institution of civil engineers engineering ethics toolkit presented by the president’s...

Institution of Civil Engineers www.ice.org.uk/ethicsEngineering Ethics Toolkit

Engineering Ethics ToolkitPresented by the President’s Apprentices

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ICE President’s Apprentices 2012/13

Engineering EthicsToolkit

Hayley Sharp, DFIDCath Inglesfield, Mott MacDonaldSanaya Kerawala, Mott MacDonaldConall Doherty, Buro HappoldMark Sanders, CH2M HillRichard Smith, Thames Water


Overview

• Our Aims• What is ethics?• Survey results• Toolkit Introduction• Key messages• Tonight's workshop


• To launch an ethics initiative that will engage Civil Engineers at all levels

• To develop a toolkit to provide guidance to engineers making difficult decisions

Our Vision: To get people talking about ethics in Civil Engineering

Aims

Institution of Civil Engineers www.ice.org.uk/ethicsEngineering Ethics Toolkit 5

Ethics Survey Results

Retired

Business

Develo

pment

Team

Lead

ers

Senior E

nginee

r

Engin

eer

Tech

nician

s

Graduate

+Studen

t0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Responses by Level of Expe-rience

Uk

Middle Ea

st

Asia Pac

ific

Europe

The A

merica

sAfric

a0

255075

100125150175200

Responses by Location

Results from members survey


• Being professional

• Acting with integrity

• Abiding by legislation

• Balancing sustainable

development needs

• Considering Health and Safety

What is ethics in engineering?


Yes 69%

Not sure25%

No 6%

No39%

Somewhat34%

Yes27%

7

Ethics Survey ResultsDo you get involved in the ethical challenges facing your company?

Should the ICE be doing more to promote ethics?

81% of respondents were aware of the ICE Code of Professional Conduct however only 11% had referred to it in a professional situation!

62% of respondents want to see more online ethics resources and example case studies relevant to them and their work.



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100% Engineers should take a proactive role in consider-ing, understanding and making informed ethical decisions about projects they work on

Engineers should not have to focus on ethical is-sues but it is important for them to have an un-derstanding if the need arises

Engineers should be able to focus on technical work if that is their role, whilst allowing other people to consider ethical implications of a project

7

Graduates

Technicians

Engineers

Senior Eng/ T

eam Leader

Business

Development

Retired

58% of respondents have worked professionally

outside of the UK

35% of respondents are members of other

professional institutions

Key



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

"Please imagine that your company makes a decision which you believe is unethical. What course of action do you think an engineer at your company would be most

likely to take?"

Graduates + junior engineersEngineers + Senior engineers

“I would challenge the decision internally. If challenge is rejected,

consider whether you wish to stay with company.”

“Use the company's internal processes to flag up the issue

and seek information / clarification on their

decision.”

“I think one has to accept the decision or

resign.”

“Try to understand the root cause for the decision.”

9



Integrity

6

5 2

34

Competency

PublicInterest

Sustainability

ContinuedProfessionalDevelopment

Notifyingthe ICE

1

10

Rules of Professional Conduct


Ethical Guidance for Individuals

10

Decision Making Flowchart


Ethical Guidance for Employers

11

Ethics in Your Organisation


ICE Ethics Websiteice.org.uk/ethics


3. Always challenge and question!

1. Being ethical is being professional

2. Ethical issues are responsibility of all individuals

Key Messages


Acknowledgements

The Apprentices would like to thank:

Rob Lawlor, Lecturer in Applied Ethics, Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre, University of Leeds

Barry Clarke, ICE President 2012/13 and Professor of Civil Engineering Geotechnics, University of Leeds

The Apprentices would also like to thank their organisations for their support:

Atkins, Buro Happold, CH2M HILL, Mott MacDonald & Thames Water


1 Barry Clarke Rob Lawlor ICE President Lecturer of Applied Ethics, Leeds University

2 Keith Clarke Director of Sustainability,

Atkins

3 Richard CoackleyFormer ICE President

Director, URS

4 Peter HansfordGovernment Chief

Construction Adviser

5 Martin BaggsChief Executive Officer,

Thames Water

6 Guy LeonardManaging Director,

Mott MacDonald

7 David BalmforthICE Vice President

Director, MWH

Tonight’s Chairs

Institution of Civil Engineers www.ice.org.uk/ethicsEngineering Ethics Toolkit 11

19.10 – 19.15 Chairs introduce ethical case studies

19.15 – 19.40 Tables discuss case studies, note down key arguments

Consider the Toolkit:

ICE Rules of Professional Conduct Decision Making Flowchart

19.40 – 19.55 Tables present findings

19.55 – 20.00 Closing remarks by Barry Clarke

20.00 – 20.45 Networking and drinks reception

Tonight’s Workshop


You notice that a junior colleague appears to be suffering from significant stress levels as a result of a high level of responsibility on a very sensitive project. Over a brief discussion with your manager, you learn that the project is under-resourced and that your colleague has barely slept for over a week. Your manager appears reluctant to commit more resources to the job as the profit margin is already quite low and the division within the business is struggling.

Your manager mentions that many young engineers would grasp at the chance to take on this level of responsibility so early on in their career and that this is a fantastic opportunity for your colleague’s career progression. Your manager mentions that your colleague is delivering the project successfully and in any case there are only a few months remaining on the contract.

Case Study 1: Health, Safety & Wellbeing


Case Study 2: Sustainability

You are on your company’s Board of Directors and currently deciding whether to bid for work associated with the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. The Board is divided. Some completely disagree with the principle of Qatar hosting the world cup due to the blatant disregard for the environment through such vast infrastructural development.

However, others refer to the economic and social components of sustainability being beneficial to Qatar. Qatar is attempting to use its resources and this global event to establish itself as a progressive nation and as a catalyst for its own societal development.


Case Study 3: Diversity

You have been asked by your manager to oversee the recruitment of 5 new graduates. As you are reviewing the applications, you notice that only 3 women have applied for the job, compared to over 20 men. You begin by shortlisting the applications based on merit alone and realise that only 1 of the women actually meet the experience requirements, compared with 12 of the men.

Your manager has previously advised that you consider the new Engineering Diversity Concordant the company has agreed to. It must now demonstrate its commitment to addressing the gender, ethnicity and disability gap in the profession. A colleague advises that you select 2 women and 3 men for the role and that any inexperience can be quickly made up for on the job.

institution of civil engineers engineering ethics toolkit presented by the president’s...

Documents

ethics initiative

civil engineering aims

online ethics resources

members survey slide

thames water slide

professional development

location results

professional acting