20EC6910- PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

UNIT 1 -INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Prepared by,
Mrs.R.BHAVANI M.E..,MBA
AP/ECE/KRCT
 SYLLABUS

Moral and Values Occupation – Profession - Ethics in Engineering

- core values, Hollow values - Work Ethics – Styles of Ethics -
Service Learning, components, reflections, evaluation and its
assessment–Civic Virtue - Respect for Others in Engineering Work
Place - Living Peacefully – Caring and Sharing in Engineering
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gyzwZvVy_e0
1.1 MORAL AND VALUES
Morals refer to a set of rules defining what is considered to be right or
wrong and accepted without questions

Values, on the other hand, provide direction in the determination of right

versus wrong or good versus bad.
Ethics refers to the “moral character of an individual”.

The Greeks believed that it includes an emphasis on an individual’s

character as well as national character of a citizen as a
component of a greater community.
 Morals Ethics

Derived from Latin

Derived from the Greek word, ethos,
word moralis, meaning “traditional
meaning moral character
customs”

Typically associated with personal Typically refers to professional

behavior practices and behavior

Customs or manners practiced in any Conveys sense of

given community or culture stability/permanence

May be different from culture to

An absolute standard of behaviour
culture

May change as acceptable social Standard is universal and immutable

behaviour in the culture changes (not subject to change)
WHY SHOULD HUMAN BEINGS BE MORAL?
Argument from Enlightened Self-Interest:
self-interest is the sole basis of ethical egoism

Argument from Tradition and Law:

respect for the human thought and effort that has gone into
establishing such laws and traditions and transferring them across
generations over the years.
1.2 OCCUPATION-PROFESSION
Occupation is an activity undertaken by the person to earn his
livelihood. It can be business, profession or employment that a
person undertakes to make money.

Profession is an activity that requires specialised training, knowledge,

qualification and skills.
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OCCUPATION AND
PROFESSION

 An activity performed by a person normally for monetary

compensation -Occupation.

 Profession refers to vocation, in which high degree of education or

skills is required.

 The profession has a code of conduct.

 Occupation does not require any sort of training in a particular field

 In general, the profession is regulated by a particular or

professional body statute while an occupation is not.

 A person doing occupation get paid for what he produces, whereas

a profession gets paid according to his knowledge and expertise.
 The profession is also an occupation when the person is paid for
utilizing his skills and expertise.

 A professional is independent.

 There are some responsibilities which are associated with the

profession.

 The basic pay in the profession -higher than in occupation.

 The professionals are respected -high status in the society

1.3 PROFESSIONALISM

10 Characteristics of Professionalism
 Dress for Success
 Confident, Not Cocky
 Do What You Say You Will Do
 Be an Expert in Your Field
 Behave Morally and Ethically
 Maintain Your Poise
 Have Good Phone Etiquette
 Strike the Right Tone
 Be Structured and Organized
 Own Up to Mistakes
Ethics in Engineering
CONCEPT OF ETHICS
 Ethics is the study of what is right or wrong in human
conduct. This is a branch of Philosophy which studies
moral principles. Hence, Ethics is also known as Moral
Philosophy.

 Many people use the words Ethics and Morality

interchangeably. However, there is a difference between
Ethics and Morals.

 To put it in simple terms, Ethics = Morals + Reasoning.

ETHICS AND MORALS – AN ANALOGY WITH A CAR
DRIVER AND AN AUTOMOBILE ENGINEER
NEED FOR ETHICS IN ENGINEERING

“Engineering ethics is the field of system of moral

principles that apply to the practice of engineering.
The field examines and sets the obligations by
engineers to society, to their clients, and to the
profession.”
WHY ETHICS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR
ENGINEERS?

 Engineers are now an integral part of how the world

functions on a minute-to-minute level.
 They build the computers that hold data about our
schools, hospitals, and governments.
 They build the security that keeps that data safe from
hackers. They build the systems that guide our planes,
that schedule our trains, that keep us safe from harm.
 This is an important undertaking, and because of the
profound impact it has on human society, one that
should be approached with ethics in mind.
CORE VALUES, HOLLOW VALUES AND ITS IMPACT
 Core values, also referred to as “values statements”
(not to be confused with a “value statement” or “value
proposition”) are a short list of concise, actionable
values that should aim to capture the priorities and
operational spirit of the organization.

 Core values should help your employees and

customers understand what is important to your
business, and put a window pane up against your
company culture.
Why core values are important?
 Core values are important because they clearly define
and illuminate the behavior and operations that your
organization has approved as “best practice”.

 If done well, core values will also demonstrate

personality and send a clear brand message.

 This acts as an anchor for almost all work done in your

business.

 It can help unite teams and eliminate ambiguity around

how to resolve issues or make decisions.

