Engineering Ethics Case Studies - Essay Example

This particular case should go in two ways. This plan of action depends on whether the engineers involved are working for the government or are in private practice. Firstly, considering one of the codes of ethics indicated, if I am an engineer on a private practice, I may help the other engineer in interpreting the said project but I will not give false views and corrections as a form of injuring the reputation of the more experienced engineer. Moreover, even though I found some technical mistakes and found out that the project did not compensate the price being paid by the companies, I will remain neutral on the issue and will never attempt to make known my findings. However, if both of us or the three of us work for the government, as provided under the codes of ethics, if required, I will help in the interpretation and review of the project but there should be no statements that will damage my colleague’s reputation. In addition, I will not attempt to scrutinize the project of another engineer to gain confidence or a sense of superiority, instead, I would tell the young engineer to make some valid suggestions and forward it to the other engineer. 2. As a professional engineer, it is my responsibility to deliver correct, accurate and credible study on a certain material that will be produced by a certain company either for public information or consumption. If for instance, I would predict that there is something hazy or unclear and needs to be resolved, I would have to inform the companies or authorities concerned. First, I will make a presentation or I will explain to the company my findings about the potential problems or the questions underlying the said study. Since I have found out that there is still a need to undergo another deeper investigation, I will inform them about the problem and how this can be solved. I will make a proposal stating the need for an additional fund that includes the reason, the benefits and the necessary inputs needed for the resolution. This may show rundown of numbers to clearly explain to them where the money is to be used. As a professional engineer, it is my utmost responsibility to ensure safety and quality of life. Since I have found out something that I believed to be a potential threat for quality, then the best way to address this is to inform the authorities about your findings and present to them your solutions for these problems. 3. This particular case has a lot of concern. First, there is a manifestation of a risk for safety. Second, there is a potential conflict of interest in view of the fact that a certain component for the project has been seen to be not savvy enough and might cause the public safety. Consider this, “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public”. In view of this fact, it is the responsibility of the engineer to ensure that the project will be safety for public use and consumption. However, since there was a malicious thing revolving, and consider that “If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate.”. Considering this, first I will present to the authorities the study that I have found out especially those findings concerning the safety and the durability of the materials being used. I will not disregard the issue; instead, firstly, I will talk to the project manager and inform him that there is a possibility of malfunction that might occur considering that there were some technical issues discovered like the computer controller card that does not allow software to procure certain features. Similarly, I will talk to the customer so that they will also know why the project will take more time and why there is a need for additional funds. 4. This case has something to do with prestige and money. The concerns are first, the company ABC has taken advantage of an engineering service to develop a next-generation product that will revolutionize the industry. ABS took advantage of the said service earlier than LMN. Considering that “Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.” I know, nevertheless, that in the process of developing the project, the designs for the projects of both will come to overlap, then I would have to discard the bid offer of LMN since this will create a duplicating result that might cause the productivity of ABC. Further, as an engineer, “Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees”. Seen this way, I will inform the authorities of LMN that developing a project that might display an overlapping specifications with the another project for a competitor will violate the code of ethics for engineers. 5. Several codes of ethics are reflected on this particular case. I would like to make a clear list of the situations: First, the three-year development effort has already clinched; because of their grim support to the local education, they want me to appear on TV and allege the advent of our partnership; they want me to convince viewers to switch to their product and explain some benefits. Well, considering this “Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any interest the engineers may have in the matters”. As we ponder on this particular case, I will decline their offer since doing such will malign and affect the credibility of the other company producing the same product. As an engineer, I should not make any grave or obliterating statement that are offensive and berate the products of the competitor. I will also not accept the offer of travel provisions and allowances since this will be a violation to the code. Hence, I will tell the requesting body that accepting this offer might jeopardize my integrity and credibility as an engineer and subsequently, I would decline the offer. 6. Considering this “. