Code of Ethics Workshop - Abbey & Jai
Code of Ethics Workshop - Abbey & Jai
Code of Ethics Workshop - Abbey & Jai
“The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral
duty and obligation”
Ethics vs Morals
Ethics Morals
● Set of rules or guidelines within a specific context ● Personal beliefs about right vs wrong
● Should be objective and guide behaviour of ● Often shaped by cultural, religious and familial influences
members
● More universal - code of conduct, company values ● Subjective and usually less likely to change
Engineer Australia’s Code of Ethics
As engineers, our role involves applying our expertise and abilities to develop solutions
that contribute positively to society and support a sustainable future.
Our primary commitment is to prioritize the welfare of the community, placing it above
personal or specific group interests.
3. Honesty 6. Professionalism
Applying Ethical Decision Making
1. Stop and think
2. Clarify goals
3. Determine known and unknown facts
4. Develop options
5. Consider foreseeable results of the options
6. Refer to a code of ethics for guidance of areas to be mindful of
7. Consult with respected staff or outside professionals
8. Decide the course of action and take it
Applying Ethical Decision Making
Serves as a practical tool for exploring ethical dilemmas and identifying ethical
courses of action
● Competitive Pressures: Occidental had aggressively underbid to win the contract, leading to
underfunding and understaffing.
● Technical Issue: Wayne discovers a significant flaw in the software – it loses track of aircraft
under certain conditions. This is a major safety concern!
● Time constraints and Pressures: The bug fix requires over a month, but the contract deadline
is in three days. Missing it risks severe penalties, loss of future contracts, and extensive job
losses
● Ethical Dilemma: Wayne faces a moral conflict between delivering a potentially unsafe
product and the adverse consequences of missing the deadline.
Case Study - Occidental Engineering (2/2)
● Management Decision: The project manager, Deborah, decides to deliver the software
without fixing the bug, rationalizing that initial FAA tests won't reveal the issue and that it can
be fixed in a later update.
● Resolution and Aftermath: Wayne eventually agrees to certify the software. The software
passes the FAA's tests, and the bug is fixed in a subsequent update. The project's success leads
to more contracts for Occidental, saving and creating jobs. However, Wayne is troubled by his
decision and takes early retirement.
● Ethical Implications: The case raises questions about professional ethics, the responsibility of
engineers to ensure safety
END!
Any Questions?
Activity
1. Now that you’re aware of the context of the case study and the steps involved in the Ethical Decision
Making process, briefly suggest how you would have applied any of the steps in the process to decide
your course of action.
a. Please follow this link and have a brief read through the case study
https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-ethics/engineering-ethics-cas
es/occidental-engineering-case-study-part-1/
2. How would you apply the Code of Ethics to the case study? End with a short reflection on how we’ve
encountered ethics and ethical decision-making thus far in our internships?
Student Feedback
Presentation Stream: C
Presentation Subtopic: Code of Ethics
Link - https://go.unimelb.edu.au/yfa8