1. ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS EGN 4034 FALL 2008 CHAPTER 10 – INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING AND PROFESSIONALISM DR. G.HASKINS

2. n Are cultural values similar? n What happens when cultural values conflict? n Whose values do we adhere to? n Another country may be so different that our own values cannot apply in a straightforward way. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

3. n What are our options? n When in Rome? n Or perhaps some compromise? n MORAL RELATIVISM n A view that the truth of our moral beliefs is determined by (or relative to) the culture in which we are living. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

4. n If we adhere to local values n Can lead to illegal actions n Many countries have much lower safety standards. n Many countries condone payoffs n Many of these values if followed, would lead to violations of US professional codes. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

5. n So….in lieu of Moral Relativism n Culture-Transcending (C-T) Norms n Determine values that are common to our different cultures….such as: n Refrain from harm n Loyalty n Fairness n Procedural justice n Etc. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

6. n Problem: n Many countries don’t apply these common norms to outsiders. n The C-T norms are de facto or “in-fact” n We might be better to propose de jure or “ought to be” norms. n If we do this, we should probably start with the C-T norms since they should be relatively universally acceptable. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

7. n Let’s look at a start for a set of acceptable International C-T Norms: n Avoid exploitation n Avoid paternalism n Avoid bribery and gifts n Avoid violation of human rights n Promoting the host country’s welfare n Respecting cultural norms and laws n Protecting health and safety n Protecting the environment n Promoting legitimate background institutions. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

8. n Paradigm case for Exploitation n Imbalance of power between dominant and subordinate party n Subordinate party needs the resources provided by the dominant party. n For the Subordinate party the exploitative relationship is the only source of such resources. n Dominant party exercises discretionary control over the needed resources. n Resources of the subordinate party are used without adequate compensation. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

9. n Bribery is the most abused violation n The intent of the norm against giving gifts is to prevent the giving of gifts that would curry favor. n Ask, “is this excessive for the normal gift giving practice in this country?” n Therefore, giving or receiving “normal gifts” is not a violation of ethics when we are in this country. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

10. n Bribery is the most abused violation n When is it bribery? n When the gift is excessive n When the gift is given with the intent to influence. INTERNATIONAL VALUES

11. n CASE n You are a young engineer on your first overseas assignment. n The plant in which you are working has abysmal safety conditions compared to the home plant in the US. n What, if anything, do you do and why? INTERNATIONAL VALUES

12. n CASE n You are a young engineer on your first overseas assignment. n You have been asked to sit in on negotiations for a lucrative engineering contract. n At the meeting, your boss, as a token of friendship, offers the state official from the host country a new Mercedes sports car which he says is waiting out front. n What, if anything, do you do and why? INTERNATIONAL VALUES

13. n CASE n You are a young engineer on your first overseas assignment. n After a few weeks at the plant, you are requested to review the waste system. n You see that almost raw chemical waste is being discharged into a creek behind the plant. n You’re told that this is standard practice in this country and to meet US standards would make the plant fiscally impractical. n What, if anything, do you do and why? INTERNATIONAL VALUES

14. n Applying C-T Norms n Give the presumption to the host country’s norms when they do not conflict with CT norms. n Look for ‘creative middle ways’ between home-country and host-country norms. n Realize that C-T norms may be infringed on occasion. n Acknowledge that C-T norms may conflict. SUMMARY