Engineering and

Professionalism
By
M Bilal Zahid
Thanks to: Mr. Usman Ilyas
UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
LAHORE
• Engineering does not completely
qualify to be considered as a profession
when viewed from ‘sociological’ or
‘social practice’ perspective. Engineering as a
Profession
• From Davis’ explanation, however,
engineering fully qualifies for
professional status.
 • Looking at the sociological or economic analysis of professionals,
engineering seems to qualify only as a borderline profession.
Engineers have extensive training and possess knowledge and skills
that are vital to the public.
• However, engineers do not have anything like complete control of
engineering services, because a license is not required to practice
many types of engineering. Because they do not have to have a
license to practice, a claim by engineers to be regulated by ethical
Engineering standards can be questioned. Only licensed engineers are governed by
a compulsory code of ethics.
Profession by • Finally, engineers who work in large organizations and are subject to
Sociologist the authority of managers and employers may have limited
autonomy.
• However, even doctors and lawyers often work in large organizations
nowadays. Given that engineers are highly trained and perform
services that are vital to the public, that some engineers are registered
and thus work under a legally enforced ethical code, and that
autonomy in the workplace may be declining for all professionals,
engineering qualifies for at least quasi-professional status by the
sociological account.
 Engineering as a Profession by Davis
• In contrast to the other two accounts of professionalism, Davis’
definition allows engineering full professional status. Engineering
is a group activity, which openly professes special knowledge, skill,
and judgment. It is the occupation by which most engineers earn
their living, and it is entered into voluntarily. Engineering serves a
morally good end, namely the production of technology for the
benefit of mankind, and there is no reason why morally
permissible means to that end cannot be used. Finally,
engineers have special obligations, including
protecting the health and safety of the public,
as this is affected by technology.
The Business Model
• Primarily motivated by self-interest
• Oriented toward making a profit within boundaries set
by law
• Professionals would protect themselves from
government regulations, seek more control and
autonomy
Two Models of
Difference between professional and Sales Occupation. Professionalism

• Professional seek profit by selling their Expertise

• Sales person seek profit by selling physical Products.

Ultimate Goal is Same Selling something to gain profit

The Professional Model
• Motivated by genuine ethical commitment
• Implicit trust relationship with the public.
• Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of
the public
• Professionals agree to change themselves for the Two Models of
good of the public
Professionalism
• Professionals may seek monopoly but in order to
protect public from incompetent providers
• Professional also enjoys some advantages like high
social standing, better than average income,
considerable autonomy.
 ROLES PERSONAL ROLE
• Professionals can improve the quality of their
• Personal Role and others’ lives by being conscious of the
• Professional professional spirit. The personal role is also
important for their professional image. The
Role expectations from the two roles may be
• Social Role different but the underlying spirit in playing
• Ethical Role those roles should be the same. (Well being)
• Model Human
PROFESSIONAL ROLE
Role
• This could be in terms of one’s responsibilities
as a professional or in terms of the different
roles one plays in the practice of profession,
such as a leader, a colleague, a subordinate,
and many others.
 ROLES SOCIAL ROLE
• A professional is not only a member of his/her
• Personal Role professional association but also lives in a community
and hence is also a member of a society and community.
• Professional The professional must play his/her role as a member of
Role the community. Social roles include interacting with
other members of the community, contributing to the
• Social Role welfare of the community in which he/she lives, and also
• Ethical Role solving the problems of the community if they are
related to his/her chosen profession.
• Model Human
Role ETHICAL ROLE
• Many ethical issues not related to the profession arise in
everyday life. A professional must promote ethical
behavior among the people or community in which
he/she lives. He / She has a greater responsibility as
he/she enjoys a higher status in society due to his/her
education, special training, and higher rewards earned.
 ROLES
• Personal Role MODEL HUMAN ROLE
• Professional • In order to effectively play the aforementioned
Role roles, a professional has to play the role of a
• Social Role model human being. Professionals are not
• Ethical Role icons or heroes. Very few, such as a world class
surgeon, a brilliant lawyer, or a renowned
• Model Human engineer, get to be in the limelight. Still, in the
Role small world means society surrounding
oneself, one must behave with standards that
will show him/her as a model human being.​
 Professional risks or hazards are a part of
professional life. Sometimes the outcome may
not be very serious, but sometimes, it can be.
However, if the risk arises because of
PROFESSIONAL unprofessional conduct, the professional is to be
RISKS blamed. One has to follow the path of honesty
and integrity and leave the rest to destiny.

High expectations from the professional can be

one reason for such risks.
 • The word accountable can be defined as being
responsible for one’s own decisions or actions
and being able to justify them when asked.
• Accountability is greater in the case of
PROFESSIONAL professionals because they enjoy autonomy in
ACCOUNTABILITY actions and decision-making. Their right (or
responsibility) of independent judgment entails
accountability. The freedom you enjoy in taking
decisions and executing actions comes with a
price. The more freedom you have, the more
accountable you have to be.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS

He / She dedicates his/her knowledge

and skills to the service of the society.
PROFESSIONAL
He / She keeps professional SUCCESS
responsibilities above his/her self-
interests.
He / She has earned enough in terms
of money and respect in practicing the
profession.
 Good to have ambitions in life and belief that one
can achieve anything.

Keep ambitions at a level so that success can be

achieved to some extent.

AMBITIONS Very high ambitions can lead to frustration.

Develop a positive attitude

Ambitions can be realized only through hard

work
 Make your own value system and understand it
well. The important point about values is that you
have found it out yourself and you own it and
follow it. The ideas, constructs, or beliefs that you
hold dear to your heart must be well organized in
your mind.

ETHICS &
Develop a positive attitude. Failures in life should
PROFESSION not destabilize you. Learn from mistakes, and
firmly believe that there is light at the end of the
tunnel.

Develop a high emotional intelligence score. This

will help you understand others better and work
together with colleagues, superiors, and
subordinates.
 Know your professional association, its objectives,
and code of conduct well. This will help you behave
ethically and take the right decisions and actions.
Ethics is not just a personal matter. This has to be in
tune with the accepted norms of the organization,
ETHICS & society, and government regulations.
PROFESSION Make your own standards of success. Success
should not be evaluated in terms of the salary you
earn or the material wealth you create for yourself.
When you behave ethically, you develop moral
strength. This will stand by you in difficult times, and
you can easily get over such difficult times.
 Take pride in being part of the profession

Make efforts to enhance the image of the

profession
IMAGE OF Good work and ethical behavior do not
PROFESSION generally get highlighted and accept it.

High quality of work and ethical functioning

enhances the image of the profession.
Thanks