Ethics in Engineering Essay

The competency codes of ethics in ACS and Clients and Employer codes of ethics in IEEE/ACM is the same as Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer consistent with the public interest.

It is important for any engineer to understand what they are doing, and the consequences that can occur if they make mistakes or take shortcuts. This case with the levee system is a perfect example of how engineers need to be aware. It was shown that certain decisions had helped save the government close to $100 million, but had dramatically dropped durability and reliability of the system. This shows that, had they been more ethical and self-aware, then the Hurricane Katrina disaster would have been less of a

In “Curbing Overconsumption: Challenge for Ethically Responsible Engineering,” professor E.J. Woodhouse discusses the causes of the modern environmental crisis, particularly how engineers should be responsible for aiding the environment. At one point, he asks, ’if it is technically feasible to arrange consumption far more efficiently, as Paul Hawken, William McDonough, and an increasing variety of others claim, does that imply that the engineers who help arrange the wasteful approaches are violating certain ethical standards?’ (Woodhouse 24) Woodhouse claims that it is the ethical role of engineers to use their positions and resources to decrease the waste production of American overconsumption. Meanwhile, in “Individualization: Plant a Tree, Buy a Bike, Save the World?” environmental professor Michael Maniates discusses the modern environmentalist movement, and in particular discusses its individualized aspects. Maniates’ argument revolves around evaluating the various failures of what he refers to as individualization of responsibility, which ‘embraces the notion that knotty issues of consumption, consumerism, power and responsibility can be resolved neatly and cleanly through enlightened, uncoordinated consumer choice.’ (Maniates 33). In the specific context of environmentalism, individualization of responsibility manifests as buying eco-friendly products instead of practicing some other form of environmentalism. Instead, Maniates believes that environmental issues stem

‘Engineering ethics’ refer to the ethical issues involved in the engineering profession. Ethics are concerned with moral decisions in professional behaviour. Whilst morality generally refers to any aspect of human action, ethics is concerned with making the ‘right’ decisions in a professional context. Engineering ethics and consideration of the impact of engineering on the environment are issues of relevance and importance to any engineer or engineering student.

In the early years of computers and computerized technology, computer engineers had to believe that their contribution to the development of computer technology would produce positive impacts on the people that would use it. During the infancy of computer technology, ethical issues concerning computer technology were almost nonexistent because computers back then were not as multifaceted as they are today. However, ethical issues relating to computer technology and cyber technology is undeniable in today’s society. Computer technology plays a crucial role in all aspects of our daily lives. Different forms of computer technology provide unique functionalities that allow people to perform daily activities effectively and efficiently. In

It is my belief that no matter how arduous a problem there always exists a solution to that problem and it is the essence of great engineering design to keep on striving for more efficient and effective solution no matter how great the present design may be as there is no limit on the number of ways current engineering design can be improved. Throughout this RoPE is a reflection of my numerous engineering design endeavors and how each experience contributed to my current definition of engineering design.

It is my belief that no matter how arduous a problem there always exists a solution to that problem and it is the essence of great engineering design to keep on striving for more efficient and effective solution no matter how great the present design may be as there is no limit on the number of ways current engineering design can be improved. Throughout this RoPE is a reflection of my numerous engineering design endeavors and how each experience contributed to my current definition of engineering design.

The major reason why ethics is an important part of engineering is because it helps to enact safety measures. Humanity relies on engineering for transportation, production of food materials, consumer electronics and many more things. Virtually, engineers design and create all human made things in the world. The probability of accidents that result from overlooking manufacturing flaws in consumer products could be reduced by observing ethics in engineering. One good example that illustrates how the neglect of ethics in engineering could be hazardous to humanity is the well-known case of Columbia Shuttle (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). The air space travelling bus exploded during re-entry because of a flaw in its O-rings that was ignored by its engineers during test flights. The result was the loss of seven astronauts, the spacecraft and billions of money that had been invested towards the completion of the project by the United States government.

One of the lessons that I have learned through my 4+ years of work experience as an EIT is that a good Engineer must always be aware of the real life system limitations of any project he/she is involved with. With experience, not only are you able to keep aware of these limitations, but you can also prepare for them. As Engineers, when we set out to design a product or system, we are working in a theoretical world with no limitations or constraints. However, out in the real world, there are numerous constraints and limitations that come into play when we are forced to integrate our design into a functioning tool. Many times, on large projects, I’m working with different groups and subcontractors. When I release an engineering drawing, I have to understand that it must cooperate well with other parts of the project. This takes a lot of coordination with different disciplines, and at times poses limitations on your design that would otherwise not be present. In my experience, I had to modify my design many times to better suit the overall structure and project requirements. In other cases, constraints could be brought upon through legal and/or cosmetic means. For example, I have been involved in projects where I would draft a design which boasts a solid engineering background. However, for any number of reasons, the client might not necessarily like something and thus the design must be re-suited to that constraint. However, I have also learned to be mindful in this area. If

These codes also state that each member conduct themselves in a responsible and lawful manner [4]. These codes established firm restrictions on their members to avoid injury to the public which incorporates an individual’s physical person, property, reputation or employment by using false or malicious actions. The code also touches on that each member needs to perform in the areas where they are competent. Simply that each member needs to assist their colleagues in their professional development in addition to acting as a faithful agent for their clients and employers. The IEEE codes were developed to help engineers make informed thoughtful decisions by using explicit and implicit language because it is up to the reader for interpretation.

This guide is available as an abridged published document, and as a full set of case studies available online, including an in-depth discussion of the place of ethics in engineering. It is our intention to update and add to the case studies over time, reflecting the changes in technology and society that affect engineering ethics. Ethics, like engineering, is a practical subject, and its exercise is in debate and discussion. We hope that these case studies are used to stimulate discussion between engineers, to help individuals, and the profession as a whole, to advance their understanding of the ethical issues in engineering. How to use this guide The purpose of this guide is to supplement the SEP with discussions, clarifications and illustrative personal experiences that will bring the ethical issues in engineering to life. The guide is also intended to

Ethics by definition are defined as a set of moral rules of conduct that are accepted by general public and should be obeyed by everyone. Ethics are essential to the architecture of a modern dynamic society and play a vital part in engineering or any other businesses. Ethics provide guidance to humans to pursue a course of action correctively in specific situations, and prevent us from the ones that would have negative or drastic consequences. Ethics clarifies what is good and bad on the basis of moral principle or values. Regardless of which particular field the engineer is in (e.g. civil, electrical or mechanical), their main liability and responsibility are to ensure the health, safety, and general welfare of the public are protected to the highest level possible. Since almost the work done by engineers can have great impact on almost all aspects of our daily life, any design schemes or implementations that are made by engineers must meet the highest standard to ensure that no damages or potential damages to any resource, people, organization or environment will exist. Many organizations, like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) have established a set of code of ethics to

The main purpose of the ‘Design’ is to create things which will satisfy certain requirements of a user in an innovative way. Designer spends most of their time in understanding the existing designs and dealing with the challenges associated with the modifications and the improvements in the designs. Lots of engineering man hours is consumed by doing repetitive tasks of

Constraints: Engineers can design and deploy products which are maximally safe, efficient and effective in a perfect world. In really world this would be prohibitively more expensive and time consuming. Engineers must often balance quality with time and financial constraints and requires great thoughtfulness and ethical fortitude.

Practically every professional engineering organization has developed a code of ethics. Codes of ethics are formal declarations of an engineer’s professional obligations, and it is important to know expectations for oneself before pursuing and committing to a course of action. This paper is also a great opportunity to practice researching and writing skills which are necessary to almost every career.