Lecture 1

Here are the important points and definitions from the lecture, simplified for better
understanding:

Key Definitions

1. Values:

o Principles or beliefs that guide behavior and indicate what is important in

life.

o Example: Honesty, respect, and fairness.

2. Morals:

o Standards of behavior based on values, often influenced by culture or

religion.

o Example: Determining actions as good (righteous) or bad (evil).

3. Ethics:

o The philosophy of how morality guides individual and group behavior.

o Ethics are based on learned behavior and help decide what is right or
wrong, legal or illegal.

Ethical Reasoning

• Involves thinking about right and wrong in human actions.

• It is influenced by personal values and comes into play during dilemmas or

decisions.

Engineering Ethics

• A branch of applied ethics that focuses on moral principles in engineering.

• It examines the duties engineers have toward society, clients, and their
profession.

• Societies trust professionals like engineers, who are responsible for ensuring
safety and quality.

Why Study Engineering Ethics?

1. Prevents Issues:

o Helps avoid severe consequences from poor ethical decisions.

o Important for addressing high-profile engineering failures.

 2. Promotes Awareness:

o Highlights the impact of engineering on public health, safety, and politics.

o Encourages engineers to consider moral implications in their work.

3. Develops Moral Autonomy:

o Encourages independent and critical thinking about moral issues.

o Aids in applying ethical thinking to professional scenarios.

Importance of Ethics in Engineering Practice

• Builds personal integrity and professional reputation.

• Ensures correct decision-making and actions.

• High ethical standards lead to trust and profitability.

Ethical Issues Faced by Engineers

1. Public Safety: Ensuring designs and decisions prioritize safety.

2. Bribery and Fraud: Avoiding corrupt practices.

3. Environmental Protection: Considering the environmental impact of projects.

4. Fairness and Honesty: Maintaining transparency in research and testing.

5. Conflict of Interest: Acting objectively without personal gain interfering.

Reflection Questions

• What values influenced your decision to pursue engineering?

• Should scientific research results be protected ethically?

• How should you respond if your organization engages in unethical practices?

Let me know if you need more detailed explanations or assistance with any specific
topic!
 Lecture 2

Key Definitions

1. Occupation vs. Profession

Occupation: Activity for earning a livelihood.

Profession: Requires specialized knowledge and skills to promote human well-being.

2. Profession:

An advanced occupation requiring special knowledge, training, and ethical

commitment to public well-being.

3. Professionalism:

The qualities or behaviors that define a professional.

4. Professional Ethics:

The moral standards professionals follow, often documented in a formal code.

Characteristics of a Profession

1. Extensive Training:

Professionals undergo rigorous academic and intellectual training.

Often requires university degrees or advanced certifications.

2. Vital Knowledge and Skills:

Professionals possess knowledge crucial to society's well-being, such as doctors,

lawyers, and engineers.

3. Control of Services:

Professions regulate entry through licensing and accreditation to ensure quality.

4. Autonomy:

Professionals often make independent decisions based on their expertise.

5. Ethical Regulation:

Governed by a code of ethics to avoid abuse of power.

Engineering and Professionalism

1. Engineers are expected to:

Prioritize public health, safety, and welfare.

Demonstrate qualities like dedication, attentiveness, and ethical behavior.

2. Special Responsibilities of Engineers:

Protect the public from harm caused by technology.

Address both moral and technical aspects of their work.

Models of Professionalism

1. Business Model:

Focuses on profit-making while adhering to legal boundaries.

Uses specialized knowledge to gain market advantage.

2. Professional Model:

Builds a trust relationship with society.

Prioritizes public welfare over personal gain.

Conflict of Interest

Occurs when a professional's obligations or interests may interfere with their judgment.

Example: An engineer recommending unnecessary tests for personal profit.

Herbert Hoover's Perspective on Engineers

Engineers face public accountability as their work is visible and impactful.

Important Questions for Thought

1. How does engineering qualify as a profession

 Lecture 3

Key Definitions

1. Moral Reasoning:

The mental process of deciding what is right or wrong in a moral situation.

A systematic approach to solving ethical dilemmas.

2. Ethical Problems vs. Practical Problems:

Ethical Problems: Involve moral choices and require careful reasoning and action.

Practical Problems: May have solutions but sometimes require coping strategies
instead of resolving the root issue.

