Nature and role of professional societies

What is the role of the engineer to Society?

⮚ Do we need them?

⮚ Why not scientists?

⮚ Are engineers professionals?

⮚ Is there a relationship between the society and the

engineer?

⮚ Is society better from engineering?

 Let’s examine the relationship

⮚ “Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been”
(Theodore Von Karman)
⮚ “Engineering is the application of science to the common purpose of life” (Count
Rumford)
⮚ The main focus of the scientist is to develop knowledge and understanding of the
physical universe.
⮚ Science is the pursuit of knowledge in its purest sense without any concern to the needs
of society, whereas engineering is the combination of both.
 What then is engineering?

⮚ The central focus of the engineering profession is

the application of scientific knowledge to meet
societal needs.
⮚ Engineering connects pure science to society
⮚ Engineering therefore has a social responsibility
 What does “having” social responsibilities mean?

⮚ It means a commitment from the engineering profession to place the public safety and interest
ahead of all other considerations.
⮚ It means that engineers take into account and show due regard for the consequences of their
conduct for the well- being of others as well as for the impact of their work on society and the
citizenry.
⮚ This requires the engineer to make determined efforts to discover all of the relevant facts
concerning the design, development, and deployment and all of the possible outcomes of the
choices available that may positively and negatively affect/impact society and the citizenry

5
 Social responsibilities of Engineers ( Some
Examples…)
⮚ Refusing to work on a particular project or for a particular company
⮚ Speaking out publicly against a proposed project
⮚ Blowing the whistle on illegality or wrong-doing
⮚ Professional Societies’ obligation to provide protection for whistleblowers
⮚ Individual and organizational concern about the impact of engineering projects on society
⮚ Contributing one’s services to worthy, non-profit groups and projects
⮚ Engineering schools’ commitment to educating future engineers about their social
responsibilities

6
 Social responsibilities of Engineers ( Some
Examples)
⮚ Commitment of engineers to design and develop sustainable technologies
⮚ Provide expert advice to non-experts
⮚ Explicit care and concern about technology’s impact on Nature and the Environment
⮚ Abiding by the principles of sustainable development when thinking about engineering designs
⮚ In engineering design, engineers have practiced social responsibility by applying factors of safety to
their designs and by building in redundancy

7
 Engineering is not a stationary profession…

⮚ The 21st century will be defined by some of the huge challenges now facing humanity.
⮚ These are energy and food security, competition and scarcity of natural resources,
and climate change.
⮚ This year’s engineering graduates will face these issues throughout their working
careers.
⮚ The demand for engineering skills is likely to be higher than ever before in order to
deliver sustainable engineering systems, low-carbon energy technologies, and robust
physical infrastructure to protect against geophysical hazards such as sea-level rise
and extreme meteorological events
 Engineering Social Responsibility

Why do engineers have the responsibility to think about the interaction of

technology and society?

Answer:
Because engineers are the ones who create all of the technology and
responsible moral beings are supposed to think about the effects of
their own actions and creations especially if they impact others.

9
 Engineering and Society

⮚ “Engineering is a great profession. There is a fascination of watching a figment

of the imagination emerge, through the aid of science, to a plan on paper.
⮚ Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy.
⮚ Then it brings jobs home to men. Then it elevates the standards of living and
adds to the comfort of life.
⮚ That is the engineer's high privilege….To the engineer falls the job of clothing
the bare bones of science with life, comfort, and hope…”
--Herbert Hoover
(US mining engineer & 3ist President of the US) (1874
- 1964) 1
 Define Engineering

“ Scientist discovers that which exists. An engineer creates that

which never was”
Theodore von Karman (1881-1963)

1
 Nature and role of professional societies

Professional Responsibilities

Few of the important responsibilities that engineers have:

⮚ Confidentiality and Proprietary Information
⮚ Conflict of Interest
⮚ Competitive Bidding

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Professional Responsibilities Cont..

What is Confidentiality ?

⮚ When the word confidential is added to any information, it means that it should

not be shared with one and all.
⮚ It is mostly a trade secret.
⮚ Maintaining confidentiality and avoiding harmful conflicts of interest are
especially important aspects of teamwork and trustworthiness.

Source: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/engineering_ethics/engineering_ethics_confidentiality.html
 Professional Responsibilities Cont..

What is Proprietary Information ?

⮚ Proprietary information, also known as a trade secret.

⮚ Information a company wishes to keep confidential. 
⮚ Proprietary information can include secret formulas, processes, and methods
used in production.

Source: https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/proprietary-information.html
 Professional Responsibilities Cont..

Difference between Confidentiality and Proprietary Information

⮚ As adjectives the difference between confidential and proprietary.

⮚ Is that confidential is (meant to be) kept secret within a certain circle of
persons; not intended to be known publicly.
⮚ Proprietary is relating to property or ownership, as proprietary rights .

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
Professional Responsibilities Cont..

Understanding Proprietary Information

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
 Confidentiality and Proprietary Information

Hallmark of the profession

⮚ Requirement that members of the profession keep certain information of their
client secret or confidential
⮚ Confidentiality : Mentioned in engineering codes of ethics
i. Why must some engineering information be kept confidential?
⮚ Most information about how a business is run, its products and its suppliers,
directly affects the company’s ability to compete in the marketplace

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Confidentiality and Proprietary Information
Contd..

⮚ Such information can be used by a competitor to gain advantage or to catch up

⮚ It is in the company’s (and the employee’s) best interest to keep such
information confidential to the extent possible
ii. What types of information should be kept confidential?
⮚ Test Results and Data, Information about upcoming unreleased products, and
designs or formulas for products

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Contd.

⮚ Business information such as the number of employees working on a project, the

identity of suppliers, marketing strategies, production costs, and production yields
⮚ Most companies have strict policies regarding the disclosure of business
information and require that all employees sign them
⮚ Frequently, internal company communications will be labelled as “proprietary.”
⮚ Engineers working for a client are frequently required to sign a nondisclosure
agreement

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Confidentiality and Proprietary Information
Contd..
⮚ It seems fairly straightforward for engineers to keep information confidential
⮚ It is obvious what should be kept confidential and from whom it should be kept
⮚ An engineer is required to keep information confidential even after moving to a
new employer in the same technical area
⮚ Companies have the right to keep information away from their competitors

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
CONFLICT OF INTEREST, COMPETITIVE BIDDING, WHISTLE-BLOWING
 Conflict of Interest

⮚ Professional conflicts of interest are situations where professionals have an interest

that, if pursued, might keep them from meeting their obligations to their employers
or clients.
⮚ Our definition of conflicts of interest by saying that they typically arise when two
conditions are met:
(1) The professional is in a relationship or role that requires exercising good judgment
on behalf of the interests of an employer or client,
(2) the professional has some additional or side interest that could threaten good
judgment in serving the interests of the employer or client

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Conflict of Interest

Examples of a conflict of interest may include:

⮚ influencing the recruitment, selection, appointment or promotion of employees
⮚ impinging on employment related decisions where one employee is in a supervisory
relationship to another.

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Conflict of Interest

Three types of conflicts of interest

I. Actual conflict of interest:
⮚ There is a real conflict between an employee or director’s public duties and private
interests.
II. Potential conflict of interest:
⮚ An employee or director has private interests that could conflict with their public
duties.
III. Perceived conflict of interest:
⮚ The public or a third party could form the view that an employee or director’s
private interests could improperly influence their decisions or actions, now or in
the future.

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Conflict of Interest Contd..

How do you avoid Conflict of Interests?

⮚ A good way to avoid conflicts of interest is to follow the

guidance of the company policy

⮚ In the absence of a policy, asking a coworker or your manager will give a

second opinion

⮚ In the absence of either of these options, it is best to examine the motives and

use ethical problem-solving techniques

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Competitive Bidding

⮚ Codes of ethics of the engineering societies included a prohibition on

competitive bidding for engineering services

⮚ Reasons for prohibition of Competitive Bidding

i. Bidding was considered to be undignified
ii. Competitive biddingwould lead to price being the most significant
basis for awarding engineering contracts Engineers may cut corners on design
work and ultimately undermine their duty to protect the public welfare &
Safety

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Competitive Bidding Contd..
In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that professional societies may no longer
prohibit competitive bidding
⮚ This ruling was based on the Sherman Anti-trust Act of 1890 and held that banning
bidding was an unfair restraint on free trade
⮚ Ethical issues related to competitive bidding
i. Can lead to temptations such as submitting an unrealistically low bid in order
to secure work
ii. Overstating of qualifications to secure work

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Competitive Bidding Contd..

iii. Making negative and disparaging comments about potential

other bidders
iv. Attempting to subvert the bidding process through back
channel contacts

⮚ The competitive bidding process creates ethical concerns from

the perspective of an engineer’s prospective clients

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Competitive Bidding Contd..

Example
⮚ How does a potential client effectively weigh the relative importance of
cost, the qualifications of the engineer, and the proposed approach in
determining which engineer wins the job?
⮚ How does the potential client ensure that the decision process is fair,
especially since it is easy to skew the results?

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 WHISTLE-BLOWING
⮚ Increased attention paid in the last 30 years to whistle-blowing, both in government and
in private industry
⮚ Whistle-blowing : act by an employee of informing the public or higher management of
unethical or illegal behavior by an employer or supervisor

⮚ Engineers have a duty to protect the health and safety of the public

⮚ An Engineer is compelled to blow the whistle on acts or projects that harm these

values

⮚ Engineers also have the professional right to disclose wrongdoing within their

organizations and expect to see appropriate action taken

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 WHISTLE-BLOWING
The definition has four main parts.

1. Disclosure: Information is intentionally conveyed outside approved organizational

(workplace) channels

2. Topic: The information concerns what the person believes is a significant moral problem
for the organization .

Examples of significant problems are serious threats to public or employee safety and
injustices to workers within the organization.

3. Agent: The person disclosing the information is an employee or former employee, or

someone else closely associated with the organization

4. Recipient: The information is conveyed to a person or organization that is in a position

to act on the problem

Example, to telling it to a family member or friend who is in no position to do anything.

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
Whistle-Blowing Types
a) Internal Whistle-Blowing
b) External Whistle-Blowing
c) Acknowledged Whistle-Blowing
d) Anonymous Whistle-Blowing

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
a) Internal Whistle-Blowing
⮚ Occurs when an employee goes over the head of an immediate supervisor to
report a problem to a higher level of management
⮚ All levels of management are bypassed, and the employee goes directly to the
president of the company or the board of directors
⮚ Note: whistle-blowing is kept within the company or organization

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
b)External Whistle-Blowing

⮚ Occurs when the employee goes outside the company and reports
wrongdoing to newspapers or law-enforcement authorities
⮚ Either type of whistle-blowing is likely to be perceived as disloyalty

⮚ However keeping it within the company is often seen as less serious than

going outside of the company

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
c)Acknowledged Whistle-Blowing
⮚ Occurs when the employee puts his name behind the accusations and is willing
to withstand the scrutiny brought on by his accusations
d)Anonymous Whistle-Blowing

⮚ Occurs when the employee who is blowing the whistle refuses to divulge his

name when making accusations

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
Example
⮚ Anonymous memos to upper management

⮚ Anonymous phone calls to the police

⮚ Employee might also talk to the news media but refuse to let her name be
used as the source of the allegations of wrongdoing
⮚ Whistle-blowing can be very bad from a corporation’s point of view because it can
lead to distrust, disharmony, and an inability of employees to work together
⮚ In business, whistle-blowing is perceived as an act of extreme disloyalty to the
company and to coworkers

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…

When to Attempt Whistle-Blowing?

Whistle-blowing should only be attempted if the following four conditions are
met
a) Need
⮚There must be a clear and important avoided by blowing the whistle
⮚You don’t need to blow the whistle about everything just the important things.

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
b)Proximity
⮚ The whistle-blower must be in a very clear position to report on the Problem
⮚ Hearsay is not adequate

⮚ Firsthand knowledge is essential to making an effective case about wrongdoing

⮚ This point also implies that the whistleblower must have enough expertise in
the area to make a realistic assessment of the situation
c)Capability
⮚ The whistle-blower must have a reasonable chance of success in stopping the
harmful activity
⮚ Do not risk your career and financial security of your family

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
d)Last Resort
⮚ Whistle-blowing should be attempted only if there is no one else more
capable or more proximate to blow the whistle
⮚ When all other lines of action within the context of the
organization have been explored and shut off
These four conditions tell us when whistle-blowing is morally acceptable.

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
When is an engineer morally obligated to blow the whistle?

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
When is an engineer morally obligated to blow the whistle?
⮚ Whistle may be blown if the matter is sufficiently important
⮚ Obligated to blow the whistle when there is great imminent danger of harm to someone
if the activity continues
⮚ It is acceptable to blow the whistle to protect the public interest, but not to exact revenge
upon fellow employees, supervisors, or your company

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
 Whistle-Blowing Contd…
Preventing Whistle-Blowing
⮚ A typical corporate approach to stemming whistle-blowing and the resulting
bad publicity is to fire whistle-blowers and to intimidate others who might
seem likely to blow the whistle
⮚ This type of approach is both ineffective and ethically unacceptable
⮚ No one should be made to feel bad about trying to stop ethically questionable
activities

Source: Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico, 1999
Whistle-Blowing Contd…
Four Ways to Prevent Whistle-Blowing
i. There must be a strong corporate ethics culture

⮚ All managers must set the tone for the ethical behavior of their employees

ii. There should be clear lines of communication within the corporation

⮚ This openness gives an employee who feels thatthere is something
that must be fixed a clear path to air his concerns

ii. All employees must have meaningful access to high-level managers in order

to bring their concerns forward

⮚ This access must come with a guarantee that there will be no retaliation
iv. There should be willingness on the part of management to admit mistakes, publicly if
necessary
⮚ This attitude will set the stage for ethical behavior by all employees
Nature and role of software engineering standard: Engineering standard,
the standard of care, design standard, range of standard of practice.
Objective of Software engineering Standards

