Professional Ethics

and Global Issues

Chapter 9
Semester V
HUM 3152
Essentials of Management
 ▪ Senses of Engineering Ethics
▪ Variety of moral issues
▪ Types of inquiry
▪ Moral dilemmas
▪ Moral Autonomy
▪ Kohlberg’s theory
Professional ▪ Gilligan’s theory
Ethics ▪ Consensus and Controversy
▪ Models of professional roles
▪ Theories about right action
▪ Self-interest
▪ Customs and Religion
▪ Uses of Ethical Theories

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 ● Engineering ethics is defined by the codes and standards of
conduct endorsed by engineering (professional) societies with
respect to the particular set of beliefs, attitudes and habits
displayed by the individual or group.
Senses of
●Engineering Ethics is the activity and discipline aimed at
Engineering
● Understanding the moral values that ought to guide
Ethics engineering profession or practice
● Resolving moral issues in engineering
● Justifying the moral judgments in engineering (deals with set
of moral problems and issues connected with engineering)

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 ● There are two different senses (meanings) of engineering ethics, namely
the Normative and the Descriptive senses.

● The normative sense include:

● Knowing moral values, finding accurate solutions to moral problems

Senses of and justifying moral judgments in engineering practices

Engineering ● Study of decisions, policies, and values that are morally desirable in
the engineering practice and research
Ethics ● Using codes of ethics and standards and applying them in their
transactions by engineers.

● The descriptive sense refers to what specific individual or group of

engineers believe and act, without justifying their beliefs or actions.

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 ▪ The reasons how moral issues (problems) arise in a
profession or why people behave unethically may be
classified into three categories:
Variety of 1. Resource Crunch
moral issues 2. Opportunity

3. Attitude

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 1)Resource Crunch:

● Due to pressure, through time limits, availability of money or

budgetary constraints, and technology decay or obsolescence.

Variety of ● Pressure from the government to complete the project in time

moral issues (e.g., before the elections), reduction in the budget because of
sudden war or natural calamity (e.g., Tsunami) and obsolescence
due to technological innovation by the competitor lead to
manipulation and unsafe and unethical execution of projects.

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 2) Opportunity:

● Double standards or behavior of the employers towards the employees

and public. The unethical behaviors of World Com (in USA), Enron (in USA
as well as India) executives in 2002 resulted in bankruptcy for those
companies.

● Management projecting their own interests more than that of their

Variety of employees. Some organizations over-emphasize short-term gains
and results at the expense of themselves and others.
moral issues ● Emphasis on results and gains at the expense of the employees.

● Management by objectives, without focus on empowerment and

improvement of the infrastructure. This is best encountered by developing
policies that allow ‘conscience keepers’ and whistle blowers and appointing
ombudsman, who can work confidentially with people to solve the unethical
problems internally.

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 3) Attitude:
● Poor attitude of the employees set in due to
(a) Low morale of the employees because of dissatisfaction and
downsizing
(b) Absence of grievance redressal mechanism
Variety of (c) Lack of promotion or career development policies or denied
moral issues promotions
(d) Lack of transparency
(e) Absence of recognition and reward system
(f) Poor working environments

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 ● Some of the directions to promote positive attitudes among the
employees are:
● Giving ethics training for all

● Recognizing ethical conduct in work place

Variety of
● Including ethics in performance appraisal
moral issues
● Encouraging open discussion on ethical issues

● To get firm and positive effect, ethical standards must be set and
adopted by the senior management with input from all personnel.

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 ● The three types of inquiry in solving ethical problems are:

Types of 1. Normative Inquiry

inquiry 2. Conceptual Inquiry

3. Factual or Descriptive Inquiry

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 1) Normative Inquiry:
● It seeks to identify and justify the morally-desirable norms or standards
that should guide individuals and groups.
● It also has the theoretical goal of justifying particular moral judgments.
● Normative questions are about what ought to be and what is good,
Types of based on moral values. For example,
inquiry 1. How far does the obligation of engineers to protect public safety
extend in any given situation?
2. When, if ever, should engineers be expected to blow whistle on
dangerous practices of their employers?
3. Whose values ought to be primary in making judgment about
acceptable risks in design for a public transport system or a
nuclear plant? Is it of management, senior engineers,
government, voters or all of them?

