Engineering Ethics Course Codes of Ethics Assignment 1. Given the 4 attributes o
ID: 2291917 • Letter: E
Question
Engineering Ethics Course
Codes of Ethics Assignment
1. Given the 4 attributes of a profession, justify that engineering is a profession.
2. Identify one advantage and disadvantage of a short code of ethics.
3. Identify one advantage and disadvantage of a long code of ethics.
4. Create your own code of ethics according to the following requirements:
a. Your code of ethics should include 5 – 10 statements/canons.
b. Your code of ethics should address your professional responsibility as an engineer to society, clients, the profession, and peers
Explanation / Answer
1. Four attributes of an Engineer
a) Possesses a Strong Analytical Aptitude: An engineer has an excellent analytical skill and is continuously examining things and thinking of other ways to help things work much better. They are naturally enthusiastic.
b)Takes Part in Continuing Education: A great engineer remains on top of the developments in the industry. Changes in technology would happen rapidly and the most incredible engineers is the one who keeps abreast of new research and ideas.
c)Shows an Ability to Think Logically: A great engineer has excellent logical skills. They are able to make sensible complex systems and understand how things work and how problems can be solved.
d) Has Excellent Technical Knowledge: A great engineer has an enormous amount of technical knowledge. They have knowledge of a variety of computer programs and other systems that are commonly used during an engineering project.
2. The advantage of the code of ethics-
a) Strategic Decision-Making: Small business owners make decisions at the executive level of their company. A code of ethics in a small business can provide a foundation on which to base all decisions that affect internal and external stakeholders, such as employees or residents in the local community. Ethical dilemmas faced by small business owners most often do not have the same scope as issues faced by corporate executives, such as laying off thousands of workers or introducing tons of pollutants into the environment. However, having a solid code of ethics in place from the beginning can help to guide you as your company eventually grows to a corporate size.
b)Day-to-Day Decisions: Company owners are not the only employees in a small business who make decisions. Due to the size of small businesses, front-line employees often have less supervision and more personal responsibility than employees of large corporations. This makes it even more important for all employees to fully understand the expectations of the company and the ethical guidelines in which to make decisions.
c) Company Reputation: Small businesses work hard to gain competitive advantages. Gaining advantages from a positive reputation in the marketplace can be enough to secure a sizable market share from your larger competitors. Proudly displaying your code of ethics on your website or in press releases, while taking care to ensure that your actions are always in line with your words, can garner a positive image among consumers and job-seekers, creating a loyal customer base and helping to develop your brand image.
d) Legal Considerations: The legal benefits of having a code of ethics in place make ethics statements a virtual requirement of doing business. All of the advantages mentioned above can serve to keep your company out of legal trouble, which, while important to every company, is especially important for sole proprietorships and partnerships that do not enjoy personal liability protection. A comprehensive code of ethics can provide extra protection if a single employee commits a criminal act in the name of your company, as well. If a single purchasing manager defrauds your suppliers, for example, your code of ethics can help to convince a court that your company does not endorse that kind of behavior
3) The disadvantage of the code of ethics-
a) Smaller Profits: A professional code of ethics restricts a businessman from going after maximum profit in favor of "what's best for the client." This may mean a businessman's sales figures under-perform for a given quarter because he's only selling people what they "need" versus what he can convince them they need. If the businessman works on a commission, not only is he returning smaller profits for his business but he's also taking home less money. According to SRA International, a professional code of ethics teaches an employee to put the client first and always be honest with him. In the competitive business world where results matter more than politeness, this strategy could cost someone a job.
b) Wasted Time: A professional code of ethics requires you to invest your time in inefficient ways. Taking the time to establish a good rapport with clients and other salespeople take time away from the business of making money. For example, while you're off somewhere at a charity golf event raising your presence in the community as an upstanding, ethical businessman, your competition is closing a deal and maneuvering you out of contention. Losing a big sale to more tenacious competition can severely damage your career.
c) Performance and Unattainable Goals: A professional code of ethics places value on treating all employees with respect as opposed to respecting performance. Implementing a professional code of ethics may cause employee production to slip as the focus is taken away from results and work standards, and turned toward creating a happy work environment. A code of ethics may also raise the public's expectations for company standards to unattainable levels, according to the business information website Goliath. This creates a more stressful workplace as employees struggle to maintain performance standards while learning a new rules set.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.