Professional and Ethical Responsibility

Micaela EismanShaun Raj

Overview

Introduction Definitions Professional Applications General Professional & Ethical

Standards Whistle-blowing Case Study Summary

What is ethics?

“The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.” [1]

‘NUFF SAID!

How does that relate to a professional environment? Respecting others’ intellectual

property by giving due credit. Avoiding conflicts of interest. Rejecting bribery. Honesty and realism in stating

claims and estimates. Etc.

General Engineering Professional and Ethical Standards

IEEE: Seek, accept, and offer honest criticism. Improve the understanding of technology. Avoid injuring others, their property,

reputation, or employment by false or malicious actions.

General Engineering Professional and Ethical Standards

ABET: Ability to apply knowledge of math,

science, and engineering. Design and conduct experiments as well

as analyze and interpret data. Effective communication.

General Engineering Professional and Ethical Standards

ASEE: Enhancement of human welfare with

application of skills. Undertake professional responsibilities only

in areas of competence. Treat all people fairly, regardless of

ethnicity, gender, age, religion, profession, etc.

Whistle-blowing

“One who reveals wrongdoing within an organization to the public or to those in positions of authority.” [2]

Examples 2006: Thomas Drake

Executive at NSA, worried about post 9-11 surveillance. Reported to the newspaper – indicted for obstruction of justice and espionage.

1996: Jeffrey Wigand VP for R&D at Brown and Williamson Tobacco,

admitted the company doctored nicotine content to make their product more addictive.

1972: W. Mark Felt Gave information to bring down Nixon during

Watergate.

Examples in Public Media

Ethical Implications?

Should he have blown the whistle? Should he have placed the welfare of

others over his career? Did the Energy Department manage

the concern properly? Should the Defense Nuclear Facilities

Safety Board have gotten involved?

Case Study – Paradyne Computers (1980) SSA requested new

computers for field offices – gave contract to Paradyne for $115 million for 1800 computers Provide access to central database for

processing claims and issuing new SSN’s Computers failed initial testing, so

the SSA relaxed specifications After delivery, many malfunctioned

Case Study – Paradyne Computers Paradyne proposed selling P8400

computer with P105 OS, which was not built yet RFP prohibited prototypes Parts were not tested before integration Bid was written as though the OS was

already in existence Paradyne demoed a different

computer system, not the one they intended to sell to the SSA

Case Study – Paradyne Computers Results:

Put secure information at risk Took 2 years to resolve, wasting

government resources and time:▪ Justice Department▪ Health and Human Services

Case Study – Paradyne Computers Ethical Issues:

Company lied about the state of the product

Adequate testing was not performed Should the SSA have relaxed

requirements after initial testing? Should the SSA reopen bids after

requirements were relaxed?

Summary

Introduction Definitions Professional Applications General Professional & Ethical

Standards Whistle-blowing Case Study Summary

Questions?

Derivation

Recall: and = and Recall =

Citations http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics [1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whistle-blowing [2] http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/06/nation/la-na-adv-

nuclear-whistleblower-20110705 http://www.onlineethics.org/Education/instructessays/

herkert2.aspxhttp://www.onlineethics.org/Education/instructessays/herkert2.aspx

http://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html http://www.asee.org/member-resources/resources/

Code_of_Ethics.pdf http://www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele400/f12/cases.pdf http://www.troll.me/2011/07/08/philosoraptor/is-it-ethical-to-

question-the-ethics-of-your-ethics-professor/ http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/05/30/10-whistleblowers-

heard-around-the-world/