Course description
This one-hour continuing education course is designed to provide professional engineers with a review of their ethical responsibilities. The course begins with a discussion of how to identify situations where ethical issues are in play. This is often more difficult than you might imagine. Then we will examine how to determine the ethical course of action. Finally, we will review the many impediments to doing the right thing. Along the way you will be presented with short, entertaining case studies that you are sure to recognize from your everyday professional life.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course you will be able to:
- Understand that there are hidden ethical issues in play in many professional situations;
- Understand the steps involved in making ethical decisions, and;
- Provide a simple test to gage your ethical behavior.
Introduction
Welcome to Basic Engineering Ethics (Module 2: The Ethical Decision Process). Today, we will be exploring your professional responsibilities as they relate to your clients, your peers, your employer, your employees, and your profession. We will begin our discussion by examining some common professional situations and identifying the underlying ethical issues. Then we will examine the three-step process necessary to arrive at an ethical action and finally we will give you an evaluation tool you can apply in any professional situation to judge your actions.
Despite any preconceived notions you might have, I promise you that you will find this material both entertaining and informative. But for this to work, you'll have to do your part. When I pose a question as to what you might do in a particular situation, don't answer with some academically pure, oh so righteous response. Instead, answer with what you would actually do if confronted with that situation in the real world. You know, the world you live in with real bosses, real deadlines, real budgets, and real clients. That's a key difference between professional ethics and theoretical ethics…professional ethics must have a practical application or they are of no value to any of us.
Course outline
Basic Engineering Ethics (Module 2: The Ethical Decision Process)
A. Ethical decision making process
1. Awareness of potential ethical issue.
2. Determining the ethical course of action
a. Determining right from wrong.
b. The ethical difference between honesty and candor
3. Courage to act ethically
a. Choice between ethical and expedient action
b. The strategic benefits of acting ethically
1. Long term relationships
2. Professional reputation
3. Benefit to entire profession
4. Bottom line a personal success
B. Evaluation your ethical decisions
1. Determining who benefits from your decision
2. Determining who suffers from your decision
3. Reciprocity. How would you feel if the situation were
reversed?
Qualifies for one credit hour of Engineering Ethics (1 PDH; 0.1 CEU).
Acceptable continuing education for:
(AL) ALABAMA:Engineer, (AK) ALASKA:Engineer, (AR) ARKANSAS:Engineer, (GA) GEORGIA:Engineer, (ID) IDAHO:Engineer, (IL) ILLINOIS:Engineer, (IA) IOWA:Engineer, (KS) KANSAS:Engineer, (KY) KENTUCKY:Engineer, (LA) LOUISIANA; Engineer, (ME) MAINE:Engineer, (MN) MINNESOTA:Engineer, (MS) MISSISSIPPI:Engineer, (M0) MISSOURI:Engineer, (MT) MONTANA:Engineer, (NE) NEBRASKA:Engineer, (NV) NEVADA:Engineer, (NH) NEW HAMPSHIRE:Engineer, (NM) NEW MEXICO:Engineer, (ND) NORTH DAKOTA:Engineer, (OH) OHIO:Engineer, (SC) SOUTH CAROLINA:Engineer, (SD) SOUTH DAKOTA:Engineer, (TN) TENNESSEE:Engineer, (TX) TEXAS:Engineer, (UT) UTAH:Engineer, (WV) WEST VIRGINIA:Engineer, (WY) WYOMING:Engineer