Steps in Addressing Ethical Problems

1. Understand the Dilemma:

Identify the problem and all factors involved.

Example: Being asked to dispose of toxic waste illegally raises legal, health, and moral
concerns.

2. Consider Possible Actions:

Options include refusing, reporting, or finding alternative solutions.

Seek advice or involve ethics or legal departments if available.

3. Plan and Act:

Devise a plan that balances ethical responsibility with practical implications.

Responses should align with ethical standards without unnecessary harm to coworkers
or the company.

Lessons from Ethical Problems

1. Start by analyzing the unknowns, ambiguities, and uncertainties.

2. Develop solutions while continuing to gather more information.

3. Act under time pressure by exploring multiple options but avoid overextending
resources.

4. Adapt to changes as your understanding of the problem evolves.

Comparison: Engineering Design vs. Ethical Problems

Similarities:

Both involve constraints and require creative solutions.

Solving either involves identifying unknowns and creating actionable responses.

Differences:

Ethical problems often lack a single "correct" solution.

They require moral reasoning beyond technical analysis

Case Study Example

Situation: A graduate student’s contribution to a project is used in a publication without

acknowledgment.

Ethical Dilemma: The student must decide how to address this issue, considering
ambiguities like whether the professor:

Forgot the contribution.

Judged it insignificant.

Planned to acknowledge the student later.

Approach:

Clarify ambiguities.

Communicate respectfully with the professor to seek recognition or clarification.

Making Ethical Judgments

1. Learn from the judgments of experienced professionals and authoritative bodies.

2. Understand the priorities and ethical standards of your organization or domain.

3. Anticipate how your actions will be received and their impact.

These points summarize the lecture's essential aspects in a simple way. Let me know if
you need further clarification or examples!
 Lecture 4

Here are the important points and definitions from the lecture, simplified for better
understanding:

Responsibility in Engineering

• Definition: Being accountable for things within your control or management. It

means being reliable and trustworthy.

• Types:

o Moral Responsibility: Focused on doing what is ethically right, not just

following rules.

o Legal Responsibility: Related to laws and job roles.

Key Traits of Responsible Engineers:

• Integrity, honesty, and civic-mindedness.

• Ability to admit mistakes and correct them.

• Commitment to objectivity and quality.

• Understanding both big-picture and detailed views.

Importance of Codes of Ethics:

• Set high standards for behavior and performance.

• Ensure competence, safety, and efficiency.

• Build trust with clients and the public.

Standard of Care

• Engineers must follow rules, procedures, and professional responsibilities.

• They must anticipate and handle unexpected problems.

• Before approving projects, careful review and oversight are required.

Blame Responsibility & Causation

• Causation vs. Responsibility: Focusing on physical causes may reduce the

emphasis on moral responsibility.
 • Organizations, like individuals, can be held accountable for:

1. Criticisms for causing harm.

2. Making reparations for damage.

3. Reforming to prevent future issues.

Impediments to Responsible Action

• Self-interest: Acting for personal gain can conflict with professional ethics.

• Self-deception: Rationalizing unethical actions (e.g., "Everyone does it").

• Fear: Of losing a job or facing punishment can prevent whistleblowing.

• Ignorance: Not knowing important facts or avoiding them intentionally.

• Egocentricity: Failing to understand others' perspectives.

• Microscopic Vision: Focusing on technical details while ignoring broader

impacts.

• Groupthink: Following group decisions without critical thinking.

Engineers' Responsibilities

• Engineers must aim for good outcomes while respecting ethical norms.

• Key Factors:

1. Foreseeing potential risks and outcomes.

2. Influencing results within their control.

Software Engineering & Safety

• Engineers must design safe systems and avoid "bugs" or errors.

• Example: The Therac-25 radiation machine caused deaths due to poor design
and testing.

Safety Considerations:

• Complete elimination of risks isn’t always possible.

• Decisions often involve trade-offs (e.g., using DEET insect repellent despite its
risks to avoid mosquito-borne diseases).
 Lecture 7

Here are the important points and definitions from the Week 7 lecture, simplified for
easier understanding:

Understanding Moral Disagreements

• Key Idea: Disagreements often happen because people interpret facts or

concepts differently.

• Steps to Resolve:

1. Clarify the relevant facts.

2. Understand key concepts like "conflict of interest," "bribery," or "safety."

3. Agree on a shared moral ground.

Determining the Facts

• Known vs. Unknown Facts: Disagreements often arise due to missing or

misunderstood facts.

