Ethics and Society in Engineering Design

1
Ethics and Societyin Engineering Design

• March 1, 2002
• Richard Chung
• Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
• San Jose State University

2
Objectives

• Provide an opportunity to examine the ethics and
  social /societal issues related to an engineering
  design
• Understand the consequences with respect to
  product liability
• Strive to enhance the professional ethics
  throughout the entire career to increase public
  safety, health, and welfare of the public
• Act in professional matters for employers and
  avoid conflicts of interest

3
What is a contract?

• A contract is a promise (or an agreement)
  created between two parties is inferred by the
  legal system to do or not to do something.

4
Types of Contracts

• Express contracts (oral or written agreements)
• Implied contracts (agreement is embedded wholly
  or partially in a legal system)
• Bilateral contracts (mutual agreements)
• Unilateral contracts (agreement created in one
  direction)

5
Liability

• Breaching a contract
• One party fails to perform his or her part of
  the promise
• Committing a tort
• A civil wrongdoing, involving a mispresentation,
  nuisance, negligence

6
Product Liability

• A legal action is taken by the injured party to
  seek for compensation for personal injury or
  property loss from the manufacturer or seller of
  a product.

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Morality vs. Ethics
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Code of Ethics

• The fundamental principles
• Using knowledge and skills enhance human
  welfare
• Honest and impartial serving the public
• Striving to increase the competence
• The fundamental Canons
• Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare
  of the public
• Perform services only in the area of competence
• Continue professional development throughout
  career

9
Solving Ethical Conflicts

• Internal appeal option
• Individual preparation (keep records)
• Immediate supervisor (communication)
• Company wide (formally inform the company)
• External appeal option
• Individual action
• Contact your client
• Contact media

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Whistle-blowing

• Whistle-blowing is an act of reporting on
  unethical conduct within an organization to an
  outside world in an effort to stop or discourage
  the organization from continuing the activity.

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When does whistle-blowing occur?

• Whistle-blowing occurs when an individual
  believes that the decision made by a company or
  the government may be breaking the law,
  financially profitable but morally wrong,
  potentially dangerous, etc

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Conclusion

• Engineers should be familiar with contracts and
  liability
• Code of ethics provides a useful guidance in
  engineering practice
• Internal approach within an organization is
  always the best method (or the first step) to
  deal with a conflict of interest whistle-blowing
  is the last choice.