02/05/2018

Engineering as a Profession

• What is a “profession”?
Professionalism and • How does the word “profession” differ

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

from the words “jobs” and “occupation” ?
Ethics
Job: Any work for hire can be considered a job – Engineering
is certainly a job – engineers are paid for their services
Ir. Dr. Syed Shatir A. Syed-Hassan
Occupation: Employment through which someone make a
living.

Attributes of a Profession Attributes of a Profession

1. Advanced Expertise
Advanced • Require sophisticated skills and theoretical knowledge
Expertise
in exercising judgment that is not entirely routine or
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

susceptible to mechanization.
Public • Entrance into a profession requires extensive formal
Good
education, usually of intellectual character, not simply
practical training or apprenticeship.
Self Regulated
• Generally, continuing education and updating
knowledge are also required (Continuous Professional
Development – CPD)

Attributes of a Profession Attributes of a Profession

3. Self-regulated
2. Public good • Well-established bodies/societies are allowed by the
• The practice of the profession is vital to the well-being public to play a major role in:
of the rest of the community. Their knowledge and
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

setting standards for admission to the profession –

expertise are relied upon by the society. those practicing without a license are subject to legal
penalties
• For example:

drafting codes of ethics

medicine is directed toward promoting health

enforcing standards of conduct, and representing the

law toward protecting the public’s legal rights profession before the public and the government

engineering toward technological solutions to problems • Often this is referred to as the “autonomy of the
concerning the public’s well-being, safety, and health profession”

1
 02/05/2018

The Registration of Engineers Act,

Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
1967 (REA 1967)
The Registration of
Engineers Act was The BEM is the domestic Regulator of the practice of
passed by Parliament engineering in Malaysia.

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

in 1967 but was only
implemented on 23 An Engineer can only be a “Registered Engineer” with
August 1972 when the the BEM and NOT call oneself a “member” of the BEM.
Board of Engineers,
Malaysia (BEM) was
operationalised.

Three types of Engineers

Primary roles of BEM
Registered with BEM
• Facilitates the registration of Engineers, • Graduate Engineer
Engineering Technologists, Inspectors of Works,
• Professional Engineer
Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships and Bodies
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

Corporate providing professional engineering • Professional Engineer with Practicing
services. Certificate
• Regulates the professional conduct and
practice of registered person in order to
safeguard the safety and interest of the public

Graduate Engineer Graduate Engineer

• The recognised academic qualification for registration as a Graduate
• Graduate Engineer is a person registered under Engineer with BEM includes the following:
Section 10(1) of the Registration of Engineers Act • Engineering Degree awarded by Malaysia:
1967 (Revised 2015). An engineering degree accredited/recognised by Engineering
• It is mandatory for university graduate to register Accreditation Council (EAC). The latest List of Accredited Engineering
Programme (Malaysia) is available in EAC website at
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

as Graduate Engineer if he/she wants to take up http://www.eac.org.my/list_accredited.html

employment as a Graduate Engineer in Malaysia.
• Section 10(1) defines the qualification for • Engineering Degree awarded by Other Countries
The recognition of engineering degree from overseas (outside Malaysia)
registration as a Graduate Engineer with BEM. will be based on the accreditation given by professional body who is a
• A person who holds any qualifications in signatory of Washington Accord (WA).
engineering which is recognised by the Board shall • Graduates with Engineering Technology Degree
be entitled on application to be registered as a Graduate with Degree in Engineering Technology is eligible to register
Graduate Engineer. as an Engineering Technologist.

2
 02/05/2018

Professional Engineer Becoming a Professional Engineer

• Professional Engineer is a person registered under Section 10(2) of
the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Revised 2015). • Applicant who applies for registration as a
• A Professional Engineer who is registered with the Board may: Professional Engineer must be a registered
• take up employment which requires him to carry out or perform
professional engineering services; Graduate Engineer with BEM.
• be entitled to describe himself or hold himself out under any name,
style or title – • Must select and satisfy one of the following Route

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• bearing the words "Professional Engineer" or the equivalent thereto
in any other language; to become a Professional Engineer:
• bearing any other word whatsoever in any language which may Route 1: Professional Assessment Examination
reasonably be construed to imply that he is a Professional Engineer;
or Route 2: Corporate Member of IEM
• using the abbreviation “Ir.” before his name or the abbreviation
“P.Eng.” after his name or in any way in association with his name; Route 3: Route for a Professional Engineer from an
• use or display any sign, board, card or other device representing or
implying that he is a Professional Engineer; overseas Regulatory Body
• use the stamp as may be determined by the Board.

Route 1: Professional Assessment

Route 2: Corporate Member of IEM
Examination
i. A Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia
i. has obtained 3 years practical experience as specified in
(IEM)
Regulation 22(1) which shall include the following:
• at least two years of general training that will provide a sound ii. has complied with the requirements as determined by the Board
basis for professional development; and as follows:
• at least one year of professional career development and training • has obtained 3 years practical experience as specified in Regulation
22(1) which shall include the following:
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

providing wide exposure to the various managerial and technical
expertise in engineering practice where;  - at least two years of general training that will provide a sound basis for
professional development; and
• at least one year of the above training must be obtained in
 - at least one year of professional career development and training providing
Malaysia under the supervision of a Professional Engineer in the
wide exposure to the various managerial and technical expertise in
same branch of engineering as that practised by the Graduate engineering practice where;
Engineer.
 - at least one year of the above training must be obtained in Malaysia under
• Professional Engineers in other related branches of engineering may the supervision of a Professional Engineer in the same branch of
be accepted with the prior approval of the Board engineering as that practised by the Graduate Engineer.
ii. has passed a Professional Assessment Examination  - Professional Engineers in other related branches of
conducted by the Board; engineering may be accepted with the prior approval of the
Board

Route 3: (Route for a Professional Engineer Professional Engineer with Practicing

from an overseas Regulatory Body Certificate
i. Applicant shall submit to BEM a certified latest Professional • Professional Engineer with Practising Certificate is a person registered under subsection
10D of the Registration of Engineers Act (Revised 2015).
Engineer Certificate issued by a Regulatory Body of other country.
• A Professional Engineer with Practising Certificate who is registered with the Board may:
ii. The professional engineers status shall be check that it is • practise, carry on business or take up employment which requires him to carry out or
equivalent to BEM’s professional engineer qualifications eligibility. perform professional engineering services for designated engineering works subject to
section 8;
iii. The applicant is not entitle to be registered as a Professional
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• be entitled to describe himself or hold himself out under any name, style or title -
Engineer if at any time prior to his registration there exist any
• bearing the words "Professional Engineer with Practising Certificate" or the equivalent
facts or circumstances which would have entitled the Disciplinary thereto in any other language;
Committee to cancel his registration pursuant to Section 15 of the • bearing any other word whatsoever in any language which may