CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
•Quiz 4- 5 Questions-10 minutes max.
•Meaning of Ethics (Continuation From Last Week)
•Comparison of ASCE and Josephson on Ethics
•Core Ethical Values-Josephson and Other Groups Views
•Moral Imperatives
•Ethical Theories
•False Theories of Ethics
•Truesteel Affair – Case Study-Application of
Josephson’s GKC Model
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
ASCE MATERIAL VS JOSEPHSON MATERIAL
•How Does ASCE Define Ethics? From Website search
•Doing The “Right Thing”
•How Does ASCE say you should determine the “Right
Thing” to do?
•Use the Traditional Method Of Civil Engineering Inquiry
•What is The Traditional Method of CE Inquiry?
•See HO Page 123 G
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
ASCE MATERIAL VS JOSEPHSON MATERIAL
Josephson’ Decision Making Process
ASCE’s Traditional Method of Civil
Engineering Inquiry
Stop and Think-Clarify Goals
Step Not Identified by ASCE
Determine the Facts-Relevant
Step Not Identified by ASCE
Develop Your Options-At least 3
Listing the options
Consider Consequences-On Stakeholders
Testing the options
Select The Option-Max. Good, Min. Bad
Make the decision
Decide How To Implement and Act
Acting (See Note)
Monitor and Modify
•
No Mention of How To Implement the decision
Step Not Identified by ASCE
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
ASCE MATERIAL VS JOSEPHSON MATERIAL
•Why does Josephson Consider the Stakeholders?
•Because Ethics Must Focus On How our ACTIONS Affect Others
•Why does Josephson Insist on At Least 3 Options?
•To consider the full dimensions of the decision you face,
•To Avoid Falling Into “False Necessity Trap”
•How does Josephson “Test The Options”?
•Are Stakeholder Interests Considered?
•Is an Ethical Value violated to Advance a Non-Ethical Value?
•Does the Option Yield maximum balance of good over bad?
•Why Does Josephson monitor results?
•To Identify Unintended harmful consequences
•To Give Opportunity to Correct Bad Decision
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
ASCE MATERIAL VS JOSEPHSON MATERIAL
•Why Do Engineers Do Wrong Thing Per ASCE?
•Time Constraints
•Promotion Opportunities
•Family
•Job Security
•Peer Pressure
•Supervisor Pressure
•Professional Reputation
•See HO Page 123 G
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
ASCE MATERIAL VS JOSEPHSON MATERIAL
•How Does Josephson Explain Why People do Wrong?
•People Rationalize Their Wrong Doing.
•What Rationalizations Does Josephson Identify?
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
DILEMMA AND ETHICAL DILEMMA
•What Is A Dilemma? A Situation that requires a
choice between equally undesirable alternatives
•What Is An Ethical Dilemma? A Situation that requires
a choice between Moral Imperatives (Core Ethical
Values)
•What Is A Moral Imperative? Something that must
happen because it is the right thing
•A moral imperative is an ethical responsibility.
•http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/5i.htm
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
MORAL IMPERATIVES
•What Is A Moral Imperative? Something that must
happen because it is the right thing
•A moral imperative is an ethical responsibility.
•http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/5i.htm
•People often elevate personal goals to a level of a
Moral Imperative
•Getting a certain job
•Winning an election
•Winning a ball game
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
Tanya Harding is the IDI
Poster Child – See the
Sign in the Background:
“DO WHATEVER IT TAKES”
She Elevated Her
Personal Goal
To A Moral Imperative
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CORE VALUES FROM OTHER GROUPS
•Josephson’s Six Pillars of Character:
1 Trustworthiness
3 Respect
5 Caring
2
4
6
Responsibility
Justice and Fairness
Civic Virtue/Citizenship
•Seven Cardinal Virtues:
1 Justice
3 Fortitude
5 Faith
2
4
6
Prudence
Temperance
Hope
7
Charity
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CORE VALUES FROM OTHER GROUPS
•Josephson’s Six Pillars of Character:
1 Trustworthiness
3 Respect
5 Caring
2
4
6
Responsibility
Justice and Fairness
Civic Virtue/Citizenship
•Boy Scout Creed:
1
4
7
10
Trustworthy2
Friendly
5
Obedient 8
Brave
11
Loyal
Courteous
Cheerful
Clean
3
6
9
12
Helpful
Kind
Thrifty
Reverent
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CORE VALUES FROM OTHER GROUPS
•Josephson’s Six Pillars of Character:
1 Trustworthiness
3 Respect
5 Caring
2
4
6
Responsibility
Justice and Fairness
Civic Virtue/Citizenship
•Institute For Professional Practice (IPP): Engineers
1 Integrity
3 Fidelity
5 Responsibility
2
4
6
Honesty
Charity
Self Discipline
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CORE VALUES FROM OTHER GROUPS
•Josephson’s Six Pillars of Character:
1 Trustworthiness
3 Respect
5 Caring
2
4
6
Responsibility
Justice and Fairness
Civic Virtue/Citizenship
•Top References of Core Values When People Asked:
1 Integrity
4 Excellence
7 Responsibility
2
5
8
Honesty
3
Education 6
Leadership 9
Respect
Family
Service
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TO WHOM DO THE CORE ETHICAL VALUES APPLY
•Do you believe they apply to me? Show of hands
•Do you believe they apply to everybody else?
•Do you believe they apply to you?
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
WHY DON’T PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING?
(NOT THE ASCE EXCUSES OR JOSEPHSON’S RATIONALIZATIONS)
•What are the basic obstacles to being ethical?
1. The Ethics of Self-Interest
2. The Pursuit of Happiness when Happiness is not
based on a unity between principled belief and
honorable behavior
Story of the Dying Man and his Three Sons
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
WHY DON’T PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING?