• Example: Two engineers may disagree about adding a safety feature due to
different views on cost versus lives saved.

• Importance: Even one crucial fact can change a decision.

Clarifying Concepts

• Why Important: Clear concepts (e.g., "safe," "honest") guide decisions.

• Example: A company claiming "made in the USA" must disclose all details, even
small foreign-made parts, to maintain honesty.

• Debates: Differing definitions of "safe" or "risk" can lead to ethical conflicts.

Application Issues

• Disagreements may arise over applying concepts to specific situations (e.g.,

whether offering a gift is bribery).
 • Resolution: Understand the situation and refine the definition of key terms if
necessary.

Common Moral Principles

• W.D. Ross's "Prima Facie" Duties:

o Fidelity: Keep promises and avoid lies.

o Justice: Be fair and improve others’ conditions.

o Non-Injury: Do no harm.

o Self-Improvement: Enhance your skills and knowledge.

• Bernard Gert’s 10 Moral Rules:

o Examples: Don’t kill, don’t deceive, obey the law, do your duty.

Utilitarian Thinking

• Cost-Benefit Analysis:

o Choose actions that bring the greatest benefits compared to costs.

o Example: Deciding between two safety features based on which reduces

injuries the most.

o Limitations: May overlook fairness or justify morally wrong practices like

child labor or slavery in history.

• Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism:

o Act Utilitarianism: Focuses on the outcome of specific actions.

o Rule Utilitarianism: Focuses on following rules that lead to the best

outcomes in general.

Respect for Persons

• Moral Standard: Treat everyone with respect and fairness.

• Approaches:

1. Golden Rule: Treat others how you want to be treated.

 2. Self-Defeating Test: If everyone acted like you, would it work? If not, it’s
unethical.

3. Rights Approach: Protect individual rights (e.g., free speech, life).

Key Takeaways for Engineers

• Ethical Reflection: Understand facts, concepts, and moral principles before

making decisions.

• Shared Morality: Use common values and professional codes of ethics to guide
actions.

• Practical Application: Balance technical decisions with ethical considerations,

ensuring public safety and trust.

If you'd like further clarification on any section, let me know!

 Lecture 8

Here are the important points and definitions from the Week 8 lecture, simplified for
easier understanding:

Resolving Ethical Problems in Engineering

• Ethical dilemmas require identifying relevant facts and ethical considerations.

• Example: Ahmed Khan omits ambiguous data in his research to avoid

misleading conclusions. The ethical question: Is this deceptive, even without
intent to deceive?

Key Ethical Questions:

1. Would leaving out data distort the truth?

2. Does the omission undermine trust and honesty?

Universalizability and Reversibility:

• Universalizability: If Ahmed omits data, others might justify doing the same.

• Reversibility: If Ahmed were the examiner, would he accept such omissions

from a student?

Conclusion: Full transparency is the ethical choice to preserve integrity and trust.

Engineering Work and Ethical Conflicts

• Case of Rashid:

o A young engineer feels unqualified for projects involving public safety

because his work isn't adequately checked.

o Ethical tension arises between loyalty to his employer and duty to public
safety.

Options for Rashid:

1. Discuss concerns tactfully with his supervisor.

2. Seek help from trusted colleagues.

3. Refuse unsafe work and consider changing jobs.

4. Report the issue to authorities after securing alternative employment.

5. Blow the whistle immediately (last resort).

Key Takeaway: Public safety takes precedence, but the approach should be
thoughtful and professional.

Line-Drawing in Ethical Problems

• Purpose: Determine where to draw boundaries between acceptable and

unacceptable actions.

• Steps:

1. Identify clear examples of right (positive paradigm) and wrong (negative

paradigm).

2. Compare features of the current situation (test case) with paradigms.

3. Weigh the importance of positive and negative features.

Example: Amna considers using ideas from her previous job. Key factors:

• Negative: Signed agreement, using employer’s resources.

• Positive: Ideas developed independently, companies not competing.

• Decision: Balance these factors to determine ethical action.

Research Involving Humans

• Ethical guidelines emphasize:

1. Beneficence: Maximize benefits, minimize harm.

2. Respect for Persons: Obtain informed consent.

3. Justice: Avoid discrimination, especially for vulnerable groups (e.g.,

children, prisoners).