 It will help you onboard new employees by clearly

communicating company culture and expectations.
7 POSITIVE IMPACT OF COMPANY CORE VALUES

1. Employee Engagement

2. Employee Retention

3. Talent Acquisition

4. Company Branding

5. Customer Satisfaction

6. Fair Business Practices

7. Growth and Stability

Work Ethics

 A group of moral principles, standards of behavior, or

set of values regarding proper conduct in the
workplace

 It advocates the employees being personally

accountable and responsible for their work.

 It is applicable at work and at play

RELATIONSHIP AT WORK
Management/owner toward client/customer

Management/owner toward employees

Employee toward Employer, Co-workers, Customers

ELEMENTS OF WORK ETHICS
 Interpersonal Skills-
 Habits, attitude, manners, appearance &
behavior of ourselves to others.
 Skills from parents.
 Be aware of own habits

 Initiative

 Being dependable
OTHER EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Change & innovation

Get necessary instructions to operate machine.

EMPLOYER’S EXPECTATION
Technical skills& knowledge

Positive attitude

Ability to work in teams

Punctual
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SATISFACTION
& ENGAGEMENT
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Unlocking employee potential to drive high performance

Engagement is about capturing employees heart and

heads.
BUSINESS ABUSE
 Illegal

 unethical

 irresponsible Act done against an Employer

RESULTS OF BUSINESS ABUSE
 Higher prices

 Business Failure

 Fewer Jobs

 Unpleasant Working Conditions

HOW EMPLOYERS RESPOND TO
BUSINESS ABUSE
 Increase Security

 Surveillance

 BEFORE YOU ACT -- ASK:

 Is this legal?
 Is it against company policy?
 Could the action cause loss or harm to anyone?
 If everyone I knew saw me, would I feel
uncomfortable?
STYLES OF ETHICS
 In Ethical Insight and Ethical Action, it mentions that
there are really eight ethical styles: Rule-Bound,
Utilitarian, Loyalist, Prudent, Virtuous, Intuitive,
Empathetic, and Darwinian.

 Each of these styles have their advantages and

disadvantages and some individuals might be a mix of
two or three, so understanding the differences to
resolve conflicts among ethical styles can sometimes
be as important and as difficult as resolving the ethical
problems themselves.
1. Rule-Bound.
Thinking and acting on the basis of rules and principles,
paying only secondary regard to circumstances or
exceptions.

2. Utilitarian.
“The greatest good for the greatest number of people” is
the ultimate test for any action or decision.

3. Loyalist.
Evaluating all decisions first in terms of benefit to the
company and its reputation.
4. Prudent
Prudence is not the same as selfishness or crude self-interest
(though it is sometimes called “enlightened self-interest”) since
it has built into it the mutual dependence of one’s own
interests and company interests.

5. Virtuous.
Every action is measured in terms of its reflection of one’s
character or the company reputation, without immediate regard
to consequences and often without paying much attention to
general principles.
6. Intuitive
Intuitive thinkers tend to be extremely impatient with
more deliberative, rule-bound, and utilitarian types.

7. Empathetic (“How would you like it if he…”)

(“Suppose you found yourself stuck with…”).

8. Darwinian.
(e.g., “If we win, we’re right, but if they win, we were
wronged”).
SERVICE LEARNING, COMPONENTS,
REFLECTIONS, EVALUATION AND ITS ASSESSMENT

 Service-learning has been implemented successfully as

an instructional method in schools, colleges, and
universities.

 Research indicates that service-learning helps students

gain knowledge and skills and increase self-confidence
and sense of caring.
REFLECTION IN SERVICE LEARNING
 What is reflection's role in service-learning? Reflection
is a key component of service-learning; in fact,
reflection is the link between the service and the
learning.
 Reflection is the intentional consideration of an
experience in light of particular learning objectives.
 The presumption is that community service does not
necessarily, in and of itself, produce learning.
 Reflection activities provide the bridge between the
community service activities and the academic content
of the course.
ISSUE-FOCUSED QUESTIONS:

 Why is there a need for your service?

 What do you perceive as the underlying issue, and

why does it exist?

 What social, economic, political, and educational

systems are maintaining and perpetuating the situation?

 What can you do with the knowledge you gained

from this experience to promote change?
CLIENT-FOCUSED REFLECTION
QUESTIONS:

 What similarities do you perceive between you and

the people you are serving?
 How are you perceived by the people you are
serving?
 What do you think a typical day is like for the people
you serve? What pressures to they confront?
SELF-FOCUSED REFLECTION
QUESTIONS:

 What personal qualities (e.g. leadership,

communication skills, empathy etc.) have you
developed through service-learning?

 What contribution can you make to public

understanding of this issue based on your service-
learning experience?

 In what ways are you finding your involvement with

service-learning difficulty? What have you found that
is helping you follow through despite the difficulties
you encounter?
COURSE-FOCUSED REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

 How does the service experience relate to the course

material?

 Did the experience contradict or reinforce course

material?

 How did the course material help you overcome

obstacles or dilemmas in the service-experience?