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 2) Conceptual Enquiry:
● It is directed to clarify the meaning of concepts or ideas or
principles that are expressed by words or by questions and
statements. For example,

(a) What is meant by safety?

Types of
(b) How is it related to risk?
inquiry
(c) What is a bribe?

(d) What is a profession?

● When moral concepts are discussed, normative and conceptual

issues are closely interconnected.

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 3) Factual or descriptive Inquiry:
● It is aimed to obtain facts needed for understanding and resolving
value issues. Researchers conduct factual inquiries using
mathematical or statistical techniques.

● The inquiry provide important information on business realities,

engineering practice, and the effectiveness of professional
societies in fostering moral conduct, the procedures used in risk
Types of assessment, and psychological profiles of engineers.
inquiry ● The facts provide not only the reasons for moral problems but
also enable us to develop alternative ways of resolving moral
problems. For example,
1. How were the benefits assessed?
2. What are procedures followed in risk assessment?
3. What are short-term and long-term effects of drinking water
being polluted?
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 ● Dilemmas are situations in which moral reasons come into conflict, or
in which the application of moral values are problems, and one is not
clear of the immediate choice or solution of the problems.
● The three complex situations leading to moral dilemmas are:
1. The problem of vagueness: One is unable to distinguish between
good and bad (right or wrong) principle. Good means an action that
is obligatory. For example, code of ethics specifies that one should
Moral obey the laws and follow standards. Refuse bribe or accept the gift,
dilemmas and maintain confidentiality
2. The problem of conflicting reasons: One is unable to choose between
two good moral solutions. One has to fix priority, through knowledge
or value system.
3. The problem of disagreement: There may be two or more solutions
and none of them mandatory. These solutions may be better or
worse in some respects but not in all aspects. One has to interpret,
apply different morally reasons, and analyze and rank the decisions.
Select the best suitable, under the existing and the most probable
conditions.
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 ● Moral autonomy is defined as, decisions and actions exercised on the
basis of moral concern for other people and recognition of good moral
reasons.
● Alternatively, moral autonomy means ‘self determinant or
independent’. The autonomous people hold moral beliefs and attitudes
based on their critical reflection rather than on passive adoption of the
Moral conventions of the society or profession.

Autonomy ● Autonomy which is the independence in making decisions and actions,

is different from authority. Authority provides freedom for action,
specified within limits, depending on the situation.
● Moral autonomy and respect for authority can coexist. They are not
against each other.
● If the authority of the engineer and the moral autonomy of the operator
are in conflict, a consensus is obtained by the two, upon discussion and
mutual understanding their limits.

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 The engineering skills related to moral autonomy are listed as follows:
▪ Proficiency in recognizing moral problems in engineering and
ability to distinguish as well as relate them to problems in law,
economics, and religion
▪ Skill in comprehending, clarifying, and critically-assessing
arguments on different aspects of moral issues
▪
Moral Ability to form consistent and comprehensive view points based on
facts
Autonomy ▪ Awareness of alternate responses to the issues and creative
solutions for practical difficulties
▪ Sensitivity to genuine difficulties and subtleties, including
willingness to undergo and tolerate some uncertainty while
making decisions
▪ Using rational dialogue in resolving moral conflicts and developing
tolerance of different perspectives among morally reasonable
people
▪ Maintaining moral integrity

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 ● Moral development in human being occurs over age and
experience.

● Kohlberg suggested there are three levels of moral development

based on the type of reasoning and motivation of the individuals
Kohlberg’s
in response to moral questions.
theory
1. Pre-conventional level

2. Conventional level

3. Post-conventional level

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 1) Pre-conventional level:

● At this level, right conduct for an individual is regarded as

whatever directly benefits oneself.

Kohlberg’s ● Individuals are motivated by obedience or the desire to avoid

theory punishment or to satisfy their own needs or by the influence by

power on them.

