Dr. Mohammad O.

Hamdan
1) Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
2) Making Moral Choices
3) Codes of Ethics

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 2

 “Borrowing” nuts and bolts, office supplies
from employer
 Copying of Videos or CD’s
 Plagiarism
 Using the copy machine at work
 Software piracy
 Expense account padding
 Copying of homework or tests

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 3

 Reasonable Solution to Ethical Dilemma has
to be clear, informed, and well‐reasoned.
 Steps in Resolving Ethical Dilemma:
1. Moral Clarity
2. Partners and factors
3. Conceptual Clarity – Codes & Moral frame work
4. Informed about the Facts
5. Alternative solution
6. Well‐Reasoned

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 4

Case Study
Chemical Engineer
Page 33

A chemical engineer working in the environment

division of a computer manufacturing firm learns
that her company might be discharging unlawful
amounts of lead and arsenic into the city sewer. The
city process the slug into a fertilizer, the city impose
restrictive laws on the discharge of lead and arsenic.
Preliminary investigations convince the engineer
that the company should implement stronger
pollution controls, but her supervisor tell her the
cost of doing so is prohibitive and the technically
company is compliance with the law. She is also
scheduled to appear before town officials to testify
in the matter. What should she do?

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 5

(1) Moral clarity:
Identify the relevant moral values.
 The most basic step in confronting ethical dilemmas is
to become aware of them! This means identifying the
moral values and reasons applicable in the situation,
and bearing them in mind as further investigations
are made.
 These values and reasons might be obligations, rights,
goods, ideals (which might be desirable but not
mandatory), or other moral considerations.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 6

(2) Conceptual clarity:
Be clear about key concepts.
 Professionalism requires being a faithful agent
of one's employer, but does that mean doing
what one's supervisor directs or doing what is
good for the corporation in the long run? These
might be different things, in particular when
one's supervisor is adopting a short‐term view
that could harm the long‐term interests of the
corporation.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 7

Again, what does it mean to "hold paramount
the safety, health, and welfare of the public" in the case
at hand? Does it pertain to all threats to public health, or
just serious threats, and what is a "serious" threat? Again,
does being "objective and truthful" simply mean never
lying (intentionally stating a falsehood), or does it mean
revealing all pertinent facts (withholding nothing
important) and doing so in a way that gives no
preference to the interests of one's employer over the
needs of the public to be informed of hazards?
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 8
(3) Informed about the facts:
Obtain relevant information.

 This means gathering information that is

pertinent in light of the applicable moral
values . Sometimes the primary difficulty in
resolving moral dilemmas is uncertainty
about the facts, rather than conflicting
values.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 9
Certainly in the case at hand, the chemical
engineer needs to check and recheck her
findings, perhaps asking colleagues for their
perspectives. Her corporation seems to be
violating the law, but is it actually doing
so? We, like the engineer, need to know more
about the possible harm caused by the minute
quantities of lead and arsenic over time. How
serious is it, and how likely to cause harm?

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 10

(4) Informed about the options:
Consider all (realistic) options.
 Initially, ethical dilemmas seem to force us into a two‐way choice:
Do this or do that. Either bow to a supervisor's orders or blow the
whistle to the town authorities. A closer look often reveals
additional options. (Sometimes writing down the main options
and sub options as a matrix or decision tree ensures that all
options are considered.)

 Unless an emergency develops, these and other steps should be

attempted before informing authorities outside the corporation.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 11

(5) Well‐reasoned:
Make a reasonable decision.

Arrive at a carefully reasoned judgment by

weighing all the relevant moral reasons and
facts. This is not a mechanical process that a
computer or algorithm might do for us. Instead,
it is a deliberation aimed at integrating all the
relevant reasons, facts, and values‐in a morally
reasonable manner.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 12
 XYZ Corporation permits its employees to borrow company tools. Engineer Al House took full
advantage of this privilege. He went one step further and ordered tools for his unit that would be
useful for his home building projects even though they were of no significant use to his unit at
XYZ. Engineer Michael Green had suspected for some time that Al was ordering tools for personal
rather than company use, but he had no unambiguous evidence until he overheard a revealing
conversation between Al and Bob Deal, a contract salesman from whom Al frequently purchased
tools.
 Michael was reluctant to directly confront Al. They had never gotten along well, and Al was a
senior engineer who wielded a great deal of power over Michael in their unit. Michael was also
reluctant to discuss the matter with the chief engineer of their unit, in whom he had little
confidence or trust.
 Eventually Michael decided to talk with the Contract Procurement Agent, whose immediate
response was, "This really stinks." The Contract Procurement Agent agreed not to reveal that
Michael had talked with him. He then called the chief engineer, indicating only that a reliable
source had informed him about Al House's inappropriate purchases. In turn, the chief engineer
confronted Al. Finally, Al House directly confronted each of the engineers in his unit he thought
might have "ratted" on him. When Al questioned Michael, Michael denied any knowledge of what
took place.
 Later Michael explained to his wife, "I was forced to lie. I told Al, 'I don't know anything about
this'."
 Discuss the ethical issues this case raises.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 13

