Professionalism in Engineering “Good engineering, good business, and good ethics work together in the long run.” p. 25, Introduction to Engineering Ethics

Statements on Professionalism Important or Unwarranted views? Professionalism implies a certain set of attitudes. A professional analyzes problem from a base of knowledge in a specific area, in a manner which is objective and independent of self-interest and directed toward the best interest of his client. In fact the professional’s task is to know what is best for his client even if his client does not know himself (Lawrence Stroch)

Statements on Professionalism Important or Unwarranted views? So long as the individual is looked upon as an employee rather than as a free artisan, to that extent there is no professional status (Robert L. Whitelaw)

Statements on Professionalism Important or Unwarranted views? A truly professional man will go beyond the call to duty. He will assume his just share of the responsibility to use his special knowledge to make his community, his state, and his nation a better place in which to live. He will give freely of his time, his energy, and his worldly goods to assist his fellow man and promote the welfare of his community. He will assume his full share of civic responsibility (Harry C. Simrall)

Who is a Professional Engineer? One earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering at a school approved by the Accreditation Board of Engineering (ABET) One performing work commonly recognized as what engineers do Being an officially registered and licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) Acting in morally responsible ways while practicing engineering

Are These Possible Problems Linked to Professionalism? Conceptual design - blind to new concepts, patent or trade secret violations Performance specs - unrealistic assumptions, dependency on unavailable or untested materials Analysis - uneven, uncritical use of existing programs or methodologies Scheduling of tasks - promise unrealistic completion date based on insufficient allowance for unexpected events (see p. 6 for others)

Source of Problems Lack of Vision - acceptance at the expense of critical thinking, overlook alternatives (groupthink) Incompetence - poor execution of technical tasks Lack of Time or Materials - poor management Compartmentalization - poor communication Irresponsibility - notion that someone down the line will deal with problem Dishonesty - misleading others at any point in the engineering process

Example?

The Engineer’s Professional World Society & Nature Family Engineering Firm (engr., managers colleagues) Industry Engr. Profession Clients Law, Gov.

How to Deal with These Issues? Engineering Ethics - the study of moral values, issues, and decisions involved in engineering practice Clarifying principles and applying them to concrete situations is the central goal of engineering ethics as an area of study

Payoff for Study of Engineering Ethics Proficiency in recognizing moral issues Skill in assessing critically moral arguments Ability to form consistent viewpoints Imaginative awareness of responses and solutions Sensitivity to genuine difficulties and uncertainty Integration of personal convictions with professional life Recognition of need for tolerance for perspectives of morally reasonable people

See Any Moral Dilemmas in the Following Topics? Free Speech and bigotry: The use of the Internet by hate groups to spread racist, sexist, and sometimes violent agendas. Spamming: Should I be allowed to overload your system with endless advertisements? Napster: Facilitating the exchange of copyrighted material. 1998 Copyright Protection Law – Is exposure of inadequate security systems a crime?