The Pedagogical Strategy of Ethics in Micro-Ethical Issues - Case Study Example

Case Study in Ethics: Review of Testing Water……and Ethics Introduction Jim Duffy, a young engineer in the short fictional film, the video Testing Water… and Ethics is facing his first professional dilemma. He attempts to seek solution to the problem by treating it as analogous to a design problem in engineering (Harris et al, 211). Additionally, he also employs the method of seeking a creative mid way. In any professional engagement, code of ethics has become the way of regulating the professional conduct. However, each and every individual must be guided by personal code of ethics, gained through education and work experience. Personal vs professional Demands Personal ethical codes with guidance and contribution from the society such as family members, friends, instructors, fellow employees, religious leaders, coaches and role models aids in the development of the fundamentals identified early in life. From the case study, it is imperative that these codes of ethics are important in the professional life of an engineer. Ethical codes are not synonymous among individuals and corporate persons, governments and in professions. As a professional, sound ethics is important to the proper growth of an individual professionally. According to Edel, (3), there is a basically two questions about the uses of science in ethics: the extent of knowledge and the impact of science on morality. A Poor grasp of ethics issues corporate scandals the encountered in the professional lives are as a result of a poor handling of the issue. These corporate scandals can arouse the wrath of the public damaging the career and corporate profile of the institutions that have failed to deal with the issue. Just like in other professions, an engineer’s failure to honor ethical duties of care to the public can be the thin line between the protection of an individual’s a society’s and a public’s health, safety and the welfare. Safe and Effective Processes According to (Whitbeck, 161) safe and effective complaint procedures come in a variety of styles; other may in the form formally constituted, while others merely happen, in a de facto style. The engineer is entrusted with a high degree of responsibility, and such trust, reputation, competencies and credibility must accompany the hardware and software tools that the engineers carries in their normal professional practice. From the case study shown by the short film, engineers need a professional code of ethics. The engineering profession has not escaped the scandals that have affected other professions. In the business world, high public scandals such as the Enron, amongst others have dominated their airwaves exposing unethical practices, which in turn lead many to lose huge investments. Similarly, the Challenger space shuttle disaster, the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse amongst others has beleaguered the engineering profession due unethical practices being unreported causing public harm and the loss of lives. In the current work environment, the engineering profession is more competitive, but this is not the preserve of the profession as globalization has increased the pace of competition in nearly every sector. In a competitive world, costs reduction and productivity overrides almost any other interests. Ethical consideration and the drive to produce and work productively in the competitive settings are therefore parallel. Engineers therefore have to uniquely be an all rounder with a developed expertise in management and the knowledge in complex project demands, and a further knowledge in responsibilities and in risks. In the present work environment, and the interdependence in professions have exposed engineers to sophisticated contracts, legal regimes, regulations and complicated litigation processes have become a norm, and for a proper knowledge demands that work must be exposed to those fields. Meeting current needs stalk modern engineers like a cat, but against this background are the realities on the ground, developing sustainable and environmental concerns. An ethical engineer must balance the need meet current needs and ensuring that generations in the future meet their needs. The film, Testing Water … and Ethics reveals certain ethical issues do not have corresponding and fulfilling answers. The video analyses the situation confronting Duffy and the situation confronting him warrants either a disclosure, the ethical move, or a non disclosure, a non ethical move. In a twist of the circumstance, every piece of information to report the results of the test was not available. Construction site safety considerations are a lot exposing responsibility concerns which have to be stabilized with regard to professional and ethical responsibilities to uphold the safety of the public which in this case becomes the overriding choice. After Duffy initially seeing the issues as a obvious case of responsibility for the public safety, Duffy later realizes that there are similarly significant ethical considerations on responsibilities. The engineer chooses a system that is centrist to the complicated issues beforehand, in a conflicting situation; a good engineer must seek the middle ground. The middle ground entails a trade off though cannot be appreciated with two competing sides; it might prove to be the ultimate solution to a confusing situation. The case study efficiently encourages viewers to use their engineering skills, and conform to the codes of ethics when confronted with ethical dilemma (McCuen and Kristin, 69). The present electronic age presents engineers with a lot of challenges and responsibilities, and these manifests itself in such fields as intellectual property and infrastructural security. Due the conflicts that could arise by observing personal code of ethics, a professional code of ethics has been developed over time and the Engineering profession relied on the code developed from 1914 by the ASCE. Similar to other professional codes, the ASCE has relied on the general principles of ethics to fast track the Code of Ethics. The original ASCE Code of Ethics contained the six principles and acknowledged business concerns, rather than informing the personal professional ethics of the members. Over the years, the Code of ethics governing the society of engineers has been frequently amended over the years. however, the most important amendment involved the deletion of a clause that made it unethical to invite or submit priced proposals under situation that involve price competition for professional services. Of course, and just as shown by the case study, ethics are deep and complex issues and though housed under the Code of Ethics, these ideals changes benefiting mainly from experiences o the ground as well as sufficient professional debates. Consultations with one’s peers and personal examination such as the situation that confronted Duffy enhances the possibility of making a good foundations on stable ethical decision making. The Code of Ethics does not provide the answers to all the ethical problems confronting the profession, and with the advances in the profession, new issues emerge daily. Law defines certain ethical standard in close collaboration with the Codes that are set up by the professional bodies. Duffy, the entry level engineer might face extended jail term if he continues to collude and fails to report the problem regarding the water quality test. The ABET code of Ethics for Engineers is a handy documented that can be used by engineers to aid them in making the best possible decision regarding an issue. Conclusion Concerns that all professionals must face is the ability to clearly define the ‘right thing’, particularly when in practice. The pedagogical strategy of ethics related issues in the case study becomes the most important item in this paper. The testing water case study offers a situation to develop an understanding of the underlying ethics related issues, though the plot and characters are fictional. The drama in the movie highlights the real world issues that are affecting professional engineers daily, and these include engineering responsibility both in micro-ethical issues of personal professional conduct and that of corporate interest on one hand, and on the other hand company interest. Works Cited Edel, Abraham. Ethical Judgment: The Use of Science in Ethics. Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1955. Print. Harris, Charles E, Michael J. Rabins, and Michael S. Pritchard. Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. New York: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. McCuen, Richard H, and Kristin L. Gilroy. Ethics and Professionalism in Engineering. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2010. Print. Whitbeck, Caroline. Ethics in Engineering Practice and Research. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Print. Read More