We might divide ethical dilemmas into two broad
categories.
(A) Right or wrong dilemmas: "Right" means that
one course of action is obligatory, and failing to
do that action is unethical (immoral).
(B) Some dilemmas have two or more reasonable
solutions, no one of which is mandatory, but
one of which should be chosen. These solutions
might be better or worse than others in some
respects but not necessarily in all respects.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 14

In most instances (Right or wrong dilemmas) a
code of ethics specifies what is clearly required:

Obey the law and heed engineering standards,

do not offer or accept bribes, speak and write
truthfully, maintain confidentiality, and so forth.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 15

 Moral dilemmas compromise the most
difficult occasion for moral reasoning.
 Moral choices are decisions involving moral
values.
 Two Cases to evaluate (Read @ Home):
 Designing Aluminum Cans
 Design Analogy: Caroline Whitbeck

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 16

 Every profession has its own Code of Ethics.
 Check Appendix B for Code of Ethics for:
 NSPE
 IEEE
 AIChE
 ASCE
 ASME
 ACM/IEEE/CS

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 17

  Fundamental Canons: Engineers, in the fulfillment
of their professional duties, shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public.
Rules of Practice

2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.

3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees.
5. Avoid deceptive acts.
Professional
Obligations

6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically,

and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
usefulness of the profession.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 18

 Codes of ethics play at least
eight essential roles
Serving and protecting the public
Providing guidance
Offering inspiration
Establishing shared standards
Supporting responsible professionals
Contributing to education
Deterring wrongdoing
Strengthening a profession's image

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 19

a) If engineers’ judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger
life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other
authority as may be appropriate.
b) Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in
conformity with applicable standards.
c) Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without the prior
consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by
law or this Code.
d) Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in
business ventures with any person or firm that they believe is engaged
in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise.
e) Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice of engineering by
a person or firm.
f) Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall
report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant,
also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in
furnishing such information or assistance as may be required.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 20

a) Engineers shall undertake assignments only when
qualified by education or experience in the specific
technical fields involved.
b) Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans
or documents dealing with subject matter in which
they lack competence, nor to any plan or document
not prepared under their direction and control.
c) Engineers may accept assignments and assume
responsibility for coordination of an entire project
and sign and seal the engineering documents for the
entire project, provided that each technical segment
is signed and sealed only by the qualified engineers
who prepared the segment.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 21
a) Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports,
statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and
pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony,
which should bear the date indicating when it was current.
b) Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are
founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the
subject matter.
c) Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on
technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested
parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly
identifying the interested parties on whose behalf they are
speaking, and by revealing the existence of any interest the
engineers may have in the matters.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 22

a) Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that
could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of
their services.
b) Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from
more than one party for services on the same project, or for services
pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully
disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.
c) Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable
consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection
with the work for which they are responsible.
d) Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a
governmental or quasi‐governmental body or department shall not
participate in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided by
them or their organizations in private or public engineering practice.
e) Engineers shall not solicit or accept a contract from a governmental
body on which a principal or officer of their organization serves as a
member.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 23

a) Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit
misrepresentation of their or their associates’ qualifications. They shall
not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in or for the subject
matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations incident
to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent pertinent
facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint venturers, or
past accomplishments.
b) Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, or receive, either directly or
indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by
public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the public
as having the effect or intent of influencing the awarding of a contract.
They shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in order to
secure work. They shall not pay a commission, percentage, or
brokerage fee in order to secure work, except to a bona fide employee
or bona fide established commercial or marketing agencies retained by
them.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 24

