Engineering Ethics 2 (Professionalism and Codes of Ethics)

Professionalism and Codes of Ethics
Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

REFERENCE: Charles B. Fleddermann,
1
Engineering Ethics, 3rd edition, Person
Prentice Hall, 2012
INTRODUCTION

 Late in 1994, reports began to appear in the news media that the latest
generation of Pentium® microprocessors, the heart and soul of
personal computer, was flawed.
 The stories reported that computers equipped with these chips were
unable to correctly perform some relatively simple multiplication and
division operations.
 4,195,835 x 3,145,727 = 4,195,597 ?
 3,145,727
 Why This Happen?
 Did Intel do anything unethical ?
 To answer this question, we will need to develop a framework for
understanding ethical problem.
 One part of this framework will be the codes of ethics that have been
established by professional engineering organisation.
 These codes help guide engineers in the course of their professional
duties and give them insight into ethical problems such the one just
described.
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Prentice Hall, 2012
IS ENGINEERING A
PROFESSION ?

 In order to determine whether engineering is a
profession, the nature of professions must first be
examined.
 Any work for hire can be considered a job, regardless of
the skill level involved and the responsibility granted.
Engineering is certainly a job – engineers are paid for
their service – but the skills and responsibilities involved
in engineering make it more than just a job.
 Similarly, the word “occupation” implies employment
through which someone makes a living.
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CONT.

 One often hears about “professional athletes” or
someone referring to himself as a “professional
carpenter”, for example.
 In the first case, the word “professional” is being
used to distinguish the practitioner from an unpaid
amateur.
 In the second case, it is used to indicate some degree
of skill acquired through many years of experience,
with an implication that this practitioner will
provide quality services.
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Prentice Hall, 2012
CONT.

 Neither of these senses of the word “professional” is
applicable to engineers.
 There are no amateur engineers who perform
engineering work without being paid while they
train to become professional, paid engineers.

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What is a Profession

What are the attributes of a profession ?
1. Work that requires sophisticated skills, the use of judgment,
and the exercise of discretion. Also, the work is not routine
and is not capable of being mechanized.
2. Membership in the profession requires extensive formal
education, not simply practical training or apprenticeship.
3. The public allows special societies or organisation that are
controlled by members of the profession to set standard for
admission to the profession, to set standards of conduct for
members, and to enforce these standards; and
4. Significant public good results from the practice of the
profession [Martin and Schinzinger, 2000)
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Prentice Hall, 2012
CONT.

 Many occupation require judgment every day.
 In a profession, “judgment” refers to making
significant decisions based on formal training and
experience. In general, the decisions will have
serious impact on people’s lives and will often have
important implications regarding the spending of
large amount of money.

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Prentice Hall, 2012

 “Discretion” can have two different meanings
1. The first definition involves being discrete in the
performance of one’s duties by keeping information
about customers, clients, and patients confidential.
2. The other definition of discretion involves the ability
to make decisions autonomously.

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
 An athlete who is paid for her appearance is referred
to as professional athlete.
 Clearly, being a paid athlete does involve
sophisticated skills that most people do not possess,
and these skills are not capable of mechanisation.
 However, substantial judgment and discretion are
not called for on the part of athletes in their
“professional” lives, so athletics fails the first part of
the definition of “professional”.
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
 Athletics requires extensive training, not of a formal
nature, but more of a practical nature acquired
through practice and couching.
 No special societies are required by athletes, and
athletics does not meet an important public need
such as medicine.
 So, although they are highly trained and very well
compensated, athletes are not professionals.

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
 Similarly, carpenters require special skills to perform
their jobs, but many aspects of their work can be
mechanized, and little judgment or discretion is required.
 Training in carpentry is not formal, but rather is practical
by way of apprenticeship.
 No organisation or societies are required.
 However, carpentry certainly does meet an aspect of the
public good, although perhaps not to the same extent as
do professions such as medicine.
 So, carpentry also doesn’t meet the basic requirements to
be a profession.
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Prentice Hall, 2012
Engineering as a
Profession

 Certainly, engineering requires extensive and
sophisticated skills.
 The essence of engineering design is judgment : how
to use the available materials, components and
devices, to reach a specified objective.
 Discretion is required in engineering.
 However, each new situation that requires a new
design or a modification of an existing design
requires an engineer.
 Engineering requires extensive formal training.
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Mechanisation

 The point about mechanisation needs to be addressed a little more
carefully with respect to engineering.
 Certainly, once a design has been performed, it can easily be
replicated without the intervention of an engineer.
 However, each new situation that requires a new design or a
modification of an existing design requires an engineer.
 Industry commonly uses many computer-based tools for
generating design, such as computer-aided design (CAD) software.
 This shouldn’t be mistaken for mechanisation of engineering.
 CAD is simply a tool used by engineers, not a replacement for the
skills of an actual engineer.
 A wrench can’t fix an automobile without a mechanic.
 Likewise, a computer with CAD software can’t design an antilock
braking system for an automobile without an engineer.
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Prentice Hall, 2012
Professional Society

 Before passing final judgment on the professional
status of engineering, the nature of engineering
societies requires a little consideration.
 Each discipline within engineering has a
professional society, such as IEEE for electrical
engineers and ASME for mechanical engineer.
 It is clear that engineering meets all of the definitions
of a profession.

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Other Aspects of
Professional Societies

 Sociologists who study the nature of professional societies
describe two different models of professions, sometimes
referred to as the social-contract and the business models.
 The social-contract model views professional societies as
being set up primarily to further the public good.
 There is an implicit social contract involved with
professions, according to this model.
 Society grants the profession’s perk such as high pay, a
high status in society, and the ability to self-regulate.

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Prentice Hall, 2012
Cont.> Business Model

 A perhaps more cynical view of professions is provided
by the business model.
 According to this model, professions function as a means
for furthering the economic advantage of the members.
 Put another way, professional organisation are labor
unions for the elite, strictly limiting the number of
practitioner of the profession, controlling the working
conditions for professionals, and artificially inflating the
salaries of its member.
 Where does engineering fit to this?
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CODES OF ETHICS -
Social Control Tool

Discipline and Guidelines
enforcement
Code of Ethics
Social
Engineer’s responsibility
right and
Protection
Professionalism
and dignity

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CODES OF ETHICS

What is a Code of Ethics ?
 Serves as a social control tool
 Primarily, a code of ethics provides a framework for
ethical judgment for a professional – DISCIPLINE &
ENFORCEMENT.
 It is important to note that ethical codes do not
established new ethical principle. Reiterate principles and
standards that are already accepted as responsible
engineering practice. - GUIDELINE
 Put another way, a code helps the engineer to apply
moral principles to the unique situations encountered in
professional practice. – SOCIAL REPONSIBILITY
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Cont.>

How does a code of ethics achieve these goals ?
 First, a code of ethics helps create a environment
within a profession where ethical behaviour is the
norm. – ENGINEER’S RIGHT & PROTECTION
 It is also serves as a guide or reminder of how to act
in specific situations.
 Finally, a code of ethics can indicate to others that
the profession is seriously concerned about
responsible, professional conduct. –
PROFESSIONALISM & DIGNITY
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Prentice Hall, 2012
BEM – Code of Conduct

1. A Registered Engineer shall at all times hold paramount
the safety, health and welfare of the public.
2. A Registered Engineer shall undertake assignments only if
he is qualified by education and experience in the specific
technical fields in which he is involved.
3. A Registered Engineer shall issue public statements only in
an objective and truthful manner
4. A Registered Engineer shall act for each employer or clients
as faithful agents or trustee.
5. A Registered Engineer shall conduct himself honourably,
responsibly, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the
honour, reputation
REFERENCE: Board of Engineers
Malaysia, 2005
Regulation 2003 – Part IV

23. Every Registered Engineer shall at all times uphold the
dignity, high standing and reputation of his profession .
24. A Registered Engineer in his responsibility to his employer,
client or the profession shall have full regard to the public
interest.
25. (1) A Registered Engineer shall discharge his duties to his
employer or client as the case may be with complete fidelity
(2)Except with the permission of his employer, a
Registered Engineer shall not accept any remuneration
for services rendered other than from his employer

Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

26. A Registered Engineer shall not maliciously injure or attempt to
maliciously injure whether directly or indirectly, the professional
reputation, prospects or business of another Registered Engineer.
27. A Registered Engineer shall not
(a) canvass or solicit professional employment,
(b) offer to make by way of commission or any other payment for the
introduction of his professional employment; or
(c) except as permitted by the Board, advertise in any manner or
form in connection with his profession.
(d) Provide professional engineering service to any person, unless the
scope of such work are clearly defined in a written agreement
between both parties.

REFERENCE: Board of Engineers 22
Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

28. A Professional Engineer in private practice* shall not
practice engineering with any person whose
registration has been cancelled
29. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not
be a medium of payment made on his client's behalf
unless he is so requested by his client nor shall he, in
connection with work on which he is employed, place
contracts or orders except with the authority of and
on behalf of his client.
* A registered Engineer in an Engineering Consultancy
Practice
Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

30. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not
without the approval of the Board enter into
professional partnership with any person other than a
Professional Engineer in private practice, a Registered
Architect, a Registered Quantity Surveyor or a
Licensed Land Surveyor deleted

Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

31. A Professional Engineer in private practice shall not directly or
indirectly
a) supplant or attempt to supplant another Professional Engineer in
private practice
(b) intervene or attempt to intervene in or in connection with
engineering work of any kind which to his knowledge has already been
entrusted to another Professional Engineer in private practice; or
(c) take over any work of that other Professional Engineer in private
practice acting for the same client unless he has
(i) obtained the consent of that other Engineer; or
(ii) been formally notified by the client that the services of that
other Engineer have been terminated in accordance with the
provisions of any contract entered into between that other Engineer and
the client……..
Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

32. (1)Except with the prior approval of the Board, a
Professional Engineer in private practice shall not be a
director or executive of or substantial shareholder in
or agent for any contracting or manufacturing
company or firm or business related to building or
engineering.
(2) If such approval is given, such Professional Engineer
shall not undertake any contract work wherein he is
engaged as a consulting engineer in such project unless it
is in respect of a "design and build" project.
Malaysia, 2005
Cont.>

33. Every Registered Engineer while acting in his
professional capacity shall disclose in writing to his
client of the fact if he is a director or member of or
substantial shareholder in or agent for any contracting
or manufacturing company or firm or business
or has any financial interest in any such company or
firm or business, with which he deals on behalf of his
client.

Malaysia, 2005

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Professionalism and Codes of Ethics

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

Ir. Dr. MN Othman | 2013

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