Design Ethics in Engineering

• Good design balances technical expertise and ethical considerations.

• Ethical thinking is integral to preventing harm and maintaining public trust.

Key Ethical Tools

• Universalizability: Would your action be acceptable if everyone did it?

 • Reversibility: Would you find the action acceptable if roles were reversed?

• Line-Drawing Test: Compare features of a case to clear examples to evaluate its

ethics.

These points cover the ethical frameworks and decision-making tools discussed in the
lecture. Let me know if you'd like further clarification!
 Lecture 9

Here are the important points and definitions from the Week 9 lecture, simplified for
easier understanding:

Intellectual Property (IP)

• Definition: Legal rights protecting ownership of creations (e.g., books, software,

patents).

• Examples:

o Designing a webpage or writing for a website gives you ownership unless

otherwise agreed.

o IP rights aim to protect creators and encourage innovation.

Key Concepts:

• Copyrights: Protect the expression of ideas (e.g., code, music), not the idea
itself. Includes "fair use," which allows limited copying for public interest.

• Patents: Grant rights to use or prevent use of an invention, based on

documented creation.

• Trade Secrets: Proprietary knowledge shared only under confidentiality

agreements.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

• Purpose: Prevents unauthorized copying or sharing of digital material.

• Challenge: Balances protecting creators' rights with users' freedom (e.g., music
downloads).

Reverse Engineering and Benchmarking

• Reverse Engineering: Analyzing a product to understand or improve its design.

Ethically justified if no unfair means are used.

• Benchmarking: Comparing competitors’ products to set standards for

improvement.

Software as Intellectual Property

 • Protections: Software can be patented or copyrighted, but its dual nature
(written and functional) makes it unique.

• Licenses: Software purchases often grant usage rights, not ownership. Open
source (e.g., GNU) allows free modification and sharing under specific
conditions.

Hacking

• Types:

1. Benign Hacking: Creative use of devices for fun or improvement (e.g., MIT
hacks).

2. Unethical Hacking: Unauthorized access to systems (illegal).

Privacy in the Information Age

• Types of Privacy:

1. Physical Privacy: Freedom from being observed physically.

2. Informational Privacy: Restricting access to personal data.

3. Decisional Privacy: Protecting personal decision-making (e.g., health

decisions).

4. Dispositional Privacy: Shielding mental states or beliefs.

Challenges in Cyberspace

• Threats: Identity theft, phishing, viruses, spam, and unauthorized data

collection.

• Employee Privacy: Issues include monitoring emails, calls, and drug testing.

Key Ethical Debates

• Copying Digital Information:

o Digital content doesn’t degrade and can be shared infinitely.

o Raises ethical questions about fair compensation for creators.

• Open Source Movement:

 o Promotes free sharing and modification of software for the public good.

o Balances public benefit with respect for intellectual property.

Takeaways for Engineers and IT Professionals

• Ethical Responsibility: Protect IP while fostering innovation.

• Balancing Rights: Respect privacy and rights of users while addressing digital
threats.

• Cultural Awareness: Stay updated on evolving norms in the digital age.

Let me know if you'd like more details or examples!

 Lecture 10

Here are the key points from your uploaded file on Responsible Research Conduct in an
easy-to-understand format, covering all topics:

1. Trust in Research

• Competence and Concern: Professionals must be skilled and care about

ethical standards.

• Society relies on professionals for honest judgment, as alternatives to trust

aren't practical.

2. Research Misconduct

Defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism:

• Fabrication: Making up data or results.

• Falsification: Changing data or processes to misrepresent results.

• Plagiarism: Using others’ ideas or words without credit.

Criteria for Misconduct:

• Significant deviation from accepted practices.

• Intentional, knowing, or reckless actions.

• Proven by substantial evidence.

3. Ethical Data Selection

• Legitimate: Removing contaminated data or statistical outliers (e.g., dropped

samples).

• Unethical: Changing data to fit expectations (cooking data).

4. Factors Damaging Integrity

• Career loss threats, job shortages, financial pressures, and research managers'
biases.

• None of these justify misconduct but highlight the need for awareness.
5. Authorship & Responsibility

• Eligibility: Major contributions (design, analysis, writing) and approval of the

final manuscript.

• Plagiarism Levels (IEEE): Ranges from uncredited copying to improper

paraphrasing.

