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Engineering Ethics

An Industrial Perspective

  • 1st Edition - April 11, 2006
  • Latest edition
  • Author: Gail Baura
  • Language: English

Engineering Ethics is the application of philosophical and moral systems to the proper judgment and behavior by engineers in conducting their work, including the products and syste… Read more

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Description

Engineering Ethics is the application of philosophical and moral systems to the proper judgment and behavior by engineers in conducting their work, including the products and systems they design and the consulting services they provide. In light of the work environment that inspired the new Sarbanes/Oxley federal legislation on “whistle-blowing” protections, a clear understanding of Engineering Ethics is needed like never before.

Beginning with a concise overview of various approaches to engineering ethics, the real heart of the book will be some 13 detailed case studies, delving into the history behind each one, the official outcome and the “real story” behind what happened. Using a consistent format and organization for each one—giving background, historical summary, news media effects, outcome and interpretation--these case histories will be used to clearly illustrate the ethics issues at play and what should or should not have been done by the engineers, scientists and managers involved in each instance.

Key features

  • Covers importance and practical benefits of systematic ethical behavior in any engineering work environment
  • Only book to explain implications of the Sarbanes/Oxley "Whistle-Blowing" federal legislation
  • 13 actual case histories, plus 10 additional "anonymous" case histories-in consistent format-will clearly demonstrate the relevance of ethics in the outcomes of each one
  • Offers actual investigative reports, with evidentiary material, legal proceedings, outcome and follow-up analysis
  • Appendix offers copies of the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics for Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Code of Ethics

Readership

Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Environmental, and Biomedical engineering; Undergraduate and graduate engineers in these same disciplines; Managers in industry responsible for product development, product safety and liability issues; In-house legal counsel at major manufacturing companies; Public-sector managers and attorneys responsible for enforcement and prosecution of liability, fraud, and related legal areas having to do with product quality and safety

Table of contents

Part I: An Ethics Foundation

Chapter 1: A Personal Engineering Ethics Threshold

1.1 A Real World Example

1.2 What Is Engineering Ethics?

1.3 Ethical Theories

1.3.1 Utilitarianism

1.3.2 Duty Ethics

1.3.3 Rights Ethics

1.3.4 Virtue Ethics

1.4 Engineering Ethics Codes

1.4.1 NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers

1.4.2 IEEE Code of Ethics

1.4.3 Code Effectiveness

1.5 Professional Responsibility

1.5.1 Protection of Public Safety

1.5.2 Technical Competence

1.5.3 Timely Communication of Negative & Positive Results to Management

1.6 Ethical Dilemmas

1.6.1 Public Safety & Welfare

1.6.2 Data Integrity & Representation

1.6.3 Trade Secrets & Industrial Espionage

1.6.4 Gift Giving & Bribery

1.6.5 Principle of Informed Consent

1.6.6 Conflict of Interest

1.6.7 Accountability to Clients & Customers

1.6.8 Fair Treatment

1.7 Determining Your Personal Engineering Ethics Threshold for Action

1.7.1What Is Your Personal Threshold?

1.8 References

1.9 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 2: Options for Action When an Engineering Ethics Threshold is Reached

2.1 Departure

2.2 Whistleblowing

2.3 The Employee Conscience

2.3.1 Employee Protection Legislation

2.3.2 Employee Protection Procedures

2.3.3 Employee Protection Examples

2.4 The Observer Conscience

2.4.1 Observer Protection Legislation

2.4.2 Observer Protection Procedures

2.4.3 Observer Protection Examples

2.5 Conclusion

2.6 References

2.7 Questions for Discussion

Part II: National Case Studies

Chapter 3: 1978 - Ford Pinto Explosion

3.1 The Reported Story

3.2 The Back Story

3.3 Applicable Regulations

3.4 An Engineering Perspective

3.5 References

3.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 4: 1981 - Kansas City Hyatt Regency Skywalk Collapse

4.1 The Reported Story

4.2 The Back Story

4.3 Applicable Regulations

4.4 An Engineering Perspective

4.5 References

4.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 5: 1986 - Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion

5.1 The Reported Story

5.2 The Back Story

5.3 Applicable Regulations

5.4 An Engineering Perspective

5.5 References

5.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 6: 1989 - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

6.1 The Reported Story

6.2 The Back Story

6.3 Applicable Regulations

6.4 An Engineering Perspective

6.5 References

6.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 7: 1989 - San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Earthquake Collapse

