Case Studies (1)

CASE STUDIES
• Case studies are descriptions of real situations that provide a context

for engineers to explore decision-making in the face of socio-
technical issues.
• Case studies typically involve complex issues where there is no
single correct answer.
• Most engineering case studies available related to engineering
ethics.
• The process of analyzing a case study encourages several learning
tasks:
• Exploring the nature of a problem and circumstances that affect a
decision or solution.
• Sensitivity to ethical issues, sometimes called "developing a moral
imagination," or the awareness of the needs of others and that there is
an ethical point of view.
• Recognition of ethical issues or the ability to see the ethical
implications of specific situations and choices.
• Learning about others' viewpoints and how they may be taken into
account.
• Ability to analyze and critically evaluate ethical dilemmas, including
an understanding of competing values and the ability to examine
options for resolution.
• Ethical responsibility or the ability to make a decision and take
action.
• Tolerance for uncertainty or the recognition that there may be no
single ideal solution to ethically problematic situations.
• Predicting outcomes and consequences.
Steps in resolving ethical dilemmas:
1.Engineering Ethics
2. Determine the facts in the situation.
3. Define the Stakeholders.
4. Assess the motivations of stakeholders.
5. Formulation alternative solution.
6. Seek additional assistance.
7. Select the best course of action.
8. Implement the selected solution.
Example 1.
You are appointed as Consultant Engineer in a computer assembly
company where your best friend is supplying computer hardware.
The other staffs knew the fact and asked you to quit the job because
you cannot control the quality of the computer hardware. How do you
cope with this situation? Discuss ethical aspects related to this
situation.
Solution:
Step 1
Professionals are bound by code of ethics. They are not free to act as
what they desire. Personal and Professional behaviors are controlled
by code of ethics prepared by professional associations/ societies.
Step 2
Professional engineers shall act for their clients or employers as
faithful agents or trustees and also act independently and with fairness
and justice to all participants.
Step 3
With respect to above ethical aspects and background, situations have
to be dealt. I will convince the staffs that whoever supplies the
hardware, it dose not matter. Quality of hardware will always be
checked/ verified/ testes/ measured in accordance to specifications
provided by suppliers. Regardless of these logic, if staffs does not
convince, with due respect to my profession I will quit the job.
• A group of final-year computer engineering students at Mid-West
University developed an AI-powered scheduling algorithm as part of
their project. The algorithm was designed to optimize resource
allocation for large-scale computing tasks, such as cloud server
management. Their work gained significant attention after they
presented it at an international tech conference. After graduation, one
of the team members, Ramesh, filed for a patent on the algorithm
without informing the others. He launched a startup, Task Optimize
Inc., using the patented technology, and the company quickly
attracted venture capital. Meanwhile, the other team members
discovered Ramesh’s actions and claimed joint ownership of the
algorithm, arguing that it was a collaborative project. If you were
Ramesh, how would you handle this situation?
• ABC Tech Pvt. Ltd. is a software development company specializing
in AI solutions. The company developed a unique algorithm for real-
time language translation, which became very popular. A few months
after launching their software, ABC Tech discovered that a
competitor, XYZ Solutions, released a similar product using an
identical algorithm. Upon investigation, ABC Tech found that one of
their former employees, who had access to the algorithm, joined
XYZ Solutions shortly after leaving ABC Tech. ABC Tech had filed a
patent for the algorithm, but it was still pending approval. They also
had a confidentiality agreement in place with all their employees.
How can ABC Tech enforce its rights against XYZ Solutions?
Discuss ethical aspects related to this situation.

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CASE STUDIES

• Case studies are descriptions of real situations that provide a context

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