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Code of Ethics Slides

A code of ethics provides guidance for ethical decision making in professional situations. It expresses widely accepted ethical principles in a clear way but does not establish new principles or override sound judgment. A code helps engineers apply moral standards to their work while strengthening their position when pressured to act unethically. However, codes have limitations as many engineers are unaware of them and internal conflicts sometimes exist. Professional societies have codes to guide engineers but their ability to protect members facing ethical issues is limited.

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82 views8 pages

Code of Ethics Slides

A code of ethics provides guidance for ethical decision making in professional situations. It expresses widely accepted ethical principles in a clear way but does not establish new principles or override sound judgment. A code helps engineers apply moral standards to their work while strengthening their position when pressured to act unethically. However, codes have limitations as many engineers are unaware of them and internal conflicts sometimes exist. Professional societies have codes to guide engineers but their ability to protect members facing ethical issues is limited.

Uploaded by

saman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Code of Ethics?

A code of ethics provides a framework for ethical


judgment for a professional. It defines the roles
and responsibilities of professionals
Code of Ethics?
• No code can be totally comprehensive and cover all possible
ethical situations.
• Codes serve as a starting point for ethical decision making.
• A code can also express the commitment to ethical conduct
shared by members of a profession.
• It is important to note that ethical codes do not establish new
ethical principles. They simply reiterate principles and
standards that are already accepted as responsible engineering
practice.
• A code expresses these principles in a coherent,
comprehensive, and accessible manner.
Code of Ethics?
• A code of ethics is never a substitute for sound judgment.
• A code of ethics is not a legal document.
• Finally, a code of ethics doesn’t create new moral or
ethical principles.
• These principles are well established in society, and
foundations of our ethical and moral principles go back
many centuries.
• A code helps the engineer to apply moral principles to the
unique situations encountered in professional practice.
Objectives of these Codes
• First, a code of ethics helps create an environment within a
profession where ethical behavior is the standard.
• It also serves as a guide or reminder of how to act in specific
situations.
• The code provides a little backup for an individual who is
being pressured by a superior to behave unethically.
• A code of ethics can also strengthen the individual’s position
and work by indicating that there is a collective sense of
correct behavior .
• Finally, a code of ethics can indicate to others that the
profession is seriously concerned about responsible,
professional conduct .
Objections to Codes
• Many engineers who are members of professional
societies are not aware of the existence of the
society’s code, or if they are aware of it, they have
never read it.
• Even among engineers who know about their
society’s code, consultation of the code is rare.
• There are also objections that the engineering codes
often have internal conflicts, but don’t give a method
for resolving the conflict. (order to design that the
engineer feels will be unsafe )
Professional engineering societies
(Back ground)
• Professional engineering societies in the United States
began to be organized in the late19th century. As these
societies matured, many of them created codes of ethics to
guide practicing engineers.
• Early in the 20th century, these codes were mostly
concerned with issues of how to conduct business.
• Relatively less emphasis than today was given to issues of
service to the public and safety.
• Now, most codes emphasize commitments to safety,
public health, and even environmental protection as the
most important duties of the engineer.
Can Codes and Professional Societies Protect Employees?

• An example of this situation is the action of the IEEE


on behalf of three electrical engineers who were
fired from their jobs at the Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART) organization when they pointed out
deficiencies in the way the control systems for the
BART trains were being designed and tested. After
being fired, the engineers sued BART, citing the IEEE
code of ethics which impelled them to hold as their
primary concern the safety of the public who would
be using the BART system.
Can Codes and Professional Societies Protect Employees?

• The IEEE intervened on their behalf in court,


although ultimately the engineers lost the
case.
• All engineers are not members of professional
societies and the engineering societies are
relatively weak, the pressure that can be
exerted by these organizations
is limited.

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