Freshman Engineering Clinic II Ethics Freshman Engineering Clinic II

Course Reminders & Deadlines Pathfinder Before exercises (on statistics I) due by 10:30 am Wed. Feb. 15th 3D Game Lab 1st deadline of 350 XP midnight Fri. Feb. 17th Heart Lung Project Submersible Pump Expt Questions due by Mon. February 13th Heart Lung Machine Pump Expt Questions due by Mon. February 13th Re-write of Literature Review due by Mon. February 27th

Review of Last Class – Key Concepts Product Development Customer is integral Problem definition depends on criteria and constraints Brainstorm as many ideas as possible Refine to solutions that are feasible Prototype solutions Get feedback from customer often (cyclical process) Communication is central to the process

Review of Last Class – Example Problem You are developing a set of blinds Who are potential customers? What are physical constraints on the design? What are contextual (non-physical) constraints on the design?

Utilitarian – ethical actions create the most net good Rights based – ethical actions best protect the rights of others Fairness – ethical actions treat all human beings the same Common Good – ethical actions support communities in ways that treat others with compassion Virtue – ethical actions are consistent with ideal virtues such as honesty, compassion, tolerance Image accessed from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/418271884113175879/ on January 31, 2017.

Five Common Approaches to Ethics Utilitarian Create the most net good Rights Based Best protect the rights of others Fairness Treat all human beings the same Common Good Support communities in ways that treat others with compassion Virtue Consistent with ideal virtues such as honesty, compassion and tolerance

Consider the following1… Jack Strong is seated between Tom Evans and Judy Hanson at a dinner meeting of a local industrial engineering society. Jack and Judy have an extended discussion of a variety of concerns, some of which are related to their common engineering interests.  At the conclusion of the dinner, Jack turns to Tom, smiles and says, "I'm sorry not to have talked with you more tonight, but she's better looking than you." 1. Taken directly from: Pritchard, M.S. Teaching Engineering Ethics: A Case Study Approach. Accessed from: https://courses.washington.edu/cee440/ETHICS1A.htm. February 2, 2017.

Now answer these questions: Is there anything wrong with the way that Jack acted at the dinner? What do you think should be Judy’s reaction to this situation? How should Tom respond to Jack’s comment? What ethical questions arise from this scenario?

What about the following1… David Weber, a highway civil engineer (safety engineer), has to prioritize projects in a county with diverse traffic patterns.  He considers two intersections that need safety improvements.  One is an urban intersection that handles about 2400 cars per day.  The other is a rural intersection that handles about 600 cars per day.  The annual number of fatal accidents at each intersection is virtually identical (approximately 2), but the number of property damage and minor injury accidents at the urban intersection is substantially greater.  There is just enough money left in this year's budget to improve one of the intersections.  The result of the improvement at either intersection will be to cut the number of annual fatalities roughly in half. There will be a greater reduction in property damage and minor injury accidents if the improvement is made at the urban intersection.   1. Taken directly from: Pritchard, M.S. Teaching Engineering Ethics: A Case Study Approach. Accessed from: https://courses.washington.edu/cee440/ETHICS1A.htm. February 2, 2017.

Now answer these questions: Which intersection should get the improvement? Which approach to ethics seems to apply here and why?

What about this scenario1… You have been assigned the position of Environmental Engineer for one of several local plants whose water discharges flow into a lake in a flourishing tourist area.  Although all the plants are marginally profitable, they compete for the same customers. Included in your responsibilities is the monitoring of water and air discharges at your plant and the periodic preparation of reports to be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources.  You have just prepared a report that indicates that the level of pollution in the plant's water discharges slightly exceeds the legal limitations.  Your boss, the Plant Manager, says you should regard the excess as a mere "technicality," and he asks you to "adjust" the data so that the plant appears to be in compliance.  He says that the slight excess is not going to endanger human or fish life any more than if the plant were in compliance.  On the other hand, he says, solving the problem would require a very heavy investment in new equipment.  He explains, "We can't afford new equipment. It might even cost a few jobs. It will set us behind our competitors.  Besides the bad publicity we'd get, it might scare off some of the tourist industry, making it worse for everybody." 1. Taken directly from: Pritchard, M.S. Teaching Engineering Ethics: A Case Study Approach. Accessed from: https://courses.washington.edu/cee440/ETHICS1A.htm. February 2, 2017.

Now answer these questions: How should you respond to your boss’s request? How would you perceive this situation if you worked for the Department of Natural Resources? How would you perceived this situation if you were a tourist that liked to swim in that lake? Which approach to ethics seems to apply here and why?

Key Takeaways: Ethical situations are not black and white Need to look at ethical situations from multiple stakeholder perspectives It can be helpful to think through what “ripple effect” might occur from each potential choice There are a variety of ethical approaches that can be taken but engineers should always prioritize the needs of the public first