Ethics

PE020IU Engineering Ethics and Professional Skills
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

School of Electrical Engineering
International University, VNU-HCM
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C O U R S E S Y L L A B U S , M AT E R I A L S …
1. Materials/Assignment: Blackboard
2. Course Grading:
▪ Attendance/Homework/Quiz: 30% (late Homework -20%)
▪ Mid-term exam: 20%
▪ Final exam: 50%
3. Contact: hvtdung@hcmiu.edu.vn
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CLAS S TEXT BOOK…
1. M. W. Martin & E. Schinzinger, "Ethics in Engineering", McGraw Hill,

4th ed.
2. Seebauer, E.G. and Barry, R.L. Fundamental of Ethics for Scientists
and Engineers (NewYork: Oxford University Press, 2001).
3. C.E. Harris, Jr., M. S. Pritchard & M. J. Rabins, "Engineering Ethics - Concepts
and Cases",Thomson Wadsworth, 4th ed.
4. C. B. Fleddermann, "Engineering Ethics", Pearson Prentice Hall, 3rd or 4th ed.
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THEMES OF COURSE…
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W H AT T H I S C O U R S E I S A B O U T. . .
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ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING
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ECE IMPACT
Direct impact:
- Electric power generation and distribution
- Electric motors: washer, dryer, …
- Radio, TV, video games, …
- Telephone, mobile phone, cellular, …
- Computers, software, …
- Cable car, automotive systems, electric car, …
- Medical monitoring devices, surgical lasers, …
- Military weapons, nuclear weapons, …
Indirect impact: via other areas of engineering and science is
significant!
Broad impact: democracy, education, development, …
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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN ELECTRIC AL OR
COMPUTER ENGINEER IN MODERN SOCIETY?
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“PROFESSION”
• Job experience? Give ideas…

• What does it mean to join a “Profession”?
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Michael Davis defines professions as follows: “A profession is a number of individuals

in the same occupation voluntarily organized to earn a living by openly serving a certain
moral ideal in a morally permissible way beyond what law, market, and [everyday]
morality would otherwise require.” He argues that carpenters, barbers, porters, and other
groups who organize their work around a shared code of ethics should be recognized as
professionals. Do you agree or disagree, and why? Can this issue be settled by
reference to a dictionary?
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E N G I N E E R S C O U N C I L F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T:
W H AT O N E W H O P R A C T I C E S A P R O F E S S I O N M U S T D O :
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PERCEPTIONS/REALITIES OF
PROFESSIONALISM
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WHAT IS ENGINEERING ETHICS?
Engineering ethics is the study of the decisions, policies, and values that
are morally desirable in engineering practice and research.
Engineering ethics consists of the responsibilities and rights that ought

to be endorsed by those engaged in engineering, and also of desirable
ideals and personal commitments in engineering.
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STUDY ENGINEERING ETHICS…
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DISCUSSION QUESTION: MORAL AUTONOMY?
1. Moral awareness:
2. Cogent moral reasoning:
3. Moral coherence
4. Moral imagination:
5. Moral communication
6. Moral reasonableness:
7. Respect for persons:
8. Tolerance of diversity:
9. Moral hope:
10. Integrity:
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DISCUSSION QUESTION: RESPONSIBILITY?
1. Obligations.
2. Accountable.
3. Conscientious, integrity.
4. Blameworthy/Praiseworthy.
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STUDY ALSO “SOCIAL JUSTICE” AND ENGINEERING
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Regarding the following example, comment on why you think simple human contact
made such a large difference. What does it say about what motivated the engineers,
both before and after the encounter? Is the case too unique to permit generalizations to
other engineering products?
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the micro issue of SUV?

What is the marco issue of SUV?
*SUV: sport utility vehicles (car)

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S T U D Y T H E “ S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y M O V E M E N T, ”
R E L AT I V E TO E N G I N E E R I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L I S M
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FIRST TOPIC ON PROFESSIONALISM,
P R O F E S S I O N A L B E H AV I O R I N C L A S S …
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W H AT D O Y O U WA N T TO D I S C U S S T H I S S E M E S T E R ?
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AT T E N D A N C E Q U E S T I O N
Give the name of 10 famous male and 10 famous female scientists (may or may
not be alive)
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LECTURE 2: ETHICAL DILEMMAS,

CHOICES, AND CODES OF ETHICS

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C ASE STUDY
A chemical engineer working in the environmental division of a computer

manufacturing firm learns that her company might be discharging unlawful amounts
of lead and arsenic into the city sewer. The city processes the sludge into a
fertilizer used by local farmers. To ensure the safety of both the discharge and the
fertilizer, the city imposes restrictive laws on the discharge of lead and arsenic.
Preliminary investigations convince the engineer that the company should
implement stronger pollution controls, but her supervisor tells her the cost of
doing so is prohibitive and that technically the company is in compliance with the
law. She is also scheduled to appear before town officials to testify in the matter.
What should she do?
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R E S O LV I N G M O R A L D I L E M M A S
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CAS E STUDY
Engineer A is employed by a software company and is involved in the design of specialized

