Topic > Engineering Ethics - 661

Ethics refers to those habits or norms that are believed to show good character and conduct. In the professional practice of engineering, engineers are confronted with various ethical issues and interpersonal conflicts. These cases could range from small-scale conflicts involving a few people to larger conflicts where the outcome affects the engineering community and society at large. Classically, engineering education does not adequately address the needs of incorporating ethics education into the technical curriculum. However, it has become axiomatic that engineers must exhibit good ethical behavior because the safety of people and the environment depends on the quality of projects/services provided by engineers. What constitutes an ethical issue and its appropriate resolution varies considerably from person to person. . As an aspiring electrical engineer, I have outlined a few instances that I believe could lead to a conflict of interest in my engineering practice. I also thought about how I believe these conflicts could be resolved.1. I am a leading member of a research and development team that is designing new printers for a leading company in my city. Additionally, the company I work for wants to eliminate the environmental risk of inkjet printer waste. However, the inkjet cartridges are produced in my hometown. If the cartridges in these new printers weren't disposable, my hometown factory might close and my friends and family might lose their jobs. What should I do by virtue of my position and power in the project and the company? Solution: In this case, I could use my position to push to make a refillable inkjet cartridge that can be produced in my city's factory.2. The company I work for is biddi...... at the heart of the paper...... of the issues that engineers face. I believe an electrical engineer must choose how to advance when the impact of new machinery is not fully predictable or understood. As an engineer, you have a pressing desire to extend our biological capabilities and meet growing needs for energy, water, housing, transportation, etc. This desire, I believe, could translate into an imperfect sense of security regarding a machine's functionality. This could further lead to ignoring possible repercussions and side effects. Over time, we have seen myriad engineering catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans levee system, and the Fukushima reactor meltdown. These examples enlighten me on the fact that I must pay critical attention to how my work as an engineer must be carried out without producing environmental alterations or damage to society and the environment..