ASU 113: Professional Ethics

and Legislations
Lectures 2
Presented by
Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar
 Ethics
• Ethics is a system of moral principles.

• They affect how people make decisions and lead their

lives.

• Ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and

society .

2
 Professional ethics
• Professional ethics are principles that govern the
behavior of a person or group in a business
environment.

3
 The components of professional
ethics
• Some professional organizations may define
their ethical approach in terms of a number of
discrete components.

• Typically these include :

Honesty – Integrity – Transparency – Accountability –
Confidentiality – Objectivity – Respect – Obedience to the
law – Loyalty.

4
 The aims and objectives of
professional ethics
(a)To understand the moral values that ought to guide the
Engineering profession,

(b)To resolve the moral issues in the profession,

(c)To justify the moral judgment concerning the profession.

(d)To assure clients that professional services will be

rendered in accordance with reasonably high standards
and acceptable moral conduct.

5
 How do you practice professional
ethics?
• Practice reasonable, responsible, and
transparent behavior that avoids harmful
actions by:
o Embodying high ethical standards.

o Act without bias.

o Comply with laws.

o Protect confidentiality.
6
 How do you develop professional
ethics?
Here are some things you can do now to develop a good
work ethic.
1- Develop the habit of being on time or early for all
appointments.

2-Develop professionalism. Professionalism goes beyond a white

shirt and tie.

3-Cultivate self-discipline.

4-Use time wisely.

5-Stay balanced.
7
 What makes a strong work ethic?
Having a strong work ethic involves upholding the values
and goals of the company by performing your job to the
best of your ability.

• It means focusing on completing assigned tasks on time.

• An employee with a strong work ethic is professional in

attitude and appearance.

8
 LEGAL ETHICS
• Legal ethic is the behavioral norms and morals which
govern judges and lawyers.

• Legal ethics is the minimum standards of appropriate

conduct within the legal profession.

9
 1. Engineering Ethics
• Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics that
examines and sets standards for engineers’
obligations to the public, their clients, employers
and profession.
• Engineering does not have a single uniform system
of ethical conduct across the entire profession.
• Ethical approaches vary somewhat by discipline, and
most influenced by whether the engineers are
independent or working for the government.
10
 1. Engineering Ethics
• Engineering ethics is defined by the codes and
standards of conduct endorsed by engineering
(professional) societies with respect to the
particular set of beliefs, attitudes and habits
displayed by the individual or group.

11
 1. Engineering Ethics
This section discusses:

1. Five unethical communication concerns

engineers sometimes practice either knowingly
or unknowingly.

2. Tools for ethical decision making.

3. Points to be considered when facing a dilemma.

12
1.1 Five Communication Concerns
Avoid:

1. Copyright infringement.

2. Tampering with results.

3. Withholding adverse information.

4. Writing unclear instructions.

5. Omitting safety warnings.

13
1.2 Tools for Ethical Decision Making

Using the Code of Ethics (published by professional

engineering associations, or large firms) can always

help you justify doing the right thing.

14
 1.2 Tools for Ethical Decision Making

Figure 1.1 A Typical Code of Ethics for the engineering profession. Source: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ”Code of Ethics
of Engineers,” http://sections.asme.org/colorado/ethics.html Accessed October 19. 2011.
15
 1.2 Tools for Ethical Decision Making

16
Figure 1.1 A Typical Code of Ethics for the engineering profession. Source: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ”Code of Ethics 16
of Engineers,” http://sections.asme.org/colorado/ethics.html Accessed October 19. 2011.
1.2 Tools for Ethical Decision Making
Ethical issues to be addressed in catastrophic failure
(lives are lost, properties are collapsed) cases:
1. Who is ultimately responsible for checking the safety
of final designs as depicted in shop drawings?
2. In terms of meeting building codes, what are the
responsibilities of the engineer, the fabricator, the
owner?
3. What measures can professional societies take to
ensure catastrophes do not occur?
17
 1.3 Facing a Dilemma
When facing a difficult problem in your
engineering career, you must:

1. Analyze the situation carefully.

2. Consider the issues involved from more than
one angle.
3. Consult with others.
4. Think long and hard before making a
decision.
18
18
 CASE STUDY 1
Collapse of Hyatt Regency
Hotel Walkways

19
 EVENTS
• On the evening of July 17, 1981, approximately 1,600 people
gathered in the lobby to participate in and watch a dance
competition.
• The fourth floor and the second floor walkways fell to the
lobby floor below, resulting in 114 deaths.
• Lately, It was discovered that
1. The contractor believed that the original design did not meet
the minimum load required by the building codes.
2. Hence, The contractor altered the original design made by
the engineering firm which unfortunately made the walkways
more weaker instead of stronger.
3. The contractor sworn that his company telephoned the
engineering firm for change approval but the engineering
firm denied this call.
4. Another story says that engineering firm agreed without
performing any basic calculations that would have revealed
the danger of the second design.
 ETHICAL QUESTIONS
• Who is ultimately responsible for the fatal design
flaw? Why?
• Does the disputed telephone call matter to the
outcome of the case? Why or Why not?
• What is the responsibility of a licensed
professional engineer who affixes his/her seal to
fabrication drawings?
• In terms of meeting building codes, what are the
responsibilities of the engineer? the fabricator?
The owner?
• What measures can professional societies take to
ensure that catastrophes such as the Hyatt
Regency Walkways collapse do not occur?
 CASE STUDY 2
Explosion of Space Shuttle
the Challenger

22
 EVENTS
• The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on
January 28, 1986, leading to the deaths of its seven
crew members.
• A seal in the rocket booster failed allowing pressurized
hot gas from within the solid rocket motor to reach
the external fuel tank.
• Lately, It was discovered that :
1. NASA managers had known contractor's design of
the boosters contained a potentially catastrophic flaw
in its seals since 1977, but failed to address it
properly.
2. Managers also disregarded warnings from some
engineers about the dangers of launching.
 ETHICAL QUESTIONS
• What could NASA management have done differently?
• What could their subordinates have done differently (if
anything)? In answering this question, keep in mind
that the engineers had families to support and
cannot afford getting fired.
• What should the designer have done differently (if
anything)?
• What do you see as your future engineering professional
responsibilities in relation to both being loyal to
management and protecting the public welfare?
Thanks for your Attention

Any Questions

Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar

m.mokhtar@eng.asu.edu.eg