software in connection with the operations of facilities affecting the public health and safety (i.e.,
nuclear, air quality control, water quality control). As the part of the design of a particular
software system, Engineer A conducts extensive testing and although the tests demonstrate that
the software is safe to use under existing standards, Engineer A is aware of new draft standards
that are about to be released by a standard setting organization-standards which the newly
designed software may not meet. Testing is extremely costly and the company’s clients are eager
to begin to move forward. The software company is eager to satisfy its clients, protect the
software company’s finances, and protect existing jobs; but at the same time, the management of
the software company wants to be sure that the software is safe to use. A series of tests
proposed by Engineer A will likely result in a decision whether to move forward with the use of
the software. The tests are costly and will delay the use of the software by at least six months,
which will put the company at a competitive disadvantage and cost the company a significant
amount of money. Also, delaying implementation will mean the state public service commission
utility rates will rise significantly during this time. The company requests Engineer A’s
recommendation concerning the need for additional software testing. 4
STUDY CAS E
Should Engineer A design the software to meet the new

standards?
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Answer several questions. First, what is the moral dilemma (or dilemmas), if any? In stating the
dilemma, make explicit the competing moral reasons involved. Second, are there any concepts
(ideas) involved in dealing with the moral issues that it would be useful to clarify? Third, what
factual inquiries do you think might be needed in making a reliable judgment about the case?
Fourth, what are the options you see available for solving the dilemma? Fifth, which of these
options is required (obligatory, all things considered) or permissible (all right)?
Case: An inspector discovers faulty construction equipment and applies a violation

tag, preventing its continued use. The inspector’s supervisor, a construction manager,
views the case as a minor infraction of safety regulations and orders the tag
removed so the project will not be delayed.What should she do?
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CODES OF ETHICS
Why are codes important?

– Serve and protect the public
– Guidance/support for engineers
– Inspiration, deterrence, discipline
– Shared standards, education, mutual understanding
– Profession’s image
Limitations of codes
– Too vague to be useful in every day ethical decision making?
– Impossible to cover all eventualities
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NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS (NSPE)
Code of Ethics for Engineers

Preamble: Engineering is an important and learned profession. As
members of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the
highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct and
vital impact on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the services
provided by engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity
and must be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of professional
behavior that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical
conduct.
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FUNDAMENTAL C ANNONS
1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
4.Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
5.Avoid deceptive acts.
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as
to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.
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HOLD PARAMOUNT THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE
OF THE PUBLIC
How to assess impact on human safety, health, and “welfare”?

• Amartya Sen uses a “capabilities approach:”
– Being able to live a long life in health
– Being able to get an education, being able to work
– Being able to have freedom of expression and association
– Others…
• Lack of welfare = capability deprivation
• Note: It does not say the engineer should be encouraged to focus on
(even extreme) capability deprivation. Should it?
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IEEE CODE OF ETHICS (10 RULES)
We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our

technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in
accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the
communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest
ethical and professional conduct and agree:
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
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LECTURE 3: MORAL FRAMEWORKS

FOR ENGINEERING ETHICS

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WHY A MORAL FRAMEWORK?
- It illuminates connections between

engineering codes of ethics and everyday
morality
- It helps make moral choices, resolve morel
dilemmas
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WHY A MORAL FRAMEWORK?
❑ 5 types of ethical theories:

- Rights ethics: human rights
- Duty ethics: individual’s rational autonomy
- Utilitarianism: maximize the overall good, taking into equal account
all those affected by our actions
- Virtue ethics: good character is central to morality
- Self-realization ethics: the moral significance of self-fulfillment
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RIGHTS ETHICS
• Rights ethics: Human rights is the moral “bottomline” (and human dignity and
respect are fundamental)
– Liberty rights: Rights to exercise one’s liberty that leads to duties of others
not to interfere with one’s freedoms
– Welfare rights: Rights to benefits needed for decent human life
→ Codes? “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public in the performance of their professional duties.” (refers to each individual)
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DUTY ETHICS
• Duty ethics: Right actions are those required by duties to respect the liberty or
autonomy of individuals.
- Autonomy - moral self-determination or self-governance means having the
capacity to govern one’s life in accordance with moral duties. Hence, respect for
persons amounts to respect for their moral autonomy.
Codes?
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UTILITARIANISM
– Utilitarianism says the sole standard of right action is good

consequences. There is only one general moral requirement: “Produce
the most good for the most people, giving equal consideration to
everyone affected”
– What is “good”? Consider “acts” or “rules”?
– From codes: “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and
welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties”?
Related?
– “Welfare” is a type of “utility” (so are safety, health)
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DISCUSS QUESTION
Americans are sometimes criticized for being too individualistic, and in

particular for approaching moral issues with too great an emphasis on
rights. Although we said that rights and duties are usually correlated with
each other, what difference (if any) do you think would occur if Jefferson
had written, “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all people are
created equal; that they owe duties of respect to all other persons, and
are owed these duties in return”?
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VIRTUE ETHICS
• Virtue ethics emphasizes character (virtues/vices) more than rights and rules.
• Virtues: competence, honesty, courage, fairness, loyalty, and humility (vices
opposites)
✓ Proficiency virtues are the virtues of mastery of one’s profession, in
particular mastery of the technical skills that characterize good
engineering practice
✓ Teamwork virtues are those that are especially important in enabling
professionals to work successfully with other people
✓ Self-governance virtues are those necessary in exercising moral
responsibility
• Relevance to codes? IEEE:
– “… be honest… in stating claims…”
– “…improve our technical competence…”
– “…treat fairly all persons…” 9
VIRTUES IN ENGINEERING
• Public-spirited virtues:
– Focus on good of clients (“client-focused”)
– Focus on good of public
– Generosity - going beyond minimum requirements in helping:
“engineers who voluntarily give their time, talent, and money to
their professional societies and local communities”
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VIRTUES IN ENGINEERING
• Proficiency virtues:
– Mastery/competence
– Diligence (e.g., software engineering case study example)
– Creativity (to keep up with technology)
• Teamwork virtues:
– Working together effectively (not a loner)
– Collegiality, cooperation, loyalty, respect for authority
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C ASE STUDY