7.1 The Reported Story

7.2 The Back Story

7.3 Applicable Regulations

7.4 An Engineering Perspective

7.5 References

7.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 8: 1994 - Bjork Shiley Heart Valve Defect

8.1 The Reported Story

8.2 The Back Story

8.3 Applicable Regulations

8.4 An Engineering Perspective

8.5 References

8.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 9: 1999 - Y2K Software Conversion

9.1 The Reported Story

9.2 The Back Story

9.3 Applicable Regulations

9.4 An Engineering Perspective

9.5 References

9.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 10: 2002 - Bell Laboratories Scientific Fraud

10.1 The Reported Story

10.2 The Back Story

10.3 Applicable Regulations

10.4 A Scientific Perspective

10.5 References

10.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 11: 2002 - Ford Explorer Rollover

11.1 The Reported Story

11.2 The Back Story

11.3 Applicable Regulations

11.4 An Engineering Perspective

11.5 References

11.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 12: 2003 - Columbia Space Shuttle Explosion

12.1 The Reported Story

12.2 The Back Story

12.3 Applicable Regulations

12.4 An Engineering Perspective

12.5 References

12.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 13: 2003 - Guidant Ancure Endograft System

13.1 The Reported Story

13.2 The Back Story

13.3 Applicable Regulations

13.4 An Engineering Perspective

13.5 References

13.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 14: 2003 - Northeast Blackout

14.1 The Reported Story

14.2 The Back Story

14.3 Applicable Regulations

14.4 An Engineering Perspective

14.5 References

14.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 15: 2004 – Indian Ocean Tsunami

15.1 The Reported Story

15.2 The Back Story

15.3 Applicable Regulations

15.4 An Engineering Perspective

15.5 References

15.6 Questions for Discussion

Part III: Individual Case Studies

Chapter 16: Anonymous Industrial Engineering Ethics Cases

16.1 Case 1: Biomedical Engineer

16.2 Case 2: Mechanical Engineer

16.3 Case 3: Electrical Engineer

16.4 Case 4: Geologic Engineer

16.5 Case 5: Biomedical Engineer

16.6 Case 6: Electrical Engineer

16.7 Case 7: Mechanical Engineer

16.8 Case 8: Biomedical Engineer

16.9 Case 9: Computer Engineer

16.10 Case 10: Electrical Engineer

Review quotes

"This is a most extraordinary book. Its contents range from valuable reference material on Sarbanes-Oxley and US engineering codes of conduct to some folksy, almost sentimental, personal case histories. But, remarkably, the author's own personal commitment and integrity shine through on every page." —John Turnbull, The Chemical Engineer, August 2006

"At first glance, this book looks like most other recent volumes on this topic. But where other books often written in whole or part by philosophers and academics - can be tedious for engineers who are not coversant with ethical theory, Baura definitely approaches from an industrial perspective. She also addresses the subject with a concrete problem-solving approach and with more elegant prose and a better organization than I find in other treatments."—Gael UlRich, Chemical Engineering 2006

"Despite the US focus, the examples are presented with a level of detail that will enable engineers anywhere to understand the underlying technical and behavioral issues. It will be welcomed by those teaching engineering ethics modules, especially with the up-to-date examples we all remember from the news."—Julia King, Materials Today, March 2007

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: April 11, 2006
  • Language: English

About the author

GB

Gail Baura

Dr. Baura received her BS Electrical Engineering degree from Loyola Marymount University, her MS Electrical Engineering and MS Biomedical Engineering degrees from Drexel University, and her PhD Bioengineering degree from the University of Washington. Between her graduate degrees, she worked as a loop transmission systems engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories. She then spent 13 years in the medical device industry conducting medical device research and managing research and product development at several companies. She holds 20 U.S. patents. In her last industry position, Dr. Baura was Vice President, Research and Chief Scientist at CardioDynamics. In 2006, she returned to academia as a Professor of Medical Devices at Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, which is one of the Claremont Colleges.

Throughout her career, Dr. Baura has championed engineering curriculum excellence. She has written four engineering textbooks, three of which are medical device textbooks. She is an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commissioner. In her new position as Director of Engineering Science at Loyola, she is constructing a general engineering curriculum that incorporates substantial industry input and prepares new engineering graduates for positions in the medical device, semiconductor, and wastewater treatment industries.

Affiliations and expertise
Department of Engineering, Loyola University Chicago, IL, USA