MUBAS

Mechanical Engineering
Department
BME 5

ENGINEERING AND SOCIETY

An overview of the course module
C o m p i l e d b y: K J G O N D W E P h D
E M A I L S : k g o n d w e @ p o l y. a c . m w / g o n d w e k j @ g m a i l .c o m
Cell: 0888515050/ 0994730531

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Outline
1. Module Aims:
2. Intended Learning Outcomes:
3. Employability Skills
4. Indicative Content:
5. Assessment:
6. Teaching and Learning Methods/Activities:
7. Prescribed Reading List
8. Recommended Texts

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1. Module aim
 The aim of this module is to provide students with an
understanding of their role and responsibilities as
Engineers in society.

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2. Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, the student will be able to:
 Discuss the responsibilities of an Engineer in society,
 Demonstrate an understanding of the basic legal and regulatory issues
relating to projects,
 Apply safety and health issues in design and implementation of engineering
projects,
 Assess risks involved in engineering activities and suggest remedial
measures.
 Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and moral responsibilities of
an engineer.

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3. Employability Skills
 Ability to apply legal and regulatory issues in engineering
projects with due consideration of ethical conduct of
engineers.
 Ability to assess risks in engineering projects.
 Ability to apply safety health and environmental issues in
engineering activities.

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4. Indicative contents- an
overview
This module will covers: 8. Corporate governance.
1. Ethics in engineering practice. 9. Engineers Act.
2. Industrial relations.
3. Health and safety issues. 10. Product liability.
4. Environmental Issues 11. Intellectual property rights.
5. The Engineer’s role in disaster 12. Counterfeit products.
relief.
6. Contract, factory, non-contract,
13. Data protection and security.
patent, and environmental law. 14. Assessment and management of
7. Impact of globalization in risk in complex engineering
engineering. projects.

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Assessment
 Continuous assessments - 50%
 Final Examination - 50%

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Teaching/ Learning Methods
 Class lectures, Tutorials, group discussion
forums and presentation by industry
professionals.

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REFERENCES
Prescribed Reading List
Martin M. W. and Schinzinger R. (2005). Ethics in Engineering. McGraw-Hill, New
York, USA,

Recommended Texts
Collins S., Ghey J. and Mills G. (1989). The professional Engineer in society. Kingley.
ISBN 00-1-853-02501-1
David J. and Lambert R. (1995). Engineering in emergencies: a particular guide for
relief workers. Technology Publication.

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LECTURE 1: Ethics in
engineering practice

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What are ethics?

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What are ethics?

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Ethics in engineering practice?
 Engineering ethics is the set of rules and guidelines that engineers
adhere to as a moral obligation to their profession and to the
world;
 Engineering is a rigorous professional career that impact lives;
 When ethics is not followed, disaster often occurs;
 These disasters not only include huge monetary costs and
environmental impacts, but also often result in the loss of human
life;
 Engineering ethics applies to every engineer.

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What are the major causes of
ethical failures?

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What are potential entry points
for ethical misconduct?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
.
.

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Statement of Ethics - RAE
 Using framework set by the Royal Academy of Engineers,
engineering ethics could be clustered or grouped into four main
topics:
i. Accuracy and rigour;
ii. Honesty and integrity;
iii. Respect for life, law and public good; and
iv. Responsible leadership- listening and informing.

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Accuracy and rigour
Professional engineers have a duty to ensure that they acquire and use wisely
and faithfully the knowledge that is relevant to the engineering skills needed in
their work in the service of others. They should:
 act with care and competence
 perform services only in areas of current competence
 keep their knowledge and skills up to date and assist the development of engineering
knowledge and skills in others not knowingly mislead or allow others to be misled about
engineering matters
 present and review engineering evidence, theory and interpretation honestly, accurately and
without bias; and
 identify and evaluate and, where possible, quantify risks.

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Honesty and integrity
Professional engineers should adopt the highest standards of
professional conduct, openness, fairness and honesty. They should:
 be alert to the ways in which their work might affect others and duly respect
the rights and reputations of other parties;
 avoid deceptive acts, take steps to prevent corrupt practices or professional;
misconduct, and declare conflicts of interest;
 reject bribery or improper influence; and
 act for each employer or client in a reliable and trustworthy manner.

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Respect for life, law and the
public good
Professional engineers should give due weight to all relevant law, facts
and published guidance, and the wider public interest. They should:
 ensure that all work is lawful and justified;
 minimise and justify any adverse effect on society or on the natural environment
for their own and succeeding generations;
 take due account of the limited availability of natural and human resources;
 hold paramount the health and safety of others; and
 act honourably, responsibly and lawfully and uphold the reputation, standing and
dignity of the profession.