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, or receive, either directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the public as having the effect or intent of influencing the awarding of a contract. They shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission, percentage, or brokerage fee in order to secure work, except to a bona fide employee or bona fide established commercial or marketing agencies retained by them. Even though I was part of the design of the project as the advisor, as an engineer, it is a violation to the code of ethics to accept any offering or compensation or commission for any particular enterprise relating a certain project. I will decline the offer and instead be open enough for further consultation. 7. Considering this “Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession” and this “….they [engineers] shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, or past accomplishments.” I may not continue to enroll on a certain class in order to attract future employers and gain employment especially when this particular class is out of my interest. I should promote the paramount standards of honesty and integrity. I should accept what is due of my abilities and not just by enforcing through addition of classes or subjects that might meet future employer’s requirement. 8. Considering this “Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees” I will not divulge any information that will discredit the employer. Although, I learned that the company is laying off their employees, still there are possible changes on the decision and sharing information is a violation to codes of ethics if this is being done without the prior knowledge of the employer. Instead, I will just make a suggestion to the governing bodies and the authorities to make public statement so that everyone will be knowledgeable about the said lay-off. However, this suggestion should be subject to disapproval and therefore, the decisions of the authority as to whether to accept the suggestion or not depends on them alone. 9. I will report this particular problem to the authorities of the mall and tell them what I have found out. Perhaps, I shall state them my qualifications to judge accordingly as aided by my expertise and present them pertinent ideas that will help for the betterment of the mall. Further, considering this “Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public” and this “If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate” as an engineer, I will not discard any possible cause of danger and I will directly inform the manager or the concern parties to make some necessary improvements on their facility to avoid accidents. If possible, whenever requested, I will provide a necessary case study to make such claims clear and concise and that the said material will be duly agreed as defective and needs some repair. 10. Considering this “Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.” This particular case has something to do with honesty and loyalty to the employer. Since the client has paid a higher amount for the bid and eventually it has been found out that the amount offered by the software vendor during the bid is lower than the paid amount by the client, it is necessary for us to report this particular case. First, I may inform the client that since the money was not directly paid to the software vendor, the knowledge was granted to the engineering firm regarding the real prices of the bid. Further, may return the excess of payment back to the client to ensure fairness of the enterprise. In cases such as this, it very important for a certain engineer to be honest to its clients, whether there were technical issues encountered during the bidding process, the excess should be given back to where it is due. 11. As an engineer, it is our utmost duty to ensure safety and durability of the products we make. In this case, I would like to point out some codes of ethics. First, consider this “Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards” and this “Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services.” Since the vibrating test was not being done prior to shipping, there is a great possibility that there might be some undiscovered technical issues in the project. I will ask the employer to postpone the shipping of these materials since these have not yet been tested and might cause potential danger to the public. At the same time, I will inform the customer about the delay or postponement and lay down reasons for the delay. I may inform them that if the testing will not be done, it will violate the applicable standards of operations. 12. Considering this “Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services”, since the workers are not following the standard safety requirement, this might cause some serious danger to the life of the workers. Seen this way, I will report this particular case to the authorities and have them generate some decisions regarding the deviant practices of the workers. Further, “If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate” considering this code of ethic, I will suggest that sanction be imposed for workers who do not follow safety precautions since we are dealing with safety her. I will suggest that the authorities should sharpen their teeth in the imposition of their rules and regulations. 13. Considering this “Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by law or this Code.” If by any chance or by any means, I would gain information that might cause the public’s awareness, I would still not reveal any facts, information that are under the confidentiality agreement. As an engineer, any changes or fabrication of materials, alteration on the process of enterprising goods, or in this case, the switching for new materials, regardless of reduction on the cost, are not reliable and valid reasons to disclose any information to the public. I shall act with loyalty and true-blue relation to the client. In an attempt to negotiate a reduced cost of supply, I will prevent myself from doing this since “Engineers shall not, without the consent of all interested parties, promote or arrange for new employment or practice in connection with a specific project for which the engineer has gained particular and specialized knowledge”, and doing some unnoticed enterprising is a violation to the code of ethics. Read More