SELF-REALIZATION ETHICS
Self-realization ethics, however, gives greater prominence to self-interest

and to personal commitments that individuals develop in pursuing self-
fulfillment. As with the other ethical theories, we will consider two
versions:
- A community-oriented version, the self to be realized is understood in
terms of caring relationships and communities.
- Ethical egoism, the self is conceived in a highly individualistic manner.
The community-oriented version of self-realization
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SELF-REALIZATION ETHICS
• Engineers:
– Proficiency motives: Challenge self, serve public
– Compensation motives: Make money for self/family, but helps
community
– Moral motives: Desire to do right (“give back”), integrity, feels good
and positively impacts community
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COMMUNITY-ORIENTED VERSION
The community-oriented version of self-realization ethics says that each

individual ought to pursue self-realization, but it emphasizes the
importance of caring relationships and communities in understanding
self-realization. It emphasizes that we are social beings whose identities
and meaning are linked to the communities in which we participate.
“The ‘individual’ apart from the community is an abstraction. It is not anything

real, and hence not anything that we can realize. . . . I am myself by sharing
with others.”
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F. H. Bradley, Ethical Studies (New York: Oxford University Press, 1962)
ETHIC AL EGOISM
• Ethical egoism is a more individualistic version of self-realization ethics that says

each of us ought always and only to promote our self-interest.
• Ethical egoism sounds like an endorsement of selfishness. It implies that
engineers should think first and last about what is beneficial to themselves, an
implication at odds with the injunction to keep paramount the public health,
safety, and welfare
→ Psychological egoism: All people are always and only motivated by what they
believe is good for them in some respect. Psychological egoism is a theory
about psychology, about what actually motivates human beings, whereas ethical
egoism is a statement about how they ought to act.
There is four arguments for psychological egoism!

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PSYCHOLOGIC AL EGOISM
• Argument 1. We always act on our own desires; therefore, we always and

only seek something for ourselves, namely the satisfaction of our desires.
• Argument 2. People always seek pleasures; therefore they always and only
seek something for themselves, namely their pleasures.
• Argument 3. We can always imagine there is an ulterior, exclusively self-
seeking motive present whenever a person helps someone else; therefore
people always and only seek goods for themselves.
• Argument 4. When we look closely, we invariably discover an element of self-
interest in any given action; therefore people are solely motivated by self-
interest.
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Discuss what morality requires and then what self-interest requires. Is

the answer the same or different?
Bill, a process engineer, learns from a former classmate who is now a regional
compliance officer with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) that there will be an unannounced inspection of Bill’s plant. Bill
believes that unsafe practices are often tolerated in the plant, especially in the
handling of toxic chemicals. Although there have been small spills, no serious
accidents have occurred in the plant during the past few years. What should
Bill do?
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LECTURE 4: ENGINEERING AS
SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION

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ENGINEERING AS EXPERIMENTATION
Example:Titanic (1522 dead)! Affected ship design...

• Example: Software engineering and test:
– How much? Expensive!
– Sophistication level of software, how deployed
matters
– Historical information about software test is used to
know how much is needed now
– But your project helps contribute knowledge to how
much is needed later!
• Engineering projects are experiments that involve
technology development and humans
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DESIGN PROCESS
Engineering product design steps:

Concepts
Preliminary designs, tests
More detailed designs
More tests (? - may cost $$)
Production
More tests! (? - may cost $$$)
------------------------------------------------------
The public purchases/uses the product
More tests!!! How to gather results of these tests?
Role of profits/competition with other companies?
Dangerous!!! Engineers are asked to do this! 3
SIMILARITIES TO STANDARD EXPERIMENTS
Projects carried out in partial ignorance, outcomes are uncertain

– Engineers are asked to make things work without all the available
scientific knowledge (including that about humans), safety facts,
environment, health, social influences, etc.
– Good design relies on information gathered before and after a product
leaves the factory - especially when the product is tested in its true
“environment,” not fake ones used to simulate the real environment
(e.g., temperature cycling electronic products)
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LEARNING FROM THE PAST
• Product history matters! Respect the past!

• Can you always know it? Competence, openness to learning. Do not be
afraid to ask!
• Can you know about a competitor’s safety statistics?
• Are there good communication channels in your own company?
• Between different departments?
• Across “generations” of engineers?
• Is there a dangerous “generation gap” between young and old
engineers?
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USING THE PUBLIC TO PERFORM TESTS
We redesign using the public to test our products!

