PURPOSE OF STUDYING
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND HUMAN VALUES
1. To strive for high ethical
standards
2. To possess a serious
commitment to
professionalism and socially
responsible behaviour.
GLOBAL ISSUES

Engineers should have the
issues
awareness
about
global
in order to deal with various aspects of
Professional interactions
MULTINATIONAL
CORPORATIONS
(MNCS)
WHAT ARE MULTINATIONAL
CORPORATIONS(MNCS) ?
Large corporations having investment and business in a
number of countries are known as ‘multinational’ or
‘transnational’ corporations.
Eg:Ford, Toyota, Sony, LG, Johnson&Johnson,
Coca cola, Pepsi etc.
WAYS OF PROMOTING MORALLY
JUSTIFIABLE MEASURES

MNCs should respect the basic rights of people of the host countries.

MNCs should provide the most good for the most people of the host
countries.

MNCs should help the host countries’s overall economy and their
employees

MNCs should also make sure that their products does not cause any
harms to the customers.

MNCs should respect the laws and culture of the host countries
without violating the basic moral rights.

MNCs should have more concern for the welfare of their employees.

MNCs should pay employees for the extra risk they undertake
CROSS CULTURAL
ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL
ETHICS
APPROACHES TO RESOLVE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

1. Cost-oblivious approach
Oblivious – Lacking mindful attention

2. Approach based on Cost-benefit analysis
COST-OBLIVIOUS APPROACH



In this approach priority is given to the protection of
environment than the cost of the products designed by the
Engineers.
This approach does not accept/tolerate any environmental
degradation.
DRAWBACK
This approach is difficult to sustain and
enforce in a modern urbanised society
APPROACH BASED ON COST-BENEFIT
ANALYSIS



In this approach,the problem is analysed in terms of the
benefits derived by reducing the pollution and the costs
required to solve the problem.
In other words,the objective is not to achieve a
completely clean environment,but to achieve an
economically beneficial balance of pollution with health
or environmental considerations.
DRAWBACKS:
It is very difficult to determine the true cost
of a human life or the loss of a species;and also it is very
difficult accurately assess costs and benefits.
COMPUTER ETHICS
WHAT IS COMPUTER ETHICS?

Computer ethics is the study of ethical issues
that are associated primarily with computing
machines and computing profession.
COMPUTER CODE OF ETHICS

Computer society of India has developed the ‘Ten Commandments’ of Computer Ethics
1. Don’t use the computer to harm other people.
2. Don’t interfere with other people’s computer work.
3. Don’t snoop around in other people’s computer files.
4. Don’t use a computer to steal.
5. Don’t use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Don’t copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
7. Don’t use other people’s computer resources without authorisation or compensation.
8. Don’t appropriate other people’s intellectual output.
9. Think about the social consequences of the programme you are writing or the system you
are designing.
10. Use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for your fellow humans.
WEAPONS
DEVELOPMENT
ENGINEERS AS
MANAGERS
WHY DO MOST OF THE ENGINEERS
MOVE INTO MANAGERIAL ROLES?

Engineers move into management roles because of the following two
reasons.
1. Many corporate managements prefer engineers as
their managers.Bacause they believe that:
* To manage technological corporation,the technical
understanding is necessary; and
* The engineers have the potential of understanding
the business techniques of any corporate bodies
than any non-engineers.Also it is comparatively
easier to teach the business techniques than to
teach non-engineers the engineering techniques.
2. Engineers are attracted by various corporate
incentives such as higher pay,greater authority,
wider responsibility and increased prestige and
recognition.
RESPONSIBILITY OF ENGINEERS

As a manager,engineers remain professionals
whose primary responsibility is to provide
useful products and services while ensuring that
they are safe and profitable.
CONSULTING
ENGINEERS
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
1.
Advertising
2.
Competitive bidding
3.
Contingency fees
4.
Safety and client needs
5.
Provisions for resolution of disputes
QUALITIES/VIRTUES AN ENGINEER
SHOULD HAVE TO ACT AS EXPERT
WITNESSES&ADVISERS
Honesty
- the quality of being honest; truthfulness
Competence - the thorough knowledge of the work
they undertake to do.
Diligence
- to carry out the given tasks carefully
and promptly.
Loyalty
- the quality of being true and faithful
in one client’s support
MORAL LEADERSHIP
WHO ARE MORAL LEADERS?

Moral leaders are those who direct,motivate,organize,
manage, or in other ways take groups toward morally
valuable goals.
IEEE - CODE OF ETHICS
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Code of Ethics

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:

to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public,
and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;

to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when
they do exist;

to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;

to reject bribery in all its forms;

to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;

to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified
by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;

to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit
properly the contributions of others;

to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;

to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;

to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of
ethics.
ASCE –CODE OF ETHICS





Fundamental Principles2
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering
profession by:
a. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the
environment; b. being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public,
their employers and clients; c. striving to increase the competence and prestige
of the engineering profession; and d. supporting the professional and technical
societies of their disciplines.
Fundamental Canons
a. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and
shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development3 in the
performance of their professional duties. b. Engineers shall perform services only
in areas of their competence. c. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner. d. Engineers shall act in professional matters for
each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of
interest. e. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others. f. Engineers shall act in such
a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the
engineering profession and shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and
corruption. g. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout
their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
those engineers under their supervision.