● All young children exhibit this tendency.

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 2) Conventional level:
● At the conventional level, people respect the law and authority.

● Rules and norms of one’s family or group or society is accepted, as

the standard of morality.

Kohlberg’s ● Individuals in this level want to please or satisfy, and get approval

theory by others and to meet the expectations of the society, rather than
their self interest (Eg: good boy, good girl).

● Loyalty is regarded as most important.

● Many adults do not go beyond this level.

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 3) Post-conventional level:

▪ At the post-conventional level, people are called autonomous.

▪ They think originally and want to live by universally good
principles and welfare of others. They have no
self-interest.

Kohlberg’s ▪ They live by principled conscience. They follow the golden

theory rule, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.
▪ They maintain moral integrity, self-respect and respect for
others. Kohlberg believed that individuals could only progress
through these stages, one stage at a time.
▪ He believed that most of the moral development occurs
through social interactions.

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 ▪ Carol Gilligan found that Kohlberg’s theory had a strong male
bias. According to Gilligan’s studies, men had a tendency to
solve problems by applying abstract moral principles.
▪ Men were found to resolve moral dilemma by choosing the
most important moral rule, overriding other rules.
Gilligan’s ▪ In contrast, women gave importance to preserve personal
theory relationships with all the people involved.
▪ The context oriented emphasis on maintaining personal
relationships was called the ethics of care, in contrast with the
ethics of rules and rights adopted by men.
▪ Gilligan revised the three levels of moral development of
Kohlberg, as stages of growth towards ethics of caring.

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 ▪ The pre-conventional level, which is same as that of
Kohlberg’s first one, right conduct, is viewed in a selfish
manner solely as what is good for oneself.
▪ The second level called conventional level, the importance is
on not hurting others, and willing to sacrifice one’s own
interest and help others.
Gilligan’s ▪ This is the characteristic feature of women. At the
theory post-conventional level, a reasoned balance is found between
caring about others and pursuing the self-interest.
▪ The balance one’s own need and the needs of others, is
aimed while maintaining relationship based on mutual
caring.
▪ This is achieved by context-oriented reasoning, rather than by
hierarchy of rules.

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 The theories of moral development by Kohlberg and Gilligan differ in the
following respects:

Kohlberg’s
theory &
Gilligan’s
theory

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 The moral judgment may lead to conflicts if they are not delivered
properly without hurting the feelings of the persons involved. There are
two stages after the judgment. The stages are described below:

Consensus

Consensus This is that state where people come into agreement with the judgment
given by getting convinced with the moral reasons. This will leave the
and persons with a feel that justice has been done, the verdict may favor any
Controversy party.

Controversy

This is that state where the persons involved in an issue are not satisfied
by the verdict and might feel that it was decided on partial interests. This
will leave the people with a sense of dissatisfaction that justice was not
done, which might lead to another conflict.

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 There are several role models to whom the engineers are attracted.
These models provoke their thinking, attitudes and actions.
1. Savior : The engineer as a savior, save the society from poverty,
illiteracy, wastage, inefficiency, ill health, human (labor) dignity
and lead it to prosperity, through technological development
and social planning. For example, R.L. Stevenson.
Models of 2. Guardian: He guards the interests of the poor and general public.
professional As one who is conversant with technology development, is given
the authority befitting his expertise to determine what is best
roles suited to the society. For example, Lawrence of Arabia (an
engineer).
3. Bureaucratic Servant: A person who is loyal and can solve
problems when they occur using his own skills, is a Bureaucratic
servant. An engineer who can be a loyal person to the
organization and also the one who solves the technical problems
the company encounters, using his special skills can be termed as
a Bureaucratic servant. The company relies on his
decision-making capability for the future growth. 25
 4. Social Servant: It is one who exhibits social responsibility. The
engineer translates the interest and aspirations of the society into a
reality, remembering that his true master is the society at large. For
example, Sir M. Viswesvarayya.

