Ethics and Professionalism

T. Barber

Important Attributes for a New EngineerSource: Arizona State students, faculty, industry representatives

Rank Students Faculty Industry Reps

1 Problem Solving Problem Solving Problem Solving

2 Computer Literacy Math/ScienceProficiency

Communication Skills

3 Math/ScienceProficiency

Communication Skills Ethics andProfessionalism

4 Communication Skills Technical Skills Open Mind /Positive Attitude

5 Technical Skills Motivation toContinue Learning

Math/ScienceProficiency

6 Motivation toContinue Learning

Ethics andProfessionalism

Technical Skills

7 Open Mind /Positive Attitude

Open Mind /Positive Attitude

Motivation toContinue Learning

8 Business / ManagementPractices

Computer Literacy Business / ManagementPractices

9 Ethics andProfessionalism

World AffairsAnd Cultures

Computer Literacy

10 World AffairsAnd Cultures

Business / ManagementPractices

World AffairsAnd Cultures

Important Attributes for a New EngineerPW Manager of Advanced Technology

• Passion• Optimism• Business View• Historic perspective• Product knowledge

• Action [vs. Watching]• Teamwork /

Collaborbator• Technical Competence• Communication

Attributes that Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Looks for

1. Evidence of professional and ethical behavior2. Ability to “flip-flop” the brain3. Solid understanding of engineering fundamentals4. Ability to work and comfortable with Open Ended

problems5. Solid understanding of design6. Understand the competing pressures driving the

design7. Exhibit Nympholepsy8. Good communication and team working skills

Nypholepsy: The frenzied yearning for the unachievable. [Passion]

Important Attributes for a New EngineerWhat’s important to students does not agree with industry wants.

• Problem solving: – ability to identify and define a problem, – Break down large problem into series of smaller problems– develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and – effect one or more designs to solve a problem.

• Effectiveness in communicating ideas.

• Ethics and professionalism: personal maturity, initiative, poise, enthusiasm, appearance, and the ability to work with people.

Professionalism

• On time [or before]• Attentive• Positive attitude• Proactive• Prepared: notes, paper, pen• Properly dressed [for the appropriate context]

– Business casual– Suit and tie– Jeans

• Be aware of cultural, political, technical issues

Engineering Professionalism

Ethics

Outline1. Background issues2. ASME Code of Ethics3. Dilbert cartoon4. Scruples cards5. Examples of your ethical situations

• Photocopying• File sharing• Copying software• Cheating, seeing someone else cheating• Taxes• Not reporting an accident

6. Noted examples of ethical issues• Davis-Besse Ohio nuclear plant• Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring failure• Internet company dealings with China• Guidant & Medtronics heart devices

7. Ethics exam• Faculty answers• Student answers

One expression I use is “It’s not that engineers are immoral, but sometimes in their approach they’re amoral.” When they enter the workplace, they think those decisions are left to other people, that they’re just there to do their job….

Prof. J. Herbert, Arizona State. [ASEE Prism, Oct. 2007]

Background Issues

• Immoral: not moral, conflicting with general moral principles.

• Amoral: being neither moral or immoral, lacking moral sensibility

ABET standards require universities to demonstrate students have a solid understanding of ethics in the workplace.

Background Issues

Given the following heat transfer problem:

•You own a residential building in an urban area.

•Can you calculate how many BTU’s per hour are necessary to heat a building in Chicago FROM 0 to 20 degrees F?

Background Issues

“Thinking Like an Engineer,” Prof. M. Davis Illinois Inst. Tech.Students asked to calculate how many BTU’s per hour are necessary to heat a building in Chicago FROM 0 to 20 degrees F.

Obviously, the numbers are off – such temperatures would keep the building well below freezing. Students often work the numbers without thinking what the numbers mean. [also ethics.iit.edu].

Similar issue in Kannon’s “The Good German,” where the Nordhausen rocket works are discussed.

Background Issues

CODE OF ETHICS OF ENGINEERS

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 the public, their employers and clients; and III. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession.

The Fundamental Canons

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence. 3. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional and ethical development of those engineers under their supervision. 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest. 5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others. 6. Engineers shall associate only with reputable persons or organizations. 7. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. 8. Engineers shall consider environmental impact in the performance of their professional duties.

Engineering Ethics

Outline• Scruples cards

– Day-to-day ethical experiences

• Examples of your ethical situations– Photocopying– File sharing– Copying software– Cheating, seeing someone else cheating– Taxes– Not reporting an accident

Outline

• Noted examples of ethical issues• Davis-Besse Ohio nuclear plant• Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring

failure• Internet company dealings with China• Guidant & Medtronics heart devices

• Ethics exam• Faculty answers• Student answers

Challenger and Whistleblowing

• Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring failure– 6 mos. before Challenger exploded, Roger Boisjoly wrote

a portentous memo. He warned if weather was too cold, seals connecting sections of shuttle’s huge rocket boosters could fail.

– Mr. Boisjoly gave presidential commission internal corporate documents

– Thiokol cut him off from space work, was shunned by colleagues and managers.

– A former friend warned him, “If you wreck this company, I’m going to put my kids on your doorstep,”

– Roger Boisjoly, 73, died in Jan. 2012

Davis-Besse Nuclear Plant

Separate power point file presentation