Fair Credit:

• Discuss authorship early in collaborations.

• First Author: Lead contributor.

• Last Author: Minor contributor.

6. Human Research Ethics

• Informed Consent: Subjects must willingly participate after understanding the

experiment.

• Vulnerable populations (children, prisoners, mentally ill) require stricter

oversight and permissions.

• Historical abuses (e.g., unethical radiation experiments) highlight the

importance of consent.

7. Conflict of Interest (CoI)

• Definition: When judgment is influenced by competing personal, financial, or

institutional interests.

• Must disclose CoI in publications to avoid bias.

8. Raising Ethical Concerns

• Report misconduct to research standards offices or trusted senior faculty.

• Avoid direct confrontation to prevent evidence destruction.

9. Quality and Subsidiary Obligations

• Supervisors must guide trainees and uphold standards.

 • Researchers must:

o Avoid splitting reports unnecessarily.

o Warn others of potential hazards.

o Disclose financial interests.

If you'd like, I can simplify any topic further or focus on specific areas!
 Lecture 11

Here are the key points from your second file on Trust and Reliability in easy-to-
understand language, covering all topics:

1. Importance of Trust and Reliability in Engineering

• Society relies on engineers for their expertise in areas not widely understood.

• Trustworthiness is built on:

o Honesty

o Confidentiality

o Respect for intellectual property rights

o Clear communication with the public

o Avoiding conflicts of interest

2. Honesty and Dishonesty

• Forms of Dishonesty:

o Lying: Intentional false statements made to deceive.

o Deliberate Deception: Misrepresenting expertise or products.

o Withholding Information: Hiding critical details, especially those needed

for informed decisions.

o Failure to Seek Truth: Using questionable data without verifying its

accuracy.

• Dishonesty undermines public trust, informed decision-making, and the integrity

of engineering projects.

3. Confidentiality

• Engineers must safeguard client information unless higher obligations (e.g.,

public safety) require disclosure.

• Misuse of proprietary information from previous employers is unethical and can

lead to legal consequences.
4. Expert Witnessing

• Engineers often act as expert witnesses in legal cases.

• Ethical responsibilities include:

o Conducting thorough investigations.

o Maintaining objectivity.

o Avoiding withholding unfavorable information.

• Engineers should work closely with legal teams to prepare for cases.

5. Informing the Public

• Engineers have a duty to provide complete and accurate technical information,

especially when public safety is at risk.

• Example: The Ford Pinto case highlighted the consequences of failing to disclose
safety risks.

6. Dishonesty in Academia and Professional Training

• Engineering students should practice honesty in their projects and reports, as

dishonesty in academics mirrors unethical professional behavior.

• Example: Fabricating data for a senior project led to severe academic penalties.

7. Ethical Frameworks Against Dishonesty

• Respect for Persons: Engineers must empower clients and the public to make
informed decisions.

• Utilitarianism: Promoting happiness and well-being through honest and reliable

engineering practices.

If you'd like additional focus on specific sections or a combined summary of both files,
let me know!
 Lecture 12

Here are the key points from your third file on Risk and Liability in Engineering, simplified
for better understanding:

1. Introduction to Risk and Safety

• Risk in Engineering: Involves balancing safety and innovation.

• Factors of Safety: Engineers design with safety margins to prevent failures (e.g.,
designing for loads much greater than expected).

2. Risk Assessment

• Definition of Risk: A combination of the probability and magnitude of harm.

• Risk-Benefit Analysis: Balances risks against potential benefits to determine

acceptable risk levels.

3. Challenges in Quantifying Harm

• Hazards can have both direct and indirect effects (e.g., psychological harm).

• Quantifying non-fatal or societal impacts is difficult.

4. Public Perception of Risk

• The public often mixes "risk" with "acceptable risk."

• Laypeople may overestimate rare risks and underestimate common ones.

• Informed Consent: Requires free choice, relevant information, and rational

decision-making.

5. Equity and Justice in Risk Distribution

• Risks should be justly distributed, with compensation or consent for those

affected.

• Example: Unfair health impacts on workers (e.g., byssinosis in cotton mills).

6. Government's Role in Risk Regulation

• Regulators face a dilemma:

o Regulating too lightly exposes people to risks.

o Overregulation wastes resources.

• Acceptable risk involves balancing public protection with cost-effectiveness.