This is Professional Obligations.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 25

a) Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall not
distort or alter the facts.
b) Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when
they believe a project will not be successful.
c) Engineers shall not accept outside employment to the
detriment of their regular work or interest. Before
accepting any outside engineering employment, they
will notify their employers.
d) Engineers shall not attempt to attract an engineer from
another employer by false or misleading pretenses.
e) Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the
expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 26

a) Engineers are encouraged to participate in civic affairs; career
guidance for youths; and work for the advancement of the
safety, health, and well‐being of their community.
b) Engineers shall not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or
specifications that are not in conformity with applicable
engineering standards. If the client or employer insists on such
unprofessional conduct, they shall notify the proper authorities
and withdraw from further service on the project.
c) Engineers are encouraged to extend public knowledge and
appreciation of engineering and its achievements.
d) Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of
sustainable development1 in order to protect the environment
for future generations.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 27

a) Engineers shall avoid the use of statements
containing a material misrepresentation of
fact or omitting a material fact.
b) Consistent with the foregoing, engineers
may advertise for recruitment of personnel.
c) Consistent with the foregoing, engineers
may prepare articles for the lay or technical
press, but such articles shall not imply credit
to the author for work performed by others.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 28
a) Engineers shall not, without the consent of all
interested parties, promote or arrange for new
employment or practice in connection with a
specific project for which the engineer has
gained particular and specialized knowledge.
b) Engineers shall not, without the consent of all
interested parties, participate in or represent
an adversary interest in connection with a
specific project or proceeding in which the
engineer has gained particular specialized
knowledge on behalf of a former client or
employer.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 29
a) Engineers shall not accept financial or other
considerations, including free engineering
designs, from material or equipment suppliers
for specifying their product.
b) Engineers shall not accept commissions or
allowances, directly or indirectly, from
contractors or other parties dealing with clients
or employers of the engineer in connection
with work for which the engineer is
responsible.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 30

a) Engineers shall not request, propose, or accept
a commission on a contingent basis under
circumstances in which their judgment may be
compromised.
b) Engineers in salaried positions shall accept
part‐time engineering work only to the extent
consistent with policies of the employer and in
accordance with ethical considerations.
c) Engineers shall not, without consent, use
equipment, supplies, laboratory, or office
facilities of an employer to carry on outside
private practice.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 31
a) Engineers in private practice shall not review the
work of another engineer for the same client, except
with the knowledge of such engineer, or unless the
connection of such engineer with the work has been
terminated.
b) Engineers in governmental, industrial, or
educational employ are entitled to review and
evaluate the work of other engineers when so
required by their employment duties.
c) Engineers in sales or industrial employ are entitled to
make engineering comparisons of represented
products with products of other suppliers.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 32
a) Engineers shall conform with state
registration laws in the practice of
engineering.
b) Engineers shall not use association with a
nonengineer, a corporation, or partnership
as a "cloak" for unethical acts.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 33

a) Engineers shall, whenever possible, name the person or persons who may be
individually responsible for designs, inventions, writings, or other
accomplishments.
b) Engineers using designs supplied by a client recognize that the designs remain
the property of the client and may not be duplicated by the engineer for others
without express permission.
c) Engineers, before undertaking work for others in connection with which the
engineer may make improvements, plans, designs, inventions, or other records
that may justify copyrights or patents, should enter into a positive agreement
regarding ownership.
d) Engineers' designs, data, records, and notes referring exclusively to an
employer's work are the employer's property. The employer should indemnify
the engineer for use of the information for any purpose other than the original
purpose.
e) Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers and should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in
professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in
the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 34

 When codes are not taken seriously within a
profession, they amount to a kind of window
dressing that ultimately increases public
comics about the profession.
 Worse, codes occasionally stifle to dissent
(disagreement) within the profession and are
abused in other ways.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 35

 Probably the worst abuse of engineering codes
is to restrict honest moral effort on the part of
individual engineers to preserve the profession's
public image and protect the status quo
(something that is given to a person in return for
something they have done).
 Preoccupation with keeping a shiny public image
may silence healthy dialogue and criticism.
 And an excessive interest in protecting the
status quo may lead to a distrust of the
engineering profession on the part of both
government and the public.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 36
 The best way to increase trust is by
encouraging and helping engineers to speak
freely and responsibly about public safety
and well‐being.
 This includes a tolerance for criticisms of the
codes themselves, rather than allowing codes
to become sacred documents that have to be
accepted uncritically.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 37

 Codes are no substitute for individual responsibility in
grappling with concrete dilemmas.
 Most codes are restricted to general wording, and
hence inevitably contain substantial areas of
vagueness. Thus, they may not be able to
straightforwardly address all situations.
 Codes are too vague to directly solve all engineering
dilemmas.
 At the same time, vague wording may be the only
way new technical developments and shifting social
and organizational structures can be accommodated.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 38