5. Social Enabler and Catalyst : One who changes the society through
technology. The engineer must assist the management and the
Models of society to understand their needs and make informed decisions on
professional the desirable technological development and minimize the negative
effects of technology on people and their living environment. Thus,
roles he shines as a social enabler and a catalyst for further growth. For
example, Sri. Sundarlal Bahuguna.

6. Game Player: A person who plays a game according to the rules given
is a Game player in general. An engineer who acts as neither a servant
nor a master, but provides his services and plans his works according
to the economic game rules in a given time, can be termed as a Game
player. He is smart enough to handle the economic conditions of the
company.
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 Several ethical theories have been developed over different times,
each of them stressing certain ethical principles or features. Each
stresses a view and many a times, we find that these theories
converge and reinforce the ethics, in deciding upon the actions and
justifying the results.
Theories
1. Utilitarian Theory
about right
action 2. Duty Ethics theory

3. Rights Theory

4. The Virtue Theory

5. Self- realization Ethics

6. Justice (Fairness) Theory

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 1) Utilitarian Theory:

● The standard of right conduct is maximization of good consequences.

Good consequences mean either ‘utilities’ or the ‘balance of good over
evil’.

Theories ● This approach weighs the costs and benefits. Right actions are the ones
that produce the greatest satisfaction of the preferences of the affected
about right persons. In analyzing an issue in this approach, we have to:
action (a) Identify the various courses of action available to us.
(b) Ask who will be affected by each action and what benefits or
harms will be derived from each.
(c) Choose the action that will produce the greatest benefits and the
least harm. The ethical action is the one that provides the greatest
good for the greatest number.

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 2) 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’, ‘not cause suffering of others’, ‘being fair to others
Theories including the meek and week’, ‘being grateful’, ‘keeping promises’ etc.
about right ● The stress is on the universal principle of respect for autonomy i.e.,
action respect and rationality of persons.

● As per Kant we have duties to ourselves, as we are rational and

autonomous beings. We have a duty not to commit suicide; a duty to
develop our talents and a duty to avoid harmful drugs.

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 3) Rights Theory:
▪ Rights are entitlement to act or to have another individual
act in a certain way. Minimally, rights serve as a protective
barrier, shielding individuals from unjustified infringement of
their moral agency by others. For every right, we have a
Theories corresponding duty of noninterference.
about right ▪ The RIGHTS approach to ethics has its roots in the 18th century
action philosopher Immanuel Kant, who focused on the individual’s
right to choose for oneself. People are not objects to be
manipulated; it is a violation of human dignity to use people in
ways they do not freely choose.

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 4) The Virtue Theory:
This emphasizes on the character rather than the rights or duties. The
character is the pattern of virtues (morally-desirable features). The theory
advocated by Aristotle, stressed on the tendency to act at proper balance
between extremes of conduct, emotion, desire, attitudes to find the golden
mean between the extremes of ‘excess’ or ‘deficiency’.

Theories
about right
action

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 5) Self- realization Ethics:
▪ Right action consists in seeking self-fulfillment.

▪ In one version of this theory, the self to be realized is defined by

Theories caring relationships with other individuals and society.
about right ▪ In another version called ethical egoism, the right action consists
action in always promoting what is good for oneself.

▪ No caring and society relationships are assumed.

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 6) Justice (Fairness) Theory:
▪ The justice or fairness approach to ethics has its roots in the

teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who

said that “equals should be treated equally and unequal
unequally.”
▪ The basic moral question in this approach is: How fair is an
Theories action? Does it treat everyone in the same way, or does it show
about right favoritism and discrimination?
action ▪ Issues create controversies simply because we do not bother to
check the fairness or justice.
▪ Favoritism gives benefits to some people without a justifiable
reason for singling them out; discrimination imposes burdens on
people who are no different from those on whom burdens are
not imposed.
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 ▪ Self-interest is being good and acceptable to oneself. It is
pursuing what is good for oneself.

▪ It is very ethical to possess self-interest.

▪ As per utilitarian theory, this interest should provide for the

respect of others also.
Self-interest ▪ Duty ethics recognizes this aspect as duties to
ourselves.

▪ Then only one can help others. Right ethicist stresses our
rights to pursue our own good.

