.
Evaluation: Assess outcomes based on efficiency, quality, and ethics.
4. Career Opportunities:
Working at top companies (e.g., FAANG) offers extensive resources and
opportunities.
Non-FAANG roles provide scope for significant individual contributions.
Engineers as Consulting Engineers
1. Role:
Consulting engineers work independently, charging fees instead of earning
salaries.
They enjoy project freedom but face ethical responsibilities in advertising
and competitive bidding.
2. Ethical Guidelines:
Avoid deceptive advertising such as exaggerated claims, half-truths, or
puffery.
Maintain honesty in competitive bidding and contingent fees.
3. Challenges:
Address design and construction discrepancies through proper supervision
and inspections.
Balance freedom in decision-making with adherence to safety and client
needs.
1. Challenger Disaster (1986)
Overview:
The Challenger space shuttle disaster was caused by the failure of O-ring seals
in the solid rocket boosters due to freezing temperatures. This tragedy
highlighted issues of managerial negligence and engineering safety concerns.
Key Points:
Cause: A combination of freezing temperatures, design flaws in the O-ring
seals, and ignored safety warnings from engineers.
Decision Dynamics: NASA and Morton-Thiokol managers prioritized launch
schedules over safety, dismissing engineers' concerns.
Outcome: 76 seconds after liftoff, a fireball engulfed the shuttle, killing all
seven astronauts on board.
Ethical Issues:
Lack of informed consent for astronauts about potential risks.
Managers overriding engineers' judgment under political and
contractual pressures.
Lessons Learned:
Design should accommodate all operational conditions.
Engineering decisions should not be overruled by non-technical
management.
Adequate escape mechanisms and redundancy are crucial for safety.
2. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (1986)
Overview:
A catastrophic nuclear accident at Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power
Plant resulted from operator errors, design flaws, and a lack of emergency
preparedness.
Key Points:
Cause: A safety test was conducted in violation of protocols, leading to a
power surge, explosions, and a massive radiation leak.
Impact: Immediate deaths of plant workers and firefighters, long-term
radiation exposure affecting thousands, and widespread environmental
contamination.
Heroes: Three workers (Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris
Baranov) sacrificed their lives to drain water, preventing a larger explosion.
Ethical and Systemic Issues:
Poor communication and concealment of risks by plant operators.
Lack of protective measures for cleanup workers.
Lessons Learned:
The need for robust emergency response plans and transparent
communication.
Importance of design redundancies and containment structures in
nuclear plants.
3. Three Mile Island Incident (1979)
Overview:
A partial meltdown of Reactor 2 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating
Station was caused by mechanical failures and operator errors.
Key Points:
Cause: A stuck open relief valve led to coolant loss, overheating, and partial
melting of the reactor core.
Impact: Minimal radiation release, no direct casualties, but significant public
fear and opposition to nuclear energy.
Societal Reaction:
Public trust in nuclear energy plummeted.
Anti-nuclear protests gained momentum.
Lessons Learned:
Need for better operator training and fail-safe systems.
Enhanced public communication to manage fear and misinformation.
A Code of Ethics is a blueprint for developing a culture of values in an organization.
A code consists of a clearly stated and written set of guidelines that managers,
employees, and agents of an organization must follow.
A code of ethics is a reference tool that provides guidance to both employees and
managers on how to implement and practice business ethics in the workplace.
Code of ethics serves as a central guide to support day-to-day decision making at
work.
It clarifies the cornerstones of organization - its mission, values and principles –
helping the staff understand how these cornerstones translate into everyday
decisions, behaviors and actions.
Babylon’s Building Code (1758 BC)
This code was set by Hammurabi, king of Babylon. It aimed at the builders of his time
wherein, they were forced to follow the code by law. He ordered them,
“If a builder has built a house for a man and has not made his work sound, and the
house which he has built was fallen down and so caused the death of the
householder, that builder shall be put to death. If it causes the death of the house
holder’s son, they shall put that builder’s son to death. If it causes the death of the
house holder’s slave, he shall give slave to the householder.
If it destroys property, he shall replace anything it has destroyed; and because he has
not made the house sound which he has built and it has fallen down, he shall rebuild
the house which has fallen down from his own property. If a builder has built a house
for a man and does not make his work perfect and the wall bulges, that builder shall
put that wall into sound condition at his own cost”.
The above portion of Babylon’s building code was respected duly. But the aspects find
only little approval today. This code gives a powerful incentive for self-regulation.
Rights Theory:
The RIGHTS approach to ethics has its roots in the 18th century philosopher Immanuel
Kant, who focused on the individual’s right to choose for oneself.
According him, what makes human beings different from mere things is, that people
have dignity based on their ability to choose freely what they will do with their lives,
and they have a fundamental moral right to have these choices respected.
The RIGHTS theory as promoted by John Locke states that the actions are right, if
they respect human rights of every one affected.
He proposed the three basic human rights, namely life, liberty, and property.
Duty Ethics Theory:
The duty ethics theory, proposed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) states, that actions
are consequences of performance of one’s duties such as, ‘being honest’
The stress is on the universal principle of respect for autonomy i.e., respect and
rationality of persons and duties to ourselves such as not to commit suicide; to
develop our talents and to avoid harmful drugs.
the Duty ethics theory, as enunciated by John Rawl, gave two principles:
Differences in social power and economic benefits are justified when they are likely to
benefit every one
Some people with great wealth and power is justified when all other groups are
benefited. In the business scenario, for example, the free enterprise
Utilitarian Theory: The term Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to help legislators determine which laws were
morally best. They suggested that the standard of right conduct is maximization of
good consequences. Good consequences mean either ‘utilities’ or the ‘balance of
good over evil’. This approach weighs the costs and benefits. Right actions are the
ones that produce the greatest satisfaction of the preferences of the affected persons.
The ACT UTILITARIAN theory proposed by J.S. Mill (1806-73) focuses on actions,
rather than on general rules. An action is right, if it generates the most overall good for
the most people involved.
The RULE UTILITARIAN theory, developed by Richard Brandt (1910-97), stressed on
the rules, such as ‘do not steal’, ‘do not harm others’, ‘do not bribe’, as of primary
importance. He suggested that individual actions are right when they are required by
set of rules which maximizes the public good