 Other uncertainties can arise when different
entries in codes come into conflict with each
other.
 Usually codes provide little guidance as to which
entry should have priority in those cases.
 For example, as we have noted, tensions arise
between stated responsibilities to employers
and to the wider public.
 Again, duties to speak honestly‐not just to avoid
deception, but also to reveal morally relevant
truths‐are sometimes in tension with duties to
maintain confidentiality.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 39
 Several engineering society codes may apply
to the same situation.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 40

Does a profession's code of
ethics create the obligations
that are incumbent (officially
having the named position) on
members of the profession, so
that engineers' obligations are
entirely relative to their code of
ethics? Or does the code simply
record the obligations that
already exist?

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 41

 One view is that codes try to put into words
obligations that already exist, whether or not
the code is written.
 As Stephen Unger writes, codes "recognize"
obligations that already exist:
"A code of professional ethics may be thought
of as a collective recognition of the
responsibilities of the individual practitioners";

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 42

 There are problems with ethical relativism,
whether we are talking about the
conventions of a profession such as
engineering or the conventions of a society in
its entirety (with all parts included).
 By viewing customs as self‐certifying, ethical
relativism rules out the possibility of
critiquing the customs from a wider moral
framework.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 43
 Ethical relativism also seems to allow any group
of individuals to form its own society with its
own conventions, perhaps ones that common
sense tells us are immoral.
 Again, an engineer might be a member of one or
more professional societies, a weapons
development corporation and a pacifist religious
tradition, and the customs of these groups in
matters of military work might point in different
directions.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 44

 When these values are specified as
responsibilities, they constitute role
responsibilities‐that is, obligations connected
with a particular social role as a professional.
 These responsibilities are not self‐certifying,
any more than other customs are.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 45

 A sound professional code will stand up to three tests:
1) It will be clear and coherent;
2) it will organize basic moral values applicable to the
profession in a systematic and comprehensive way,
highlighting what is most important;
3) it will provide helpful and reasonable guidance that
is compatible with our most carefully considered
moral convictions (judgments, intuitions) about
concrete situations. In addition, it will be widely
accepted within the profession.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 46

 “Choice is reasonable when it… coordinates,
organizes and functions each factor of the
situation which gave rise to conflict, suspense
and deliberation”.
John Dewey

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 47

Genetic Engineering and Cloning:
You have been offered a full scholarship to study Genetics
Engineering by ABC biological company and eventually you will be
working for ABC biological company. The company works in multiple
projects that involves cloning, stem research, and genetic engineered
product. The company is involved in agricultural, medical and
defense projects. Should the engineer accept the scholarship offer.
 Discuss the above point. Make sure you list:
 Ethical Dilemma
 Relevant Facts
 Involved Parties/factors
 Relevant code of ethics
 Alternative solution
 Moral frameworks (No need to include, Ch3)

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 48

Engineer A, an environmental engineer, is retained
by a major industrial owner to examine certain
lands adjacent to an abandoned industrial facility
formerly owned and operated by the owner.
Owner's attorney, Attorney X requests that as a
condition of the retention agreement that
Engineer A sign a secrecy provision whereby
Engineer A would agree not to disclose any data,
findings, conclusions or other information relating
to his examination of the owner's land to any other
party unless ordered by a court. Engineer A signs
the secrecy provision.
UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 49
Engineer A is employed by a software company and is involved in the design of
specialized software in connection with the operations of facilities affecting the
public health and safety (i.e., nuclear, air quality control, water quality control). As
part of the design of a particular software system, Engineer A conducts extensive
testing, and although the tests demonstrate that the software is safe to use under
existing standards, Engineer A is aware of new draft standards that are about to be
released by a standard setting organization ‐ standards which the newly designed
software may not meet. Testing is extremely costly and the company's clients are
eager to begin to move forward. The software company is eager to satisfy its clients,
protect the software company's finances, and protect existing jobs; but at the same
time, the management of the software company wants to be sure that the software
is safe to use. A series of tests proposed by Engineer A will likely result in a decision
whether to move forward with the use of the software. The tests are costly and will
delay the use of the software at least six months, which will put the company at a
competitive disadvantage and cost the company a significant amount of money.
Also, delaying implementation will mean the state public service commission utility
rates will rise significantly during this time. The company requests Engineer A's
recommendation concerning the need for additional software testing.
Engineer A subsequently informs his company of the reasons for additional
testing and provides a recommendations that it be undertaken.

UAE University Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan, ME Dept. 50

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