(NOT THE ASCE EXCUSES OR JOSEPHSON’S RATIONALIZATIONS)
•Story of the Dying Man and his Three Sons
•Reveals How many people think about ethics
•Each Son Filtered and Self justified his behavior
•Minister:
I did it for others; I did not gain personally
•Accountant: I’ve got it coming
•Lawyer:
If it’s legal, it’s ethical
•Ethics is about Actions not Rhetoric
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
WHY DON’T PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING?
(NOT THE ASCE EXCUSES OR JOSEPHSON’S RATIONALIZATIONS)
•Behavior Survey last week taken by thousands and
results compiled for many years. Most People Say:
•Others regard me as an Ethical Person
•I am ethical, but I am not sure about my neighbor
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
WHY DON’T PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING?
(NOT THE ASCE EXCUSES OR JOSEPHSON’S RATIONALIZATIONS)
•Behavior Survey last week taken by thousands and
results compiled for many years. Most People Say:
•Others regard me as an Ethical Person
•I am ethical, but I am not sure about my neighbor
•My ethical standards are higher than society’s
•My Profession is more ethical than other professions,
&
•I am more ethical than others in my profession
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
MORAL DUTIES AND VIRTUES
COME FROM GENERAL THEORIES OF ETHICS
•Moral Philosophers Have Debated Right and
Wrong for hundreds, thousands of years
•Four Theories have withstood scrutiny and test of time
•Duty Ethics
•Rights Ethics
•Virtue Ethics
•Utilitarianism
•Each Starts from different definition of proper conduct,
but for most cases, each yield similar results
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
•Ethical Conventionalism: Ethics reduces to the law or
custom of a society or culture, but believing something is
right does not make it right.
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
•Ethical Conventionalism: Ethics reduces to the law or
custom of a society or culture, but believing something is
right does not make it right.
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
•Ethical Conventionalism: Ethics reduces to the law or
custom of a society or culture, but believing something is
right does not make it right.
•Divine Command Ethics: God commands what is right
and wrong, but what should be do about Son Of Sam
who killed because God commanded him through dogs
to kill?
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
FALSE THEORIES OF ETHICS
•They do not withstand scrutiny
•Ethical Egoism:The sole duty of each person is to
maximize his own good with no self restraint.
•Ethical Conventionalism: Ethics reduces to the law or
custom of a society or culture, but believing something is
right does not make it right.
•Divine Command Ethics: God commands what is right
and wrong, but what should be do about Son Of Sam
who killed because God commanded him through dogs
to kill?
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•Robert Williams-Structural Engineer who faces
ethical dilemma.
•Will stop video at the point of decision for discussion
•Small Group analysis then general discussion
•What decision must Robert make?
•Define the Ethical Dilemma that Robert Faces
•Who are the Stakeholders?
•What options are available? Is each Ethically Viable?
•What would you do?
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•Robert Williams Knows the following:
•Trusses fabricated incorrectly and as built:
•Do not satisfy Code
•Are Probably Unsafe, and
•Could Fail under heavy loads
•He is responsible for the truss design and fabrication
•If trusses fail,
•Severe property damage and consequential economic losses
•Personal Injuries Likely
•Loss of life possible
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•Robert Williams Knows the following:
•If Trusses Fail, you and Truesteel will by legally liable
because you owe duty to public safety, your client, and
your employer
•The Trusses can be repaired in shop or on site
•Will take time and
•Will cost Company ( or someone) money
•Project is already late on delivery with cost overruns,
and Truesteel’s bank has called all loans in immediately
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•As you watch, put yourself in Robert Williams shoes
•Look for the rationalizations-See how many you can find
•In small groups, answer all the questions, and when
done with all
•First Group Puts 2 Stakeholders and 1 Option on Board
•Other Groups Add 1 Stakeholder and 1 Option to Board
•Each Group Add 1 Rationalization Used in the Video
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•What decision must Robert Make?
•Carter said, “Cut the hysterics Robert, all I want to know
is will you get in my way?”
•Decision Robert faces is whether to get in Carter’s way
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•Does Robert face an Ethical Dilemma, and if Yes,
define his ethical dilemma?
•Yes, Robert faces an ethical dilemma.
•He must decide whether to honor his duty of loyalty to
Truesteel/Carter at the expense of his duty to protect the
public safety.
•He can’t do both in this case.
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•Who are the stakeholders?
•Robert and his family
•Carter/Truesteel/Employees
•Dixon/Developer/Investors/Owners/Client
•Workers at mall and individual store owners
•Shopping Public
•Engineering Profession
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•What options can Robert Consider? Is each viable?
•Go along with Carter: Honor loyalty duty at expense of
duty to public safety
•Get independent opinion on adequacy of trusses to
persuade Carter to repair them (Get trusses fixed)
•Blow the Whistle on Carter/Truesteel if he refuses to
repair the trusses. (Can do De George Analysis)
•Resign from Truesteel and move on with career
elsewhere (without saying anything). Probably not viable
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•What Rationalizations Appeared In the Video?
•Everybody Does It
•I did it for others
•If It’s Necessary, It’s Ethical
•It’s Part Of The Job
CE 401 Civil Engineering Seminar
Truesteel Affair
TRUESTEEL AFFAIR
•What would you do? Show of hands
•Go along with Carter:
•Get independent opinion on adequacy of trusses to
persuade Carter to repair them (Get trusses fixed)
•Blow the Whistle on Carter/Truesteel if he refuses to repair
the trusses. (Can do De George Analysis)
•Resign from Truesteel and move on with career elsewhere
(without saying anything). Probably not viable
•Finish Video
•Next Week – Gilbane Gold