fleddermann summary

8/10/2019 Fleddermann Summary

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SEE 4012Professional Engineering PracticeSummary

Text by Fleddermann


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CONTENT

Professionalism & Code of EthicsCh. 2 Understanding Ethical ProblemsCh. 3

Ethical Problem-Solving TechniquesCh. 4

Risk, Safety & Accidents

Ch. 5 The Rights & Responsibilities of

EngineersCh. 6


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Ch. 2: Professionalism & Code of Ethics

What determines profession? Skills

Responsibilities

What is a profession?

1. Work requires sophisticated skills, judgment & discretion2. Extensive formal education, not simply training &

apprenticeship

3. Allowed by the public to form special societies controlled by

members of the profession4. Its practice results in significant public good.


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Ch. 3: Understanding Ethical Problems

4ethical theories:

1. Utilitarianismseek to produce a balance

between good & bad consequences of an

action, considering everyone affected.

2. Duty Ethicsthere are duties to be

performed regardless of whether these actslead to the most good.

3. Rights Ethicswe all have moral rights

and any action that violates these rights is

ethically unacceptable.

4. Virtue Ethicsregards actions as right that

manifest good virtues and bad as that

display bad charater virtues

- based on Western Ethics

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Maximizing the well-

being of society

Focuses on the type of

person we should strive

to be

Dont account for

overall good of the

society very well


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Non-Western ethical thinking: Muslim, Chines, Indian, Buddhist

Tools in engineering analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Problem 1: hard to evaluate benefits in terms of $

Problem 2: cant account for subjective items e.g loss of scenicwilderness, species extinction etc.

Those who get the benefits = those who pay for the cost

Which theory to use?

None of these One of these

Combinations of these


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Ch. 4: Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques

Types of issues in ethical problems:1. Factualwhat is known about the case

2. Conceptualthe meaning and applicability of an idea

3. Moralclearer once factual & conceptual issues are

determined Ethical problem-solving techniques:

1. Line Drawing technique

2. Flow Chartingtechnique

Negative

Paradigm PositiveParadigm


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3 ways to solve conflict problems:

1. Easy choice

2. Creative middle way

3. Gut feeling


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Bribe

Bribesomething (money or favour) offered or given to

someone in a position of trust in order to induce him to actdishonestly.

Bribe vs. gift depends on:

- Valueof the gift

- Intentof the gift

Why bribery is NOTtolerated?

1. It corrupts free-market economic system & is anticompetetive

2. It does not reward the most efficient producer

3. It is a sell-out to the richcorrupt justice & public policy

4. It treats people as commodities that can be bought or sold


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Ch. 5: Risk, Safety & Accidents

Risk the possibility of suffering harm or loss. Safety freedom from damage, injury or risk.

Most important duty of an engineers:

- To protect the safety and well-being of the public

Factors in determining risk level:1. Voluntary vs. Involuntary

2. Short-term vs. Long-term consequences

3. Expected probability

4. Reversible effects5. Threshold levels for risk

6. Delayed vs. Immediate risk


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4 criteria in safe design:

1. The design must comply with the applicable law.

2. The design must meet the standard of accepted engineering

practice.

3. Alternative designs that are potentially safer must be explored.

4. Engineers must attempt to foresee potential misuse of the

product & design to avoid this problem.

5. Finished devices must be rigorously tested.

Designing for safety:

Define problemGenerate several solutionsAnalyse each

solutionTest the solutionsSelect best solutionImplement

the chosen solution


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Categories of accidents:

Type Source How to Overcome

1. Procedural(most common)

Result of bad choice

Failure to follow

procedure

Failure to follow design

rules

> training

> supervision

> strict enforcement of

laws & regulations

2. Engineered Flaws in design > knowledge gainedthru testing

> rigorous field test

3. Systematic Characteristic of verycomplex

technology/organization

Small problem that could

lead to disaster

> understanding on thesystem

Be creative in

determining how things

can be designed to avoid

mistakes.


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Ch. 6: Rights & Responsibilities of Engineers

Responsibilities of Engineers:

1. Keeping Confidentiality & Proprietary Information

keep certain info of their client confidential

Why?Wont affect theirbility to compete

2. Avoiding Conflict of Interest 3 types of Conflict of InterestActual, Potential, Appearance

How to avoid Conflict of Interest? Follow the guidance of

company policy/ ask co-workers/ refer to Code of Ethics

3. Prohibition of Competitive Bidding To avoid engineers cutting corners in providing services to offer

competitive price and endanger public safety.


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Rights of engineers:

1. Rights of Professional Consciencethe rights to exercise

professional judgment in an ethical manner

2. Rights of Conscientious Refusalrefuse to engage in

unethical behaviour

3. Whistleblowingan act by an employee of informing the

public or higher management of unethical or illegal behaviour

by an employer or supervisor.


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Whistleblowing

Types ofwhistleblowing

Internal(within

company)

Acknowledged Anonymous

External(outside

company)

Acknowledged Anonymous


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Only attempt whistleblowing if 4 conditionsare met:

1. Needa clear & important harm that can be avoided bywhistleblowing

2. ProximityNo hearsay, need first hand knowledge

3. Capabilitymust have a reasonable success in stopping theharmful activities

4. Last resortno one else more capable of whistleblowing andthat all other means are shut off.

4 ways to prevent whistleblowing:

1. Strong corporate ethics culture

2. Clear lines of communication within the organization3. All employees must have reasonable access to high-levelmanagers to bring any concerns forward

4. Willingness of the management to admit mistakes.

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