Objective

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Gilbane Gold
An Ethics Video Focusing on the Professional
Responsibilities of Engineers
Available from the
National Institute for Engineering Ethics
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023
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• Presented by
• Speakers Name

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Before We Watch Gilbane Gold, Lets Consider

• How Engineering Addresses Public Needs
• The Importance of Ethical Leadership
• Characteristics of Ethical Leaders

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Public Needs
Public Good
Maintenance
EthicsTeamwork
Construction
Engineering
Design
Creativity
Planning
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What is Important for Ethical Leaders?

• An effective ethical leader will

Create Candor in the workplace an
environment where the engineer feels safe
bringing up and resolving ethical issues.
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Effective Ethical Leaders?

• An effective ethical leader will

Foster an environment of Trust among
individuals in the Workplace and this trust
will encourage openness among team members
without fear of retribution.
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Characteristics of Effective Ethical Leader

• An effective ethical leader will

Treat everyone as intrinsically valuable and
not as a means to an end.
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How Do We Develop Ethical Leadership Skills?

To achieve Ethical Leadership Skills,
engineering leaders, in both education and
industry, need to possess the following traits
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Understanding

... A clear understanding of professional ethics
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Communication Skills

An ability and willingness to communicate ethical
issues.
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Ability

to recognize ethical issues.
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Appreciation

for the frequency at which ethical issues occur.
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Awareness

that guidance on ethical dilemmas is available
from a variety of sources
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Comprehension ...

Knowing Whats Right
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• The Desire

Willingness Courage
... to Do Whats Right
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Effective Leaders Will Have

• Ability

to resolve ethical issues by using traditional
engineering methods of inquiry, namely

• Listing options

• Testing the options

• Making a decision, and

• Most importantly, Acting !

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Question How does all this tie together?
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SOCIETAL NEED
ENGINEERING ANALYSIS
ENGINEERING DESIGN
Engineering Leadership
ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE
Idea for graphic based on Professional
Responsibility The Role of the Engineer, Jnl. of
Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 3, No. 3,
1997 by Drs. Steve Nichols and Bill Weldon,
UT/Austin
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Answers to ethics questions?

• Sometimes there are several right answers to
  ethics issues...
• Sometimes there are no right answers...

• But, like engineering design problems, there is a
  personal best answer.

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Resources for Leaders

• Text Books and Articles
• Ethics Centers Institutes
• Ethics Newsletters
• examples ?

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Where Can We Get Guidance?From- Rules of
Professional Conduct -- Codes of Ethics -
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Rules of Professional Conduct

• Expectations of Company
• Licensing Boards
• Professional Societies
• Technical Societies

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Board of Ethical ReviewOver 200 NSPE-BER Cases
on the Internet at www.niee.org
Guidance from the National Society of
Professional Engineers
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An Interesting Thought

On Engineering Ethics
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If the Ethics Rope Breaks
Ethics
We All Lose !
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Now Lets Watch
Gilbane Gold
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Gilbane Gold is the name given to dried sludge
from the city of Gilbane wastewater treatment
plant. It is sold to farmers as a commercial
fertilizer. The annual revenue generated saves
the average family about 300 per year in taxes.
Synopsis of Story
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Z CORP, a computer components manufacturer,
discharges wastewater containing small amounts of
lead and arsenic into the city sewers. By
current city test standards, the discharge meets
allowable levels.
Synopsis of Story
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Z CORP environmental engineers know of a newer
test which shows that the discharge may still
meet the letter of the law, but exceeds the
spirit of the law.
Synopsis of Story
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Protection of the health, safety, and
welfare of the public is the principal
concern.
Synopsis of Story
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DAVID JACKSON Environmental engineer working for
Z CORPTOM RICHARDS Engineering consultant
fired by Z CORP PHIL PORT Manager of
environmental departmentFRANK SEEDERS Z
CORP's engineering managerDIANE COLLINS VP in
charge of Z CORP's Gilbane plantLLOYD BREMEN
Former commissioner WINSLOW MASSIN Professor
emeritus, Hanover UniversityMARIA RENATO TV
reporter
List of Characters
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Protection of public health and the environment
(spirit versus letter of the law)Quality of
life and welfare of people (jobs and
taxes)Free enterprise (profitability
competition in the marketplace)Personal
integrity (view of self and living up to
personal standards)
Ethical Concepts include
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Think of them from 1. A Personal
Viewpoint 2. A Responsibility Viewpoint
Lets consider these concepts and
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Suggested Strategy for Study and Discussion
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From a personal viewpoint, list two or three
major ethical issues in the video.ThenFrom a
responsibility viewpoint, assume you are the
President of ZCORP. List two or three actions
you would take immediately (within the next 2
days)
After Watching Gilbane Gold, break into small
groups and
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Questions Discussion