Overview of Engineering Ethics

G. Scott Rutherford, Professor Dept of Civil and Environmental

EngineeringUniversity of Washington

(Original Notes by Dr. Ron Buckman, Affiliate Professor, CEE, UW)

StakeholdersConflict of InterestSignificant Professional RelationshipFamily MembersInsider TradingConfidential or Proprietary InformationOutside EmploymentBribesKickbackHarassment

Definition of Key Terms

A. ETHICS VS. MORALS

Morals and ethics often used interchangeably

I – INTRODUCTION

II – THE ETHICAL ENGINEER

A. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PROFESSIONS

1990 Survey of Executives of 200 National Companies Question: Which of the following types of professionals

do you think is the most ethical?

DoctorsDentistsLawyers

Investment bankersCertified public accountantsEngineers

Results

Engineers 37%

Certified Public 26% Accountants

Doctors 19%

Lawyers 9%

Dentists 8%

Investment Bankers 1%

As a Result of the Results

More is expected of Engineers by the public.

B. CORE ETHICAL VALUES FOR ENGINEERS

Integrity

Honesty

Fidelity

Charity

Responsibility

Self-Discipline

III - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY

A. “RIGHTS” due to law & tradition B. RESPONSIBILITY for what you do C. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY

IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE- Loyalty- Perform to best ability- Focus on goals

IV - NINE BASIC STEPS TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING

A. Step 1 Practice ethical behavior actively (ethical awareness training)

B. Step 2 Beware of “new ethics” (Postmodernism)

C. Step 3 Define the ethical problem when it arises

D. Step 4 Formulate and list alternatives

IV - NINE BASIC STEPS TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING

E. Step 5 Evaluate the alternatives F. Step 6 Seek additional assistance G. Step 7 Choose ethical alternative H. Step 8 Implement the action I. Step 9 Monitor the outcome

Examles: Oil Business & Forecasting

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Nov 7, 1940

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

40 MPH Wind

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

NEWTacoma Narrows Bridges

Ethical Issues??

First, designed by State Engineer Conventional 25 ft girders, $11

Million

Next, fancy NYC Eng. Moisseiff (Golden Gate Bridge) 8 Ft I Beams Total cost $8 Million

Kansas City Hyatt Disaster July 17, 1981 Walkways in Hyatt Fall 114 dead & 200 injured (most ever) Design detail changed by fabricator Dispute on approval by structural firm Huge loses, lost PE licenses, bankruptcy

Kansas City Hyatt Disaster

Kansas City Hyatt Disaster

Kansas City Hyatt Disaster

Kansas City Hyatt Disaster

Hyatt Ethical Issues

Who is responsible for reviewing shop drawings?

Who is responsible for meeting building codes?

What can we do to avoid these problems in the future?

Avoid 442 page court rulings!!

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

2006 Inspection Report

Bridge Collapse Issues

Steel Bearings Steel Gusset Plates Construction Vibrations Construction Truck Loads Secret CIA Sponsored Research at UM Train Vibrations Deck…..

Ethics Warm-up

You and 9 others have been held captive by FARC rebels for 2 months in the jungles of Columbia. You have paid a guard to smuggle you out but he can only take 6 people total. Since you paid it’s up to you to pick who goes. The others will be tortured, raped and executed when they become aware of the escape.

Ethics Warm-upWho Will You Pick??

Yourself9 year old twin girls (2)Your 85 yr old grandmotherYour best friend since 2nd gradeFemale 7 months pregnantYour favorite professorA recently married young couple (2)Your fiancée Total

6

Ethics Case Studies

Thursday 10/11/08 Assemble in groups Choose two case studies previously

assigned Pick a: group manager

time managernote takerother

Ethics Case Studies Read and discuss two case studies. What are the major ethics issues? What would you do? What should the person in the case

study do? Prepare Business Memo to Professor Reference where you got format of

memo