Thinking Like an Engineer:

The Place of a Code of Ethics

in the Practice of a
Profession
Michael Davis Article

PowerPoint Lecture Prepared by

Christy Moore
The Challenger disaster is the
foundation of the discussion.

(Davis, 1991),
(www.ccastronomy.org/
The Challenger disaster is the
foundation of the discussion.
Robert Lund (VP for Engineering at
Morton Thiokol)
Recommends against the
launch
Because of faulty O-rings

Jerald Mason (Lunds boss)

Asks him to reconsider
Asks him to think like a
manager, not an engineer

(Davis, 1991), image:

(www.enforcer31.com/
Lund changes his recommendation

(Davis, 1991),
(www.aerospaceweb.org/.
The shuttle crashes seconds after take-off

(Davis, 1991), (www.space-

shuttle.com/ challeng.htm)
Challenger Astronauts lost during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986
(Top Row, L to R: Ellison Onizuka, Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judy
Resnick. Bottom Row, L to R: Pilot Michael Smith, Cmdr. Dick Scobee, Ron McNair)
(Davis, 1991), image
(grin.hq.nasa.gov/
Davis asks us to consider several
questions.
1. Whats the difference between thinking like
a manager and thinking like an engineer?
2. Why do we have codes of ethics?
3. Why obey ones code of ethics?
4. Why isnt conscience enough?

What does Davis say?

Other ideas?
(Davis, 1991)
Whats the difference in thinking like a
manager and thinking like an engineer?

hilton.org.uk/ obc.phtml?c=hostels www.narowing.org/ photoalbum/Speakmon2003.htm

(Davis, 1991)
Whats the difference in thinking like a
manager and thinking like an engineer?

Managers, it might be said, are trained to

handle people; engineers, to handle things.
To think like a manager rather than an
engineer is to focus on people rather than
on things.

(Davis, 1991)
What is thinking like an engineer?

to use ones technical knowledge of

things

Asking Lund to think like a manager was

asking him to ignore his technical
knowledge.

(Davis, 1991)
 Why do we have codes of
ethics?
a convention between professionals
a guide to what engineers may
reasonably expect of one another
a guide to what engineers may expect
other members of to profession to help
each other do

(Davis, 1991)
 Why obey ones code?
Protects professionals from certain pressures
Such as cutting corners
By making it more likely that good conduct will not
be punished

Protects professionals from certain

consequences of competition

Legitimizes the profession

(Davis, 1991)
 National Society of Professional
Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics
. Fundamental Canons

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

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.

(More extensive Rules of Practice follow in the Code)

http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-code.asp
(Davis, 1991)
 ABET Code of Ethics of Engineers
The Fundamental Canons

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of

the public in the performance of their professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their
competence.
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or
client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of
interest.
5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of
their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the
honor, integrity, and dignity of the profession.
7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout
their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional
development of those engineers under their supervision.
 What is the paramountcy
principle?
NSPE Code of Ethics
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional
duties, shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of
the public.

ABET Code of Ethics for Engineers

1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health
and welfare of the public in the performance of their
professional duties.
15
Professional Codes of Ethics
National Society of Professional
Engineers (NSPE)

Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

Institute of Electrical and Electronic

Engineers (IEEE)

American Society of Mechanical

Engineers (ASME)
(Davis, 1991)
Why isnt conscience enough?
What would it be like to be an engineer if
engineers did not generally hold paramount
the safety, health, and welfare of the public?
What if the client or employer would benefit
from ignoring the code?
What are some situations in which the
engineers interests as an engineer conflict
with his/her interests as a person?

(Davis, 1991)
 What if Lund had insisted on
cancelling the launch?
Would he have been a hero?

What would have been the

repercussions of his decision?

(Davis, 1991)
 Do engineers professional
responsibilities go beyond the code?

Davis says Yes.

In addition to following the code
themselves, [e]ngineers should
[encourage] others to do as [the code]
requires and by criticizing,
ostracizing, or otherwise calling to
account those who do not.

(Davis, 1991)
Additional comments?

(Davis, 1991)
 What is the moral principle of
Daviss argument?

Fairness
Since Lund voluntarily accepts the
benefits of being an engineer, he is
morally obliged to follow the convention
that helps to make those benefits
possible.
(Davis, 1991)
 What were Lunds two ethical
options?
To either refuse to authorize the
launch
To insist that the astronauts be briefed
in order to get their informed consent

(Davis, 1991)