⮚Standards, codes, specifications are extremely important - often essential -

technical documents in engineering and related technical fields.
⮚STANDARDS: a technical standard is an established norm or requirement. It is
usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical
criteria, methods, processes and practices. 
Objective of Software engineering Standards

⮚To provide a guide on how to achieve software process improvement through

the use of software and systems engineering standards.
⮚To give an understanding of what standards are and what they can deliver.
⮚To examine the standardisation process and issues arising from the control and
evolution of standards.
⮚To show how standards can be selected and tailored.
 Software Engineering Standards Committee – SESC Vision

⮚The leading supplier and promoter of a family of software engineering

standards and related products and services
IEEE

IEEE IEEE
Computer Society Standards Board
SESC in the IEEE Structure
Software Engineering Standards Committee

Executive Committee
& Management
Board

Working Group Study Group Planning Group Conferences

What is engineering Standards?

⮚It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or

technical criteria, methods, processes and practices.
⮚The documents prepared by a professional group or committee which are
believed to be good and proper engineering practices and which contain
mandatory requirement.
Why engineering Standards important?

⮚By applying standards, organizations can help to ensure that their products

and services are consistent, compatible, safe and effective.
⮚Today, products are assembled from components made in different countries,
and are then sold around the world, so standards are more important than ever.
What are Standards?

⮚“ Standards are documented agreements containing technical specifications

or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or
definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and
services are fit for their purpose.” [ISO 1997]
⮚Standards are about providing rules, guidelines and heuristics which, if
followed, deliver an assurance of “good practice” - they are not intended to be
about “best practice”
⮚The Engineering and Science Library provides access to standards of CSA,
CGSB, ASTM, IEEE and other organizations. 
What is the standard of care for engineers?
⮚General definition of the standard of care, engineers are compared to a
reasonable engineer from the same or similar location in establishing
reasonable acts this principle is commonly referred to as the locality rule.
⮚The exact definition of the locality rule varies from state to state
⮚Often, standards of care are established at the national level so that care will
be the same regardless of the venue.
⮚However, states and local areas may also establish their own set of standards
of care.
What does professional standard of care mean?
⮚Ethical or legal duty of a professional to exercise the level of care, diligence,
and skill prescribed in the code of practice of his or her profession
⮚Other professionals in the same discipline would in the same or similar
circumstances.
Example of standard of care
⮚The term “standard of care” refers to the reasonable degree of care a person
should provide to another person, typically in a professional or medical setting.
⮚For example, standard of care in the case of a cancer patient could include a
recommendation of chemotherapy or surgery.
Duty of Care
Design Standard

⮚ A professional designer adheres to principles of integrity that demonstrate

respect for the profession, for colleagues, for clients, for audiences or
consumers, and for society as a whole.
1. The designer's responsibility to clients
⮚ A professional designer shall acquaint himself or herself with a client's
business and design standards and shall act in the client's best interest
within the limits of professional responsibility.
Design Standard Cont..
2. The designer's responsibility to other designers
⮚Designers in pursuit of business opportunities should support fair and open
competition.
3. Fees
⮚ A professional designer shall work only for a fee, a royalty, salary or other
agreed-upon form of compensation.
4. Publicity
⮚ It must be fair both to clients and other designers.
5. The designer's responsibility to the public
⮚ A professional designer shall avoid projects that will result in harm to the
public.
Ethical Principles and Standards of Practice Supporting These
Principles
Integrity
⮚Professional is honest, diligent, and accountable in the provision of service.
Loyalty and Responsibility
⮚Professional maintains confidentiality, avoids conflicts of interest, and always
pursues the best interest of clients. 
Promoting Benefit and Avoiding Harm 
⮚Professional promotes clients’ interests, values, and welfare in order to
maximize benefits and avoid harm.
Ethical Principles and Standards of Practice Supporting These
Principles
Respect for Clients’ Rights and Dignity
⮚Professional respects the rights of each client, including the right to privacy,
and, for the vulnerable client, strives to balance client autonomy with the need
for protection and safety. 
Justice
⮚Professional does not promote or sanction any form of discrimination such as
discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation,
national origin, disability, or socioeconomic status. 
 Professional Ethics

“Professional Ethics examines the

Moral and Ethical Issues that arise in a
corporate environment”
 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”

“Study of the decisions, policies, and values that are morally

desirable in engineering practice and Research”
Thank You