▪ Virtue ethics also accepts the importance of self-respect as link

to social practices.

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 ▪ Religions have played major roles in shaping moral views and
moral values, over geographical regions. Christianity has
influenced the Western countries, Islam in the Middle-East
countries, Buddhism and Hinduism in Asia, and Confucianism in
China.
Customs and ▪ Further, there is a strong psychological link between the moral
Religion and religious beliefs of people following various religions and
faiths. Religions support moral responsibility.
▪ They have set high moral standards. Faith in the
religions provides trust and this trust inspires people
to be moral.

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 The ethical theories are useful in many respects.

1. In understanding moral dilemma. They provide clarity, consistency,

systematic and comprehensive understanding.

2. Ethical theories aid in identifying the moral considerations or

reasons that constitute a dilemma.

3. Ethical theories provide a more precise sense of what kinds of

Uses of Ethical information are relevant to solving moral dilemmas.

Theories 4. It provides helpful practical guidance in moral issues towards the

solution. Sometimes it offer ways to rank the relevant moral
considerations in order of importance and thereby provide at least
rough guidance in solving moral problems.

5. Justifying professional obligations and decisions.

6. By providing frameworks for development of moral arguments ,the

theories strengthen our ability to reach balanced and insightful
judgments.
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 ▪ Multinational Corporations

▪ Environmental Ethics

▪ Computer Ethics

▪ Weapons Development

▪ Engineers as Managers
Global Issues ▪ Consulting Engineers

▪ Engineers as Expert Witnesses and Advisors

▪ Moral Leadership

▪ Code of Conduct

▪ Corporate Social Responsibility

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 ▪ Organizations, who have established business in more than one country,
are called Multinational Corporation. The headquarters are in the home
country and the business is extended in many host countries.

▪ The Western organizations doing business in the less-economically

developed (developing, and overpopulated) countries gain the advantage
of inexpensive labor, availability of natural resources, conducive-tax
Multinational atmosphere, and virgin market for the products.

Corporations ▪ At the same time, the developing countries are also benefited by
fresh job opportunities, jobs with higher remuneration and
challenges, transfer of technology, and several social benefits by
the wealth developed.

▪ But this happens invariably with some social and cultural disturbance.
Loss of jobs for the home country, and loss or exploitation of natural
resources, political instability for the host countries are some of the
threats of globalization.
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 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
Multinational improve and promote morally justified institutions in the host
countries.
Corporations ▪ 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.
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 Environmental ethics is the study of
▪ moral issues concerning the environment, and
▪ moral perspectives, beliefs, or attitudes concerning those
issues.
Engineers in the past are known for their negligence of
Environmental environment, in their activities. It has become important now that
Ethics engineers design eco- friendly tools, machines, sustainable
products, processes, and projects. These are essential now to
▪ ensure protection (safety) of environment
▪ prevent the degradation of environment, and
▪ slow down the exploitation of the natural resources, so that
the future generation can survive.

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 Engineers as experimenters have certain duties
towards environmental ethics, namely:
1. Environmental impact assessment: One major but sure and
unintended effect of technology is wastage and the resulting
pollution of land, water, air and even space. Study how the industry

Environmental and technology affects the environment.

Ethics 2. Establish standards: Study and to fix the tolerable and

actual pollution levels.
3. Counter measures: Study what the protective or
eliminating measures are available for immediate
implementation
4. Environmental awareness: Study on how to educate the people on
environmental practices, issues, and possible remedies.

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 ▪ 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.
Computer
▪ This subject has become relevant to the professionals such as
Ethics 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.

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 Different types of problems found in computer ethics are:

1. Computer as the Instrument of Unethical Acts: Breaking privacy,

information or data of the individuals accessed or erased or the
ownership changed, fraud a bank or a client, by accessing and
Computer withdrawing money from other’s bank account.
Ethics
2. Computer as the Object of Unethical Act: Hacking, spreading
virus, health hazards.

3. Problems Related to the Autonomous Nature of Computer:

Security risk, loss of human lives (automated defense system).

