Secret #13: SEAU Recap – Engineering Ethics

29 Mar Secret #13: SEAU Recap – Engineering Ethics

Being ethical can be hard, so here are some engineering ethics basics (adapted from the presentation by Barry Arnold, PE, SE*) to help you understand the goals of the Code of Ethics and ways to avoid ethical traps…

Important Ethics Truths

There are two major truths for engineering ethics: (1) Being ethical can be hard and (2) Even though ethics can be hard, it doesn’t have to be mean, ugly or complicated. While it is sometimes difficult to be ethical, there are ways that we can still make decisions that build the profession and our own professional careers.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and various professional organizations have put together Code of Ethics documents to help make those difficult decisions that involve ethics.

First Goal of Code of Ethics

The first goal of the Code of Ethics by ASCE is to define what is ‘right’ and what is ‘good’. It seems that something that is right should also be good in all circumstances, but they are independent of one another.

What is ‘RIGHT’ corresponds to the motives of a decision. A ‘right’ decision is one that evaluates motives and gives no consideration to the consequences.

What is ‘GOOD’ corresponds to the consequences of a decision. A ‘good’ decision is one that evaluates consequences of the action and gives no consideration to the motives.

A ‘good’ decision can be the ‘right’ decision, but it can also be the wrong decision. Similarly, a ‘right’ decision can be a ‘good’ decision, but it can also be a bad decision.

Second Goal of Code of Ethics

The second goal of the Code of Ethics by ASCE is to define the obligations that members of the profession to one another.

Ethics was compared to a Leviathan, which is a mythical creature with multiple heads but only one body. The idea behind this id that we are separate individuals, companies, etc. but we have one goal and purpose. We all have different opinions, appetites, ideas and beliefs but we need to work together to further our profession. It does not help any engineer to talk bad about other engineers, or to practice in such a way that it causes society to distrust the profession.

We have an important obligation to each other to work hard and build our profession and not tear it down. This can be achieved by letting our own actions and projects speak for themselves, and not undermining the work that we do.

Third Goal of Code of Ethics

The third goal of the Code of Ethics by ASCE is to define the obligations of the profession and its members to society.

Engineers in general have a potential to do great harm if not done correctly. For example, if a building or bridge is not designed properly then it can fail and cause people to lose their life. This is why ASCE and other professional societies have created a Code of Ethics. It is a way to justify our importance.

Tips to Avoid the Ethical Traps

There were 8 different suggestions that were suggested to avoid the ethical traps, here are just a few:

Tip #1

It is important to know YOUR values and ethics. What do you stand for? Consider writing your own ‘manifesto’ for the rules that you plan to play by in the profession

Tip #2

It is also important to know YOUR COMPANY’S real values and ethics. There may be writing on the wall that states your company’s values, but the actions and behaviors must match those proclaimed. The words “We work with customers and prospects openly, honestly, and sincerely” was written on the walls of Enron, which turned out to not be a very ethical company in the early 2000’s.

Tip #3

It is important to assert yourself quickly. If you wait to make a decision that is borderline unethical, you risk falling into the trap of letting something slide. Stand your ground when something doesn’t seem right. Sometimes your non-answer becomes an answer. If you aren’t careful you can risk losing your professional reputation and even your license.

Now What?

By thinking through your decisions now and how you will react, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort when faced with a sticky situation. I suggest that you review ASCE’s Code of Ethics along with your local organization’s code of ethics. This will help to get familiar with the obligation that we have to society, our profession and ourselves.

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If you have any additional topics or subtopics that you would like me to cover, please contact me at josh@thehipsterengineer.com

*This information is adapted from Barry Arnold’s presentation entitled ‘Ethics: A Practical Guide for the Practicing Engineer’ given at the Structural Engineers Association of Utah (SEAU) Conference in Layton, Utah on February 20th, 2018. Barry Arnold, PE, SE, SECB is a graduate of Utah State University for both B.S. and M.S. degrees. Barry has served in many ways to SEAU and the National Council of Structural Wngineers Associations (NCSEA). He has been the president of SEAU and NCSEA but continues to serve as SEAU’s delegate to NCSEA, committee member for NCSEA’s Structural License committee, and Editorial Chair of ‘STRUCTURE Magazine’. Beyond his involvement in organizations, he is the co-owner and Vice-President of ARW Engineers (www.ARWengineers.com). He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in over 34 states and he is a licensed Structura Engineer in the state of Utah.

I was not able to cover everything that was discussed, so I will may have to periodically come back and revisit these thoughts another day. In the meantime, the presentation can be found here: Engineering Ethics Presentation