Eng'g Ethics Finals Flashcards
The CODE OF ETHICS
of the Professional Engineering Societies
spell out the—————–of an Engineer
RESPONSIBILITIES
Professional Responsibility
A few of the important responsibilities
- CONFIDENTIALITY &
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION - CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- COMPETITIVE BIDDING
Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit misrepresentation of their or their associates’ qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments
Professional Responsibility
A company’s trade secrets are considered confidential information and are also proprietary information since they’re owned by the company.
CONFIDENTIALITY &
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
Directly affects the company’s ability to compete in the
marketplace. Such information can be used by a
competitor to gain advantage or to catch up.
INFORMATION on:
- How a business run;
- Its products; and
- Its suppliers –
CONFIDENTIALITY &
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
DOCTORS – patient’s medical information must be kept
confidential.
LAWYERS – attorney-client privilege
ENGINEERS – obligation to keep
proprietary information of their
employer or client confidential.
obligation to keep
proprietary information of their
employer or client confidential.
ENGINEERS
– test results & data, information about
upcoming unreleased products, & designs or formulas
for products.
◼OBVIOUS
What types of information
should be kept confidential?
◼OBVIOUS
◼ NOT AS OBVIOUS
– business information such as the
number of employees working on a project, the identity
of suppliers, marketing strategies, production costs, &
production yields
◼ NOT AS OBVIOUS
Straightforward but with Gray
Areas
How long confidentiality extends after an engineer
leaves employment with a company?
➢ Legally, an engineer is required to keep information
confidential even after she has moved to a new
employer in the same technical area.
➢ In practice, it can be difficult.
➢ An engineer can’t be expected to forget all of the
knowledge already gained during the years of
professional experience.
To Ensure:
❑ Companies have strict POLICIES re: disclosure of
business information; Require all employees to sign
them.
❑ Internal company communications are labeled as
“proprietary”.
❑ Engineers are required by client to sign a
Nondisclosure Agreement.
❑ Government Engineers, especially in the defense
industry, have more stringent requirements of
secrecy – sometimes require SECURITY
CLEARANCES after thorough investigation by
government security agency.
Straightforward but with Gray
Areas
How long confidentiality extends after an engineer
leaves employment with a company?
SOLUTION: The Individual Engineer must balance his
right to seek career advancement wherever he chooses,
and company’s right to keep information away from their
competitors.
Arises when an interest, if pursued, could keep a professional from
meeting one of his obligations.
Conflict of Interest
KINDS of conflicts of Interest
- Actual Conflicts of Interest
- Potential Conflicts of Interest
- Appearance of a Conflict of Interest
– compromise objective engineering
judgment.
i.e. 1 of the bidders is owned by the engr.
- Actual Conflicts of Interest
– threatens to easily become
actual conflicts of interest.
i.e. an engr. who become friends with a supplier of the company
- Potential Conflicts of Interest
–i.e. Possible: Engr. paid based on % of the cost of the design – no
incentive to cut cost
- The distrust that comes from this situation compromises the engr.’s
ability to do his work & future work & calls into question the engr.’s
judgment
- Appearance of a Conflict of Interest
How to avoid conflict of
interest?
❑ Follow guidance of COMPANY POLICY.
❑ If no policy, ask co-worker or manager for
second opinion – this will also make it
appear that you aren’t trying to hide
something.
❑ No option? Examine your motives & use
ethical problem-solving techniques.
❑ Professional Code of Ethics
Forbid engineers to compete for engineering work based
on submitting price proposals rather than soliciting work
& charging customers based on a fixed fee structure.
Competitive Bidding
WAS Prohibited because:
- Bidding was considered to be undignified & not at all
in keeping with the image that the engineering
profession desired to put forth to the public. - There were concerns that if engineers engaged in
competitive bidding, it would lead to price being the
most significant (or perhaps only) basis for awarding
engineering contracts – leading to engrs. cutting
corners on design work & could ultimately undermine
engr.’s duty to protect the safety & welfare of the
public.
right to privacy; right to participate to
activities of his own choosing outside of work; right to
reasonably object to company policies without fear of
retribution; & right to due process.
INDIVIDUALS
❑ Both rights as Engineering Professionals & as
individuals.
PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS
most fundamental right:
RIGHT OF PROFESSIONAL CONSCIENCE
ENGINEERS