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 Military activities including the world wars have stimulated the
growth of technology. The growth of Internet amply illustrates
this fact. Engineers involve in weapons development because of
the following reasons:
1. It gives one job with high salary.

2. One takes pride and honor in participating in the activities

towards the defense of the nation (patriotic fervor).
Weapons 3. One believes the he fights a war on terrorism and thereby contribute to
Development peace and stability of the country. Ironically, the wars have never won
peace, only peace can win peace!

4. By research and development, the engineer is reducing or

eliminating the risk from enemy weapons, and saving one’s country
from disaster.

5. By building-up arsenals and show of force, a country can force the

rogue country, towards regulation.
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 The characteristics of engineers as managers are:

Promote an ethical climate, through framing organization

policies, responsibilities and by personal attitudes and
obligations.

Engineers as Resolving conflicts, by evolving priority, developing mutual

Managers understanding, generating various alternative solutions to

problems.

Social responsibility to stakeholders, customers and

employers. They act to develop wealth as well as the welfare
of the society.

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 Managing conflicts: Most of the conflicts can be resolved by following the
principles listed here,

1. People

Separate people from the problem. It implies that the views of all concerned
should be obtained. The questions such as what, why, and when the error
was committed is more important than to know who committed it. This
impersonal approach will lead to not only early solution but also others will
Engineers as be prevented from committing errors.

Managers 2. Interests

Focus must be only on interest i.e., the ethical attitudes or motives and not on
the positions (i.e., stated views). A supplier may require commission larger
than usual prevailing rate for an agricultural product. But the past analysis may
tell us that the material is not cultivated regularly and the monsoon poses
some additional risk towards the supply. Mutual interests must be respected to
a maximum level. What is right is more important than who is right!
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 3. Options

Generate various options as solutions to the problem. This helps a

manager to try the next best solution should the first one fails.
Decision on alternate solutions can be taken more easily and
without loss of time.
Engineers as
Managers 4. Evaluation

The evaluation of the results should be based on some specified

objectives such as efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.
More important is that the means, not only the goals, should be
ethical.

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 The consulting engineers have ethical responsibilities different from
the salaried engineers, as follows:

Consulting ●Advertising: The consulting engineers are directly responsible for

Engineers advertising their services, even if they employ other consultants to
assist them. But in many organizations, this responsibility is with
the advertising executives and the personnel department. They are
allowed to advertise but to avoid deceptive ones.

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 ●Competitive Bidding: It means offering a price, and get something
in return for the service offered. The organizations have a pool of
engineers. The expertise can be shared and the bidding is made
more realistic. But the individual consultants have to develop

Consulting creative designs and build their reputation steadily and carefully,

Engineers over a period of time. The clients will have to choose between the
reputed organizations and proven qualifications of the company
and the expertise of the consultants. Although competent, the
younger consultants are thus slightly at a disadvantage.

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 ●Contingency Fee: This is the fee or commission paid to the consultant,
when one is successful in saving the expenses for the client. A sense of
honesty and fairness is required in fixing this fee. The NSPE Code III 6 (a)
says that the engineers shall not propose or accept a commission on a
contingent basis where their judgment may be compromised. The fee

Consulting may be either as an agreed amount or a fixed percentage of the savings

Engineers realized. But in the contingency fee-agreements, the judgment of the

consultant may be biased. The consultant may be tempted to specify
inferior materials or design methods to cut the construction cost. This fee
may motivate the consultants to effect saving in the costs to the clients,
through reasonably moral and technological means.

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 ●Safety and Client’s Needs: The greater freedom for the consulting
engineers in decision making on safety aspects, and difficulties
concerning truthfulness are the matters to be given attention. For
example, in design-only projects, the consulting engineers may
design something and have no role in the construction. Sometimes,
Consulting difficulties may crop-up during construction due to non- availability
Engineers of suitable materials, some shortcuts in construction, and lack of
necessary and adequate supervision and inspection.
Properly-trained supervision is needed, but may not happen, unless
it is provided. Further, the contractor may not understand and/or be
willing to modify the original design to serve the clients best.