 What aspects of your learning may have been due to

your service-experience?
CHECKLIST FOR PLANNING IMPLEMENTING AND
EVALUATING SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENES

Stage One: Preparation

Stage Two: Implementation—Performing the Service

Stage Three: Assessment/Reflection

Stage Four: Demonstration/Celebration

LIVING PEACEFULLY – CARING &
SHARING IN ENGINEERING
Principles for Peaceful Life
Do Not Interfere In Others’ Business Unless Asked
Forgive And Forget
Do Not Crave For Recognition
Do Not Be Jealous
Change Yourself
Endure What Cannot Be Cured
Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Make Regular Dhikr
Never Leave The Mind Vacant
Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret
 CIVIC VIRTUE

Civic virtue is morality or a standard of righteous behavior in

relationship to a citizen's involvement in society. An individual
may exhibit civic virtue by voting, volunteering, organizing a
book group, or attending a PTA meeting.

The Founders believed that a self-governing people needed to

practice civic virtues in order for a republican government and
society to endure.

Civic virtues bind free individuals into a community that is united by

the spirit of a common purpose and an interest in the common
good
HISTORIC ROOTS

The Greek word for virtue is arete, which means

excellence. Socrates does not use the term "civic
virtue" in Plato's Republic

but highlights courage as a virtue that is derived from

what one learns from a city.

This distinguishes spiritual virtue, which is mandated by a

higher being, from civic virtue, which follows the laws
and customs of a city.
IMPORTANCE

Civic virtue helps people understand their ties to the

community and their responsibilities within it. In many
ways, an educated citizen who possesses civic virtue is
a public good.
The essential elements of civic virtue
Justice.
Self-Governance/Moderation.
Humility.
Responsibility/Prudence.
Perseverance.
Courage.
Respect.
Contribution
RESPONSIBILITIES

Support and defend the Constitution.

Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
Participate in the democratic process.
Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
Participate in your local community.
KEY RELATED IDEAS

Citizenship
Philanthropy
Public good
Social capital
Stewardship
Voluntarism
RESPECT FOR OTHERS IN ENGINEERING WORK
PLACE

Why It Matters and How to Promote It

Respect plays a fundamental role in your workplace.
It’s the basic building block to your success.
Without respect, you’re left with a toxic environment
where no one trusts each other and few are motivated
to go above and beyond their basic job responsibilities.
WHY IS RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE
IMPORTANT?
If your workplace is filled with favoritism or an overall
lack of enthusiasm among staff, you may be in the
beginning stages of a toxic work environment.

Other telltale signs include a pattern of behavior that’s

exclusionary, disruptive, or passive-aggressive. And
that extends to leaders and employees.
A toxic work environment leads to an atmosphere of
disrespect. Some employees, especially those who
aren’t in a favored group, will feel marginalized.

This, in turn, will lead to overall dissatisfaction with

themselves, their job performance, and the
organization.
Increased Productivity
Employees who feel respected are more motivated to
work harder for their organization. They’re also more
likely to introduce new ideas that can innovate your
processes.
Reduced Stress
Disrespect leads to stress.
Leveled Playing Field
A respectful environment means that everyone is treated
with the same regard. No one is given preferential
treatment above the others in an organization.
Increased Employee Satisfaction
When your employees feel respected, they feel
empowered to do their jobs. They know that their fellow
team and their managers trust them to complete their jobs
correctly, and that’s exactly what they’ll do.
How to Introduce Respect Into Your Workplace
Make a Plan for Dealing With Conflict
Conflict is an inevitable part of working with different
personalities. You won’t be able to avoid all conflicts,
but you can handle the ones that do pop up in a
respectful manner.
Listen Actively
When any employee offers an idea or shares feedback,
listen to them. In fact, encourage them to do so. When
everyone has a voice, your organization can become
stronger. And your employees themselves will feel more
value.

Share Encouraging Feedback

Instead of always providing constructive criticism, which
can be received and perceived as negative, share positive
feedback, too. Positive feedback shows your employees
that you value them and recognize their strengths as well
as their opportunities for self-improvement.
Welcome Feedback From Others
It’s a good idea to collect diverse feedback. In other
words, don’t just ask the same people for advice. Seek out
opinions from multiple people on your team. This way, no
one feels routinely left out of the conversation.
CARING

Caring is feeling for others.

It includes showing respect to the feelings of others.

Caring is reflected in activities such as friendship,

membership in social clubs and professional societies,
and through various transactions in the family,
fraternity, community, country and in international
councils.
Knowing and acting in the interest of others.
some people would be thankful for what you did.
If someone feels like no one cares about them, they may
think that they’re just worthless

MEANING IN CARING
Extension of one’s self
Devotion and consistency are essential elements
Making others to care about another person
Involves desire, motivation, inclination
Magical experience
Heart of ethics
SHARING

Sharing is a process that describes the transfer of

knowledge (teaching, learning, and information),
experience (training), commodities (material
possession) and facilities with others. is voluntary

Sharing is ‘charity’

‘sharing’ is a culture.
Man is by nature selfish

Sharing requires broad mind, rational thinking, helping

nature

Requires a little act of kindness

Helping poor
THANK YOU