• Special care is obviously needed for safety, avoiding loss of customers
• Example: Software test for popular software (e.g., word processing
programs, spreadsheets, etc.), computer hardware
• Diligence helps, but also…
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CONTRASTS WITH STANDARD EXPERIMENTS
• Experiment control?
– Cannot control what humans may do with a product
– What applications will it be used for?
– Will they subject it to unforseen stresses?
• Informed consent? (e.g., in medical trials)
– Keystone of engineer - public interaction
– What “experiments” are acceptable? Keep in mind that there is a large variance
on the types of customers you might have. Can they all read?
• Knowledge gained? Seek the unexpected!
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Research the collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis on

August 1, 2007, which killed 13 people and injured 100 more. In light of
the social experimentation model, discuss its causes and whether it
could have been prevented
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RESPONSIBLE EXPERIMENTALISTS
1. Conscientiousness: Protect safety knowledge, respect right of consent of public

2. Comprehensive perspective: Awareness of experimental nature of projects,
forecasting, monitoring
3. Moral autonomy: Personally engaged, thoughtful, involvement in project
4. Accountability: Accept responsibility for results of a project (avoid fragmentation,
diffusion, time pressures)
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TAKING CHARGE
• Engineers are not the sole experimenters

– Managers
– Marketing people
– Public
• But,“with knowledge comes responsibility”
• Engineers are in a unique position to:
– Monitor projects
– Identify risks
– Develop facts for informed consent
• An engineering professional will take on the responsibility!
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ROLE OF LAWS IN ENGINEERING
“Rules of responsible experimentation:”

- Laws can produce many benefits
- Produce minimal standards of
professional conduct
- Provide motive to comply with
standards
- Provide support and defense for people
who wish to act ethically
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BALANCED OUTLOOK ON LAW:
RULES OF EXPERIMENTATION?
• Not covering engineering law here

• You may learn some on-the-job
• Likely to learn some “industrial standards,” some of which directly
pertain to safety
• Tendency toward more detail...
• “Minimal compliance” Is it enough?
– Morally acceptable?
– What about push of new technologies? Areas where there is
no law?
• Government/law can be too detailed - can squash
moral autonomy of engineers - good balance? 12
C ASE STUDIES (FROM STUDENTS) FOR ENGINEERING
AS SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION SOFTWARE
• Student: “I was involved in designing and testing network communication

software. Some tests were still being run when clients requested the software. We
were unable to finish the tests and gave the product to the customer knowing that
the system caused lock-ups and loss of data. We then used the feedback from these
clients to debug the software and repeated the process.” What to do?
• Similar student case: "In software engineering I have encountered problems in
that the time required for testing the product and the deadline for testing may
conflict, and some parts of the testing may have to be compromised to meet those
deadlines.” What factors enter the compromise in deadlines?
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COMPUTER TESTING
Student: “On a recent co-op job my company had just shipped its latest and
greatest computer product. After a few months in the field it was found to vastly
lack the processor power it needed to do what it claimed to do. The fix that
followed had to have the shortest turn around time I had ever seen. The fix was
top quality, but the damage had been done. A full scale test, or even simulation,
would have predicted this problem before shipping.” What should the co-op do?
Trust specifications of other’s subcomponents?
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MEETING SPECIFIC ATIONS
Student: “At my co-op position I was placed in a design team to create an audio
system. The project was a classic example of marketing wanting the product so bad
that time lines were regarded higher than the quality of the product. The audio
system's first prototypes arrived with many problems, some of which could not be
resolved until after the product was released. It basically came down to the
decision of letting the consumers find all the problems, and then hoping that the
management would provide the team with more time and funding to fix the
problems, to try to keep the customers happy.” What should the student do?
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ENVIRONMENT
Student: “A turbidity meter was used to monitor if contaminants were

getting into the water that goes into the river. When those meters failed to
alarm us, and a white pigment went into the river, my project that focused
on redesigning the monitoring station was given support.”
Can/should the engineer do anything?

Creative solutions?
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ENVIRONMENT
Student: “In wastewater treatment plants, control systems are tested in the field.
The control systems are designed according to specifications and ISA/IEEE rules,
but the testing of how the systems will operate under real life situations is done
after installing them. Two questions arise, then: first, can the plant design withstand
additional rain, population increases, weather problems, etc? Second, can the
control system adequately analyze these new factors and operate the plant
successfully? If anything fails, the great danger is the release of raw sewage/sludge
and bacteria onto land and into the water supply.”
What can the engineer do? Will competence solve the problem?
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LAW, MINIMAL COMPLIANCE
Student: “My problem came with a company involved in the design and
manufacturing of PC power supplies. Some manufacturing organizations, have
focused on 100% minimal compliance and hence substituted parts to achieve their
cost objectives. This resulted in unsafe final consumer products. An industry push
for CSA and UL certification of power supply modules enhanced the minimal level
achieved for standard sub assemblies. Since the FCC and FTC act as police
organizations, it is not usually known that there is a problem until much mayhem
occurs. When other companies began selling "smoking PCs" the industry began to
push to use only modules which would meet UL and CSA standards. The
minimalists were forced to up the ante or lose considerable business.”
Should an engineering professional be a “minimalist”? Role of tests?