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 ▪ Frequently engineers are required to act as consultants
and provide expert opinion and views in many legal cases
of the past events.
Engineers as ▪ They are required to explain the causes of accidents, malfunctions
Expert and other technological behavior of structures, machines, and
Witnesses and instruments, e.g., personal injury while using an instrument,
Advisors defective product, traffic accident, structure or building collapse,
and damage to the property, are some of the cases where
testimonies are needed.

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 1.The expert-witness is required to exhibit the responsibility of confidentiality just
as they do in the consulting roles. They can not divulge the findings of the
investigation to the opposite side, unless it is required by the court of law.

2.More important is that as witness they are not required to volunteer evidence
favorable to the opponent. They must answer questions truthfully, need not

Engineers as elaborate, and remain neutral until the details are asked for further.

Expert 3.They should be objective to discover the truth and communicate

them honestly.
Witnesses and 4.The stand of the experts depends on the shared understanding created within
Advisors the society. The legal system should be respected and at the same time, they
should act in conformance with the professional standards as obtained from the
code of ethics.

5.The experts should earnestly be impartial in identifying and interpreting

the observed data, recorded data, and the industrial standards. They
should not distort the truth, even under pressure.

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 Engineers as Advisors:

For an engineer to be an advisor, should study the costs and benefits

Engineers as
of all alternatives in objective manner, study economic viability,
Expert technical feasibility, operational feasibility and social acceptability,
Witnesses and follow honesty, and technical complicity leading to moral
Advisors complicity. Then after analyzing the factors that lead to such things
and also the consequences that occur, engineers can work as an
advisor.

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 Moral leadership is essentially required for the engineers, for the reasons
listed as follows:

1.It is leading a group of people towards the achievement of global and

objectives. The goals as well as the means are to be moral. For example, Hitler
and Stalin were leaders, but only in an instrumental sense and certainly not on
moral sense.

2.The leadership shall direct and motivate the group to move through
Moral morally desirable ways.
Leadership 3.They lead by thinking ahead in time, and morally creative towards new
applications, extension and putting values into practice. ‘Morally creative’
means the identification of the most important values as applicable to the
situation, bringing clarity within the groups through proper communication,
and putting those values into practice.
4. They sustain professional interest, among social diversity and
cross-disciplinary complexity. They contribute to the professional societies,
their professions, and to their communities.
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 ●Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members
of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the higher
standards of honesty and integrity.

●Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for

Code of all people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers require

Conduct honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated

to the protection of then public health, safety, and welfare.

●Engineer must perform under a standard of professional behavior

that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical
conduct.

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 ●I Fundamental Canons
●Engineers in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall
1. hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
2. perform services only in areas of their competence.
Code of 3. issue public statements only in objective and truthful manner.
Conduct 4. act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
5. avoid deceptive acts.
6. conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and
lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of
the profession.

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 ●II Rules of Practice

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and

welfare of the public.

2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of

their competence.
Code of 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an
Conduct objective and truthful manner.

4. Engineers shall at for each employer or client as faithful agents

or trustees

5. Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts

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 ●III Professional Obligations
1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relation 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 client or employer, or public body on which they serve.
6. Engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or advancement or
Code of professional engagements by untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or
by other improper methods.
Conduct 7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly or
indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment
of other engineers. Engineers who believe others are guilty of unethical or
illegal practice shall resent such information to the proper authority for
action.
8. Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their professional
activities, provided, however, the engineers may seek indemnification for
services arising out of their practice for other than gross negligence,
where the engineer’s interests can not otherwise be protected.

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 ▪ A company has an economic responsibility: it must earn a return
for its stockholders within the confines of the law.
▪ However, corporate social responsibility means that
organizations have also ethical and societal responsibilities
Corporate that go beyond their economic responsibilities.
Social ▪ CSR requires organizations to expand their understandings of
Responsibility their responsibilities to include other stakeholders such as
employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, state
governments, international organizations, etc.
▪ Ethics could be seen as a crucial component of individual and
group behaviors at the heart of organizations’ responsibilities.

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