7. Communicating Risk

• Engineers must:

o Clearly define "risk" and "probability of harm."

o Acknowledge uncertainties and public mistrust of experts.

o Participate in public discussions to ensure informed decision-making.

8. Engineer’s Liability

• Engineers may face legal consequences for negligence under tort law (e.g.,
asbestos cases).

9. Ethical Responsibility with Risk

• Awareness: Understand challenges in estimating risk.

• Respect Lay Concerns: Consider public and regulatory perspectives on

acceptable risk.

• Professional Duty: Communicate risks responsibly and ensure protection from

unjust harm.

10. General Principle for Acceptable Risk

• People should be shielded from harm unless:

o The benefits are significant and irreplaceable.

o Full consent is provided, or proper compensation is offered.

 Lecture 13

Here are the key points and terms from your lecture material summarized in simple
language:

Engineers and the Environment

• Engineers play a dual role:

o Negative: Projects can cause pollution (toxic chemicals, air, water) and
harm nature (destroy forests, flood lands).

o Positive: They can also design solutions to reduce these problems, like
clean energy systems and pollution control.

Engineering Codes and the Environment

• Professional codes (e.g., IEEE Code of Ethics) suggest engineers prioritize public
safety and the environment.

• These codes are guidelines, not enforceable rules.

• Some organizations exceed these codes voluntarily.

Criteria for a Clean Environment

1. Environmental laws aim to reduce pollution but balance:

o Job creation and income.

o Health and safety.

2. Ethical Perspectives:

o Utilitarianism: Focus on the greatest good, even if some sacrifices are

made.

o Respect for Persons: Individual health and safety shouldn’t be sacrificed

for overall benefits.

3. Degree-of-Harm Criterion:

o When pollution risks human health, reduce it below harmful levels

regardless of cost.
 o For uncertain risks, economic factors can be considered.

Attitudes Toward Environmental Regulation

• Sub-minimal: Do the bare minimum or less; prioritize profits.

• Minimalist/Compliance: Meet legal requirements without enthusiasm.

• Progressive: Go beyond legal requirements, prioritize sustainability, and foster

goodwill.

Respect for Nature

1. Health-Related Concerns: Focus on human health (e.g., preventing

carcinogens in water).

2. Non-Health Concerns: Protect nature for its own sake (e.g., preserving forests
or rivers).

3. Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value:

o Intrinsic Value: Nature has value on its own (non-anthropocentric view).

o Instrumental Value: Nature is valuable only for human use

(anthropocentric view).

Engineers’ Professional Obligations to the Environment

1. Responsibility: Engineers design technologies that affect the environment and

should be accountable.

o Examples: Dams, chemical plants (negative impact) vs. solar systems,

pollution controls (positive impact).

2. Expertise Limits: Engineers shouldn’t make decisions outside their expertise

(e.g., ecological science).

3. Organizational Disobedience: Engineers can oppose environmental harm if it

aligns with personal beliefs or professional integrity.

Proposals for Environmental Responsibility

1. Engineers should prioritize human health in their work.

 2. Non-health-related environmental concerns should be optional, not mandatory.

3. Engineers should have the right to challenge organizational practices harmful to

the environment.

This summary covers the key ideas in your lecture. Let me know if you’d like to focus on
any specific section!
 Lecture 14

Here’s a summary of the key points and terms from Lecture 14, simplified for easier
understanding:

Engineers in Organizations: Workplace Rights and Responsibilities

1. Engineers and Managers

• Conflict: Engineers balance loyalty to employers (e.g., following orders) with

loyalty to their profession (e.g., prioritizing public safety).

• Managers often focus on business needs (profits, public image) and may not
fully understand technical issues.

• Example: Challenger Disaster – A situation where management overruled

engineering concerns, prioritizing deadlines over safety.

2. Organizational Culture

• The culture is shaped by top management and influences decisions.

• Types of companies based on priorities:

o Engineer-Oriented: Focus on safety and quality; engineers have

decision-making power.

o Customer-Oriented: Balance safety with business goals like cost and

speed.

o Finance-Oriented: Centralized decision-making; cost often outweighs

safety/quality.

3. Proper Engineering and Management Decisions (PED vs. PMD)

• PED (Proper Engineering Decision): Decisions needing technical expertise and

ethical standards (e.g., public safety).

• PMD (Proper Management Decision): Decisions on organizational well-being

(e.g., cost, marketing) without violating engineering ethics.