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MEETING SPECIFIC ATIONS
• Student: The heated hoses we manufacture were using a 100 ohm platinum
RTD substitute. The hose resellers were rating the range of heat as higher than
the RTDs could actually model linearly.We had years with no problems until one
customer started running the product at the top of the temperature rating. We
immediately stopped production and found another RTD that would be suitable.
All stock was pulled and rebuilt.The fix took almost a year.
Is this cost, worth getting it right?
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SUCCESSFUL USE OF CUSTOMERS IN TESTING
• Student: Welders built for an alpha run of production were sent to a

select group of customers to be tested in the field. The customers did
have “informed consent” that these machines were in the early stages of
testing. Many changes were made based on their feedback.
A proper approach to design?
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C ASE STUDY

Where is the social experimentation in this case study?
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
Describe examples of “engineering as social experimentation”

that you have seen in the engineering workplace!
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LECTURE 5: SAFETY AND RISK

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ENGINEER’S CONCERN FOR SAFETY
• We demand safe products ...but we have to pay

for safety (important for the public to know
this)
• What may be safe enough for you, may not be
for others
• Absolute safety in the senses of (a) entirely
risk-free activities and products, or (b) a degree
of safety that satisfies all individuals or groups
under all conditions, is neither attainable nor
affordable
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SAFETY…
• Safety, definitions:
– “A thing is safe if, were its risks fully known, those risks
would be judged acceptable by reasonable persons in light of
their settled value principles.”
– “A thing is safe (to a certain degree) with respect to a given
person or group at a given time if they are fully aware of its
risks and they judge those risks to be acceptable (to a certain
degree).” What is “degree”?
• Relative safety, examples:
– Safety for an engineering prototype vs. a released
product
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RISK…
• Definition: “A risk is the potential that

something unwanted and harmful may occur.”
• “Experimental” risks associated with
introducing new technology (“social
experimentation”) – Example?
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ACCEPTABILITY OF RISK
• Willingness to be subjected to risk:

– People don’t have as much of a problem with
subjecting themselves to risks
• Are risks on-the-job voluntary?– Could quit!
But is this always possible?
– If piece-work-based, will workers behave less
safely?
• Safety complaints from on-the-job should
always be listened to.
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MAGNITUDE AND PROXIMITY OF RISK
• What if personal connections with victims?

• What creates such changed perceptions?
– Proximity/magnitude - direct impact on you!
Example: airplane crash vs. car accident!
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
In some technologically advanced nations, a number of industries that have found

themselves restricted by safety regulations have resorted to dumping their
products on - or moving their production processes to-less-developed countries
where higher risks are tolerated. Examples are the dumping of unsafe or ineffective
drugs on Third World countries by pharmaceutical companies from highly
industrialized countries, and in the past the transfer of asbestos processing from
the United States to Mexico. More recently, toxic wastes—from lead-acid batteries
to nuclear wastes—have been added to the list of “exports.” To what extent do
differences in perception of risk justify the transfer of such merchandise and
production processes to other countries? Is this an activity that can or should be
regulated?
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DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS, RISK…
Principles:
– Absolute safety is not attainable
– Improvements in safety often cost $$
– Products that are not safe incur secondary
costs:
• Loss of customer goodwill and/or customers
• Warranty expenses
• Litigation
• Business failure? Loss of your professional
employees? Bad climate/hiring potential?
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DESIGN PRINCIPLE, RISK/TRADE -OFFS
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UNCERTAINTIES IN DESIGN…
• Examples:
– Uncertainties in materials (e.g., what
does the silver or gold band on a resistor
mean?). Supplier’s data based on
statistical averages?
What is the underlying probability density
function?
– Designs that do well under static loads
often do not do well under dynamic loads
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DESIGN PRINCIPLE:
SAFE IF C APABILITY EXCEEDS DUTY
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RISK-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
• Risk-Benefit Analysis
– Is a product worth the risks connected with its use?
– What are the benefits? To whom?
– Do they outweigh the risks? To whom? Environmental impact?
“Under what conditions, if any, is someone in society entitled to impose a risk
on someone else on behalf of a supposed benefit to yet others?”
• How do you place value in $$ on a human life?? Recall cost-benefit analysis.
Human rights/dignity/respect?
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SAFE-EXIT
- When a product fails, (1) it will fail safely, (2) the product can be abandoned safely,
or—at least—(3) the user can safely escape the product.
- Who will recognize the need for a safe exit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI2vBgeOC1A
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DISCUSSION QUESTION
For those of you who have had a job in engineering industry (or
laboratory):
– Have you encountered a moral dilemma or unethical practices with
respect to safety?
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LECTURE 6: CASE STUDIES FOR

