PROFESSION &

PROFESSIONALISM
Profession
 The Latin root of the word profession is
“professionen”, which means the making of
a public declaration.

 “The act or fact of professing”

 Professions are occupation requiring

sophisticated knowledge, group commitment
to some public good, and a significant
degree of self regulation.
 Professionalism
 The term professionalism refers to the quality,
competencies and skills of professionals.

 It has behavioral connotations and refers to

manifestations of a professional.

 When the criteria of profession are apply to

one’s vocation, it makes for professionalism.
 Definition of Professionalism
 Professionalism as independence
 Directly relates professionalism and freedom
from coercion.
 A professional should have the freedom
according to once own judgement about
conduct.
 Professionalism as serving employers
 Is diabolically opposite to above view.
 It says loyalty and loyal service to
employees/ clients is the art of
professionalism.
Professionalism can be achieved
from following criteria
 Knowledge
 Job must include theoretical knowledge, clear
judgement and caution with formal education
 Organization
 Organization must by accepted by the public
to set the standards for that profession.
 Public Good
 Profession must help the public by doing
favour to them as per its code of ethics.
Professional responsibility as a
professional virtue
 Professional responsibility is nothing but
being morally responsible as a profession.

 It includes variety of specific virtues which

important in a particular situation.
 Self direction virtues

 Public-spirited virtues

 Team-work virtues

 Proficiency virtues
 Self direction virtues
 Essentials in exercising the moral autonomy and the
responsibilities.

 These virtue are divided into two groups.

 Focus on understanding and gaining knowledge
through perception.
 Focus its attention towards commitment and
understanding actions such as courage, self-
discipline, firmness loyalty to commitments and
integrity.
Public-spirited virtues
 These virtues based on the benefits of
clients as well as general public who
are affected by the work of others.

 Examples of these virtues are justice,

sense of community and generosity
Team-work virtues

 These virtue help the professional to

work with other people in a better and
successful manner.

 Examples are cooperativeness, loyalty

to employers.
Proficiency virtues

 These virtue based on the proficiency of

an individual about his technical skills and
jobs.

 Examples are competence, alterness to

danger and careful attention on the tasks.
Professional Rights
 Right to privacy
 Right to participate in activities of one’s own choosing
outside of work
 Right to reasonably object to company’s policies
without fear of reprisal
 Right to due process
 Rights accorded to engineering professionals include
the right of professional conscience: engineers may
choose not to participate in activities which he/she
considers to be unethical
 Intellectual Property Rights
Whistle blowing
Definition: The act by an employee which informs the public or
higher management of unethical or illegal behavior by an
employer or supervisor
Types of whistle blowing:
 Internal

 External

 Open

 Anonymous

When should whistle blowing be attempted?

 Need

 Proximity

 Capability

 Last resort
Whistle blowing
 When is an engineer morally obligated to blow the
whistle?

 You may blow the whistle if all of the previous

conditions have been met

 You must blow the whistle when you feel that there is
great imminent danger of harm if the activity continues
unchecked and if all of the previous conditions have
been met
Thank you