4. Organizational Disobedience
 • Types:

o Contrary Action: Acting against company interests outside work (e.g.,

supporting environmental groups).

o Nonparticipation: Refusing to work on projects against personal or

professional ethics.

o Protest: Openly opposing or whistleblowing on unethical actions.

• Whistleblowing:

o Internal: Reporting within the organization.

o External: Reporting to regulators or the public.

o Example: Inez Austin refused to approve a risky nuclear waste plan and
faced retaliation but upheld public safety.

5. Acting Ethically Without Harm

• Tips for engineers:

o Report concerns early through formal channels.

o Maintain written records for accountability.

o Be loyal but critical—prioritize ethics over blind loyalty.

o Seek confidentiality and protection from retaliation.

6. Whistleblowing Justifications

• Harm-Prevention: Report if public harm is serious and evidence exists.

• Complicity-Avoidance: Report to avoid being part of wrongdoing, regardless of

harm prevention.

7. Ethics in the Workplace

• Engineering codes prohibit discrimination and harassment.

• Organizations should foster respectful, ethical work environments.

• Example: Montreal Massacre (1989): Triggered awareness about violence

against women, promoting workplace respect.
8. Tools for Ethical Behavior

• Complaint Procedures:

o Ensure employees can report concerns safely and confidentially.

o Address issues like harassment, safety, and discrimination effectively.

• Ethical Training: Simulations like Lockheed Martin’s “Gray Matters” teach

employees to handle ethical dilemmas.

This overview captures the main ideas and terms. Let me know if you'd like further
clarification on any specific topic!
 Lecture 15

Here’s a simplified summary of the key points from Lecture 15 on International

Engineering Professionalism:

Introduction

• Engineers increasingly work overseas or design for other countries.

• Ethical challenges arise when entering countries with different laws, customs,
and standards.

• Key terms:

o Home Country: Where the engineer is based.

o Host Country: The foreign country where the engineer works.

o Boundary-Crossing Problems: Ethical dilemmas due to cultural, social,

or economic differences.

Ethical Resources for Boundary-Crossing Problems

1. Creative Middle Ways:

o Solutions that respect both home and host country customs without
violating fundamental morals.

o Example: Avoiding harmful practices like slavery while adapting to

cultural differences.

2. The Golden Rule:

o Treat others as you want to be treated.

o Helps avoid exploitation or disrespecting local values.

3. Universal Human Rights:

o Rights like safety, fair treatment, and freedom from oppression apply
across cultures.

o Based on international agreements like the UN’s Universal Declaration of

Human Rights.

4. Promoting Basic Human Well-Being:

 o Engineering should improve living conditions (e.g., clean water, better
farming techniques).

o Economic development should benefit the host country's citizens.

5. Codes of Engineering Societies:

o International codes (like IEEE) forbid bribery and exploitation, guiding

engineers in ethical practices globally.

Challenges in Economically Underdeveloped Countries

1. Exploitation:

o Exploiting vulnerable workers for low pay or unsafe conditions is morally

wrong.

o Often happens due to economic imbalances and lack of alternatives for

workers.

2. Bribery:

o Paying officials for unfair advantages (e.g., securing contracts) is

unethical.

o Engineering codes strictly forbid bribery.

3. Extortion:

o Demands for payments to avoid harm (e.g., threats to block legitimate

business activities).

o Though less corrupting than bribery, extortion perpetuates theft-like

practices.

4. Grease Payments:

o Small payments to speed up routine processes (e.g., customs clearance).

o While common, they can be unethical if they give unfair advantages.

Cultural and Organizational Challenges

1. Nepotism:

o Favoring family members over qualified candidates in hiring.

 o A creative solution is needed to balance fairness and cultural
expectations.

2. Excessive Gifts:

o Large gifts in some cultures strengthen friendships but may resemble

bribes.

o Assess cultural norms and avoid gifts with unethical intentions.

3. Paternalism:

o Making decisions for others "for their own good" without their consent.

o Example: Overriding local workers' decisions due to perceived lack of

technical knowledge.

Types of Paternalism

• Weak Paternalism:

o Overriding decisions when the person is uninformed or unable to decide

effectively.

• Strong Paternalism:

o Overriding decisions even when the person is capable of making informed

choices.

This summary captures the key concepts and challenges. Let me know if you'd like
further details on any topic!