THE DESIGN PROCESS

1
CONNECTING DESIGN TO PROFESSIONALISM…
It takes significant
competence,
experience, and a
broad perspective
to incorporate
safety and
environmental
impact into
design...
2
3
RESOLVING MORAL DILEMMAS…
1. Moral clarity
– Need to know something is wrong! Do not ignore problems!
– Loyalty to employer, responsibilities to public and
environment
(and complex relations between these)
2. Know the facts
– Get hard, documented facts, discuss with others
– Competence matters in gathering technical facts
3. Consider options
– Diversity of actions to take? Evaluate/discuss.
– Long-term, short-term perspectives, repercussions?
4. Make a reasonable decision
– Weigh all factors, recognize “gray areas”/compromises
– An engineering design problem? 4
5
C ASE STUDY: THE COST OF SAFETY…
Student: "I worked at a Power Company. Power distribution was my section. Guy
wires (wires that provide mechanical support of utility pole to earth) are often not
within clearance of energized conducts. New standards observe this clearance
requirement, but many unsafe constructions are in the public. It is just too
expensive to redesign and reconstruct utility poles…” What should student do?
Student: "I worked at the power company and saw instances where potentially
dangerous transformers were asked to be kept in service for money reasons.”
Engineer responsibilities? Diligence?
Student: “I worked for a power supply manufacturer. The units typically used 480
Volts up to 30 KVA. Shielding is obviously a very important safety issue. But we
could not seal up the units, so many warning labels had to be used to keep hands
out.” Innovative solutions? 6
C ASE STUDY: UNCERTAINTY IN ASSESSING SAFETY…
Student: "I was involved in the manufacturing of a polymer. The polymer was made
in continuous processes that involved a solvent, dimethyl acidamide (DMAC).The
company had set maximum levels for the concentration of DMAC in the work
environment, but no one was completely sure about the long term effects of
exposure to the solvent. The monitoring done by the company involved routine
medical examinations of employees, but no guarantees were offered to employees
for their personal safety. In compensation for their increased risk they were paid at
levels above average.”
What to do? Research safety? Balance professionalism with being a pest?
7
C ASE STUDY: DILIGENCE WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF
SAFETY PROCEDURES…
Student: "I was working for a company that manufactures TV tubes using PLC control. The
engineer responsible for programming and safety was not very concerned about implementing
enough safety measures. One day a worker stopped the machine to check the pipe that poured
the glass, and he was right underneath it. At the same time, another one who did not know about
this turned the machine on. The worker got burned and had to be hospitalized for three months.
I didn't say anything about it!” Engineer responsibilities? Demand compliance? Know facts? Apply
pressure?
Student: “While working at my internship I heard of units coming into the shop that contained
asbestos-based insulation. The sales engineer had difficulty relaying that information to the people
in the shop who were to "strip" the units. Because of this lack of communication the people who
stripped the units did not wear the proper safety equipment and were exposed to the asbestos.
This may not have occurred if more emphasis was put on internal communications and safety.”
What should student do?
8
C ASE STUDY: COMPETENCE/DILIGENCE…
Student: "When I co-oped at Company Y my supervisor asked me to do significant

corrections on a programmable logic controller (PLC) program that controls the
robots on a conveyor. At that time I did not have a lot of experience with PLCs. I
made some changes, but was not sure whether I did things correctly. So I asked the
supervisor to check it for me, but he did not have time. So he said "it is fine, I trust
you". Later on they found that I had disabled the main safety subroutine. Nothing
happened but it was possible that people would have been injured from the
mistake and some very expensive equipment (worth millions) could have been
damaged.”
How fast can you teach yourself? Does all this make you uneasy?
Press the boss? Hurt the engineer’s career? What is more important, advancement
or safety? 9
C ASE STUDY: AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS, SAFETY TESTING…
Charlie Long is an electrical engineer working for a major automobile company in the year 2001.
He works in the automatic sensors department, and his job is to design and test electronic
sensors for use in different parts of cars.
The latest version of the Lightning-Z100 was recently launched into the national market,
equipped with an electronic sensor crucial to an innovative safety feature of the vehicle. This
sensor was designed and tested by Charlie's department. The Lightning-Z100's major competitor
equipped its comparable model (the Bolt-Z100) with a somewhat similar sensor two years
before, and it apparently was effective in reducing the number of fatalities in head-on collisions.
Convinced that they could quickly come up with a design for an electronic sensor to match the
Bolt-Z100's, Charlie's department committed to preparing one in time for the 2001 Lightning-
Z100 model. Unfortunately, the design challenge proved to be more formidable than they
expected, and they fell behind schedule. At the same time, they were under pressure to have
something ready for the 2001 model. This, they were told by management and marketing
strategists, could be the key to competing successfully with the Bolt-Z100.
So, time was short, and Charlie's department could delay its recommendation no longer. Although
the prototype was not subjected to as rigorous testing as usual… 10
Charlie's department recommended a go-ahead. Charlie was uncomfortable with this decision.
He objected that more testing was needed on sensors that served an important safety function.
But he was overruled, and he pressed the issue no further.
Several months after the Lightning-Z100 was on the road, a disturbing set of data emerged. A
very high percentage of head-on collisions resulted in the death of passengers in the Lightning-
Z100, much higher than similar collisions involving the Bolt-Z100.
As Charlie thought about this, he realized that the problem could lie in the new electronic
sensor. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) decided to do a detailed
study of the Lightning-Z100. Although it could not determine the precise nature of the problem,
NHTSA found that, for some reason, the new electronic sensor was not functioning according to
the design. All the new Lightning-Z100's would have to be recalled as soon as possible in order to
avoid any more deaths from malfunctioning sensors.
Charlie reexamined the design. Suddenly he realized that there was a very specific design flaw. He
was not sure why this realization had come to him--it would not be obvious, even to experienced
electrical engineers. But there it was, staring him in the face. Further testing might have revealed
this earlier, but there had not been time for that. 11
Meanwhile, many expensive lawsuits were being pressed against Charlie's company. Called in to
testify in court, Charlie had a tough problem.
Should he reveal everything (his belief that the testing was inadequate and his recent discovery)
and cost the company a great deal of money? Or should he testify that he had been convinced
that the testing was adequate? Should he keep it to himself that he now knew that there was
something wrong with the design?
12
C ASE STUDY: HONESTY IN SPECIFIC ATIONS
Arthur is chief engineer in a components house. As such, he sits in meetings concerning bidding
on contracts. At one such meeting between top company executives, who are interested in
getting a major contract, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA presents
specifications for components that are to be several orders of magnitude more reliable than the
current state of the art. The components are not part of a life-support system, yet are critical for
the success of several planned experiments. Arthur does not believe such reliability can be
achieved by his company or any other, and he knows the executives feel the same. Nevertheless,
the executives indicate an interest to bid on the contract without questioning the specifications.
Arthur discusses the issue privately with the executives and recommends that they review the
seemingly technical impossibility with NASA and try to amend the contract. The executives say
that they intend, if they win the contract, to argue mid-stream for a change. They remind Arthur
that if they don't win the contract, several engineers in Arthur's division will have to be laid off.
Arthur is well-liked by his employees and fear the lay-offs would affect some close friendships.
What should Arthur do?

