Introduction to Engineering Ethics Lecture 5

Fulfilling contractual duties to an employer through actions, including meeting moral obligations.

Positive identification and willingness to uphold an organization's ethical values.

Respect, commitment, and connectedness among professional colleagues.

The right to exercise professional judgment when fulfilling responsibilities, even if it conflicts with the employer's wishes.

The right to refuse to engage in unethical behavior, even if it means facing consequences.

The right to be fairly compensated for your work and recognized for your accomplishments.

Engineers focus on technical expertise, safety, and professional ethics.

Managers prioritize organizational well-being, financial concerns, and making decisions that benefit the company.

Decisions requiring technical expertise or addressing ethical standards, particularly those related to public safety.

Decisions that prioritize organizational well-being, including financial and operational aspects, while respecting engineering standards.

Decisions that require careful consideration of both engineering and management perspectives, balancing technical expertise with organizational needs.

Communicating concerns about potential issues or violations of ethical standards within an organization.

Balancing loyalty to the organization with professional ethics and personal values, even when reporting difficult information.

The act of voicing concerns or dissenting opinions in a responsible manner within an organization, often regarding ethical issues.

Formal procedures established within an organization for reporting concerns or complaints, ensuring safe and effective communication.

A crucial principle in maintaining ethical standards within an organization, involving the responsible reporting of concerns by employees.

Whistleblowing is exposing organizational wrongdoing to authorities outside the company. It's a risky act, but can be justified under certain conditions.

DeGeorge's theory believes whistleblowing is justified when it prevents serious harm and internal channels are exhausted before going public.

Davis' theory focuses on avoiding complicity in wrongdoing and maintaining moral integrity. Exhausting internal channels is not required.

Paul Lorenz was fired after refusing to participate in deceptive practices regarding materials used in the space shuttle program. He sued for wrongful discharge.

The case of Paul Lorenz highlights a common ethical dilemma in engineering: balancing loyalty to the employer with ethical obligations to the public.

Organizations should have clear policies and procedures for reporting ethical concerns and protecting employees who raise them.

Focus on addressing issues and concerns instead of blaming individuals. This encourages a safer environment for raising concerns.

Formal mechanisms for evaluating disputes and protecting employees ensure fairness and prevent retaliation for raising concerns.

The legal principle allowing employees to refuse work that violates their professional ethics or the law, protecting them from being fired for doing so.

A situation where an employer attempts to force an employee to engage in unethical or illegal actions, potentially jeopardizing the employee's career.

A legal case where an engineer, Paul Lorenz, refused to misrepresent information about materials for NASA, leading to his wrongful termination.

A situation where an engineer is asked to perform a task that contradicts their professional code of ethics or legal requirements.

The act of refusing to engage in unethical behavior even if it means facing consequences, like losing your job.