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Responsible leadership: listening and
informing
Professional engineers should aspire to high standards of leadership in the
exploitation and management of technology. They hold a privileged and trusted
position in society, and are expected to demonstrate that they are seeking to
serve wider society and to be sensitive to public concerns. They should:
 be aware of the issues that engineering and technology raise for society;
 listen to the aspirations and concerns of others;
 actively promote public awareness and understanding of the impact and
 benefits of engineering achievements; and
 be objective and truthful in any statement made in their professional capacity.

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 Whistleblowing

 Whistleblowing is the term used when a worker passes on information concerning

wrongdoing. If an individual discovers that the company they work for is behaving
unethically, then it is the moral duty of that individual to strive to address
the unethical behaviour.
 In practice, most contracts oblige an engineer to keep client’s information confidential;
 What happens if the client actions may pause danger to public?
 The engineer is in a dilemma – to disclose or not to disclose;
 However, the engineer has the duty to report to the appropriate authority a possible risk
to others from a client or employer failing to follow the engineer's directions.
 An engineer may be disciplined, or have their license revoked, even if the failure to
report such a danger does not result in the loss of life or health

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Whistleblowing ……
 The engineer should take the responsibility of advising the client of the
consequences their action, and should convince the client to take the
engineer's advice;
 If the client is not cooperative, the engineer may report to the appropriate
government authority for action;
 In the case where even a governmental authority may not take appropriate
action, the engineer may take action by publicly disclosing the misconduct;
 Often courts have often sided with engineers in such cases, overruling duties
to employers and confidentiality considerations.

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Conduct
There are a number of other ethical issues that have to do with technical practice, but
many others have to do with broader considerations of business conduct. These include:
 Relationships with clients, consultants, competitors, and contractors;
 Ensuring legal compliance by clients, client's contractors, and others;
 Conflict of interest;
 Bribery and kickbacks e.g. gifts, meals, services, and entertainment;
 Treatment of confidential or proprietary information;
 Consideration of the employer's assets;
 Outside employment/activities;
 Some engineering societies are addressing environmental protection as a stand-alone
question of ethics; and
 The field of business ethics often overlaps and informs ethical decision making for engineers.

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 Case studies
Engineering ethics is often times best explained
through the use of case studies.
Case studies allow examples of good and bad
decision making in a real world context.

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 NSPE Case No. 82-5
An Engineer’s Right to Protest

Introduction -
Kim works as an engineer for a defense contractor reviewing the work of
subcontractors.
Kim discovers that certain subcontractors have made submissions with
excessive cost, time delays or substandard work
Kim advises management to reject these jobs and require subcontractors to
correct the problem
After an extended disagreement about the subcontractor’s work,
management places a warning in Kim’s file and places Kim on probation,
warning of future termination

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 NSPE Case No. 82-5
An Engineer’s Right to Protest

Question -
Does Engineer Kim have an ethical obligation, or an ethical right, to
continue his efforts to secure change in the policy of his employer under
these circumstances, or to report his concerns to proper authority?

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 Guidelines to dealing with ethical dilemmas

Guidelines for Facilitating Solutions to Ethical Dilemmas in Professional Practice

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation.
Obtain all of the unbiased facts possible.
Step 2: Define the Stakeholders - those with a vested interest in the outcome.
Step 3: Assess the motivations of the stakeholders by using effective communication
techniques and personality assessment.
Step 4: Formulate alternative solutions based on the most complete information
available. Using basic ethical core values as a guide.

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 Guidelines

Step 5: Evaluate proposed alternatives. Make a short-list of ethical solutions; there

may be a potential choice between or among two or more totally ethical
solutions.
Step 6: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate – engineering codes of ethics,
previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, prayer.
Step 7: Select the best course of action - that which satisfies the highest core
ethical values.
Step 8: Implement the selected solution. Take action as warranted.
Step 9: Monitor and assess the outcome. Note how to improve the next time.

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SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES IN
ENGINEERING ETHICS
The Engineer must ensure that he/she must be ethical, demonstrated by the
following:
1) Accuracy and rigour
2) Honesty and Integrity
3) Respect for life, law and the public good
4) Responsible leadership
5) Following Procedures/guidelines that professionally tackle the ethical dilemmas
that arise during the practice of engineering
6) Has a role in whistle blowing, and must understand its pros and cons

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Case study
On February 6, 2014, General Motors (GM) recalled about 800,000 of
its small cars due to faulty ignition switches, which could shut off the
engine while the vehicle was in motion and thereby prevent
the airbags from inflating. The company continued to recall more of
its cars over the next several months, resulting in nearly 30 million
cars recalled worldwide and paid compensation for 124 deaths. The
fault had been known to GM for at least a decade prior to the recall
being declared.[4] As part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, GM
agreed to forfeit $900 million to the United States.

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THE END

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