13
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Explain your position on what Arthur should do in the last case.
14
LECTURE 7: CASE STUDIES

(CONT.)

1
2
C ASE STUDY: THE FLAW IN THE INTEL PENTIUM CHIP
• In late 1994 media started reporting flaw in Intel’s pentium microprocessor

• It was the chip used in 80% of all personal computers in the world
• Flaws in the integrated circuits of microprocessors are not uncommon (most of these cannot be
detected by the user and do not affect operation)
• The 1994 flaw was different. It caused incorrect answers when performing double-precision
arithmetic (common operation, easily detectable)
• Intel response:
– Acknowledged error but said that defect was insignificant and the vast majority of users would
never even notice it
– Chip would be replaced for free only for users who could demonstrate that they needed an
unflawed version
• Users found this unsatisfactory
• IBM, a major pentium user, cancelled the sales of all computers using the chip
3
C ASE STUDY: THE FLAW IN THE INTEL PENTIUM CHIP
• After much negative press, and an outcry from Pentium users, Intel agreed to replace the faulty
microprocessor with an unflawed version for any customer who asked to have it replaced
• Note: Long before news of the flaw surfaced, Intel was aware of the problem and corrected it on
subsequent versions
• But, they continued to sell the flawed chip
• New Intel policy: Flawed chips should be replaced on request, regardless of how insignificant
the flaw Is
• Public relations problem, with ethical issues
• Questions:
– Should flaws always be revealed to customers?
– Is it an ethics problem only if safety is involved?
– What if they added a label “This product may contain unexpected flaws and might not operate
correctly under all conditions”. Does this solve the ethical problems for the company?
– How can an engineer be sure that there are no defects in a product? Testing! Before/after
product release
– If it is impossible to eliminate all defects in a product, what level of defects is acceptable?
– Does this depend on the type of product? 4
C ASE STUDY 1
Engineer A, an electrical engineer, worked for Dicers a company that purchased wafers for
microprocessor chips from another company and then reprocessed, packaged, and resold them.
Engineer A was assigned the task of testing the wafers. After a while, Engineer A was instructed
by his supervisor to alter the testing process, to which both parties had contractually agreed. The
testing process was altered, over Engineer A’s objections in such a manner that the quality of the
purchased wafers was made to seem lower, when in reality there is not reduction in the quality.
This lowered the price paid by Dicers to the other company. Engineer A objected to this practice
and refused to go along, and as a consequence was discharged.
Did Engineer A do the right thing?
5
C ASE STUDY 2
• Engineer A is an electrical engineer working in quality control at a computer chip plant.

Engineer A’s staff generally identifies defects in manufactured chips at a rate of 1 in 150. The
general industry practice is for defective chips to be repaired or destroyed. Engineer B, Engineer
A’s supervisor, recently announced that defective chips are to be destroyed, because it is more
expensive to repair a defective chip than it is to make a new chip. Engineer A proceeds on the
basis of Engineer B’s instructions. A few months later, Engineer B informs Engineer A that
Engineer A’s quality control staff is rejecting too many chips, which is having an effect on overall
plant output and ultimately company profitability. Engineer B advises Engineer A’s staff to allow
a higher percentage of chips to pass through quality control. Engineer B notes that in the end,
these issues can be best handled under the company’s warranty policy under which the company
agrees to replace defective chips based upon customer complaints. Engineer A has concerns as to
whether this approach is in the best interest of the company or its clients.
• Question: What are Engineer A’s ethical obligations under the circumstances?
6
C ASE STUDY 3
• Engineer A is a graduating senior with excellent credentials from State University. Engineer A
has had a series of job interviews with engineering companies from around the US. Following
interviews with several industrial companies, Engineer A decides to accept an offer with ABC
Incorporated located in his hometown of Townville, and plans to notify ABC the following week.
In the interim period, Engineer A receives a call from Engineer B, an executive with XYZ
Incorporated, a potential employer with whom Engineer A had interviewed. On behalf of XYZ,
Engineer B offers Engineer A a position with XYZ and invites Engineer A, at XYZ’s expense, to
visit XYZ’s headquarters in Mountainville, a city located near a resort area, following Engineer
A’s graduation. Engineer A had earlier decided that he would not accept a position at XYZ if
offered a position by ABC because Engineer A wanted to be close to family and friends in
Townville, and also because ABC provided better long-term professional opportunities. However,
after receiving the call from XYZ, Engineer A decides to accept the invitation to visit XYZ’s
headquarters and combine the trip with a post-graduation vacation, believing that the visit to XYZ
will broaden Engineer A’s knowledge of the employment market as well as future professional
opportunities with XYZ. A week after the trip, Engineer A calls ABC to inform the company that
he will accept the position with ABC.
• Question: Was it ethical for Engineer A to accept the invitation to visit XYZ headquarters? 7
C ASE STUDY 4
Derek Evans used to work for a small computer firm that specializes in developing software for
management tasks. Derek was a primary contributor in designing an innovative software system for
customer services. This software system is essentially the "lifeblood" of the firm. The small computer firm
never asked Derek to sign an agreement that software designed during his employment there becomes the
property of the company. However, his new employer did.
Derek is now working for a much larger computer firm. His job is in the customer service area, and he
spends most of his time on the telephone talking with customers having systems problems. This requires
him to crossreference large amounts of information. It now occurs to him that by making a few minor
alterations in the innovative software system he helped design at the small computer firm, cross-
referencing can be greatly simplified.
On Friday Derek decides he will come in early next Monday morning to make the adaptation. However, on
Saturday evening he attends a party with two of his old friends, you and Horace Jones. Not having seen
each other for some time, you talk about what you have been doing recently. Derek mentions his plan to
adapt the software system on Monday. Horace asks, "Isn't that unethical? That system is really the property
of your previous employer." "But," Derek replies, "I'm just trying to make my work more efficient. I'm not
selling the system to anyone, or anything like that. It's just for my use--and, after all, I did help design it.
Besides, it's not exactly the same system--I’ve made a few changes.“
8
C ASE STUDY 4
Derek installs the software on Monday morning. Soon everyone is impressed with his efficiency;
they ask about the "secret" of his success. Derek begins to realize that the software system might
well have company-wide adaptability. This does not go unnoticed by his superiors either, so he is
offered an opportunity to introduce the system in other parts of the company.
Now Derek recalls the conversation at the party, and he begins to wonder if Horace was right after
all. He suggests that his previous employer be contacted and that the more extended use of the
software system be negotiated with the small firm. His superiors firmly resist this suggestion.
They insist that the software system is now the property of the larger firm. Derek balks at the idea
of going ahead without talking with the smaller firm. If Derek does not want the new job, his
superiors reply, someone else can be invited to do it; in any case, the adaptation will be made.
Questions:
What should Derek do now?
Does Horace have any responsibility to alert the smaller firm about Derek's plans?
What if Horace is friends with people who work at the smaller firm?
What if you are?
9
C ASE STUDY 5
While working at a large information technology company over the past two summers, I have
been involved with the hard disk drive group of the semiconductor division. One of the products
that this group designs is the read channel chip. This chip communicates between the computer
and the disk. This is a very competitive area in the semiconductor business, because the demand
for computer performance has increased (and continues to increase) exponentially over the past
decade. One common practice that I have heard discussed more than once is to use reverse
engineering to see what the competitors are doing.
• This involves taking a microscopic picture of the chip as it is laid out in silicon, and try to work
backwards to the transistor and system levels. The accuracy and amount of information that can
be deduced varies, but it is certainly possible to obtain system level designs.
• Question: Is such reverse engineering of competitor’s products ethical? Explain?
10

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Ethics

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PE020IU Engineering Ethics and Professional Skills

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

1. M. W. Martin & E. Schinzinger, "Ethics in Engineering", McGraw Hill,

• Job experience? Give ideas…

Michael Davis defines professions as follows: “A profession is a number of individuals

Engineering ethics consists of the responsibilities and rights that ought

What is the micro issue of SUV?

*SUV: sport utility vehicles (car)

LECTURE 2: ETHICAL DILEMMAS,

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

A chemical engineer working in the environmental division of a computer

Engineer A is employed by a software company and is involved in the design of specialized

Should Engineer A design the software to meet the new

Case: An inspector discovers faulty construction equipment and applies a violation

Why are codes important?

Code of Ethics for Engineers

1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

How to assess impact on human safety, health, and “welfare”?

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our

LECTURE 3: MORAL FRAMEWORKS

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

- It illuminates connections between

❑ 5 types of ethical theories:

– Utilitarianism says the sole standard of right action is good

Americans are sometimes criticized for being too individualistic, and in

Engineer A is employed by a software company and is involved in the design of specialized

Self-realization ethics, however, gives greater prominence to self-interest

The community-oriented version of self-realization ethics says that each

“The ‘individual’ apart from the community is an abstraction. It is not anything

• Ethical egoism is a more individualistic version of self-realization ethics that says

There is four arguments for psychological egoism!

• Argument 1. We always act on our own desires; therefore, we always and

Discuss what morality requires and then what self-interest requires. Is

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

Example:Titanic (1522 dead)! Affected ship design...

Engineering product design steps:

Projects carried out in partial ignorance, outcomes are uncertain

• Product history matters! Respect the past!

We redesign using the public to test our products!

Research the collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis on

1. Conscientiousness: Protect safety knowledge, respect right of consent of public

• Engineers are not the sole experimenters

“Rules of responsible experimentation:”

• Not covering engineering law here

• Student: “I was involved in designing and testing network communication

Student: “A turbidity meter was used to monitor if contaminants were

Can/should the engineer do anything?

Should an engineering professional be a “minimalist”? Role of tests?

Is this cost, worth getting it right?

• Student: Welders built for an alpha run of production were sent to a

A proper approach to design?

Engineer A is employed by a software company and is involved in the design of specialized

Describe examples of “engineering as social experimentation”

LECTURE 5: SAFETY AND RISK

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung

• We demand safe products ...but we have to pay

• Definition: “A risk is the potential that

• Willingness to be subjected to risk:

• What if personal connections with victims?

Example: airplane crash vs. car accident!

In some technologically advanced nations, a number of industries that have found

LECTURE 6: CASE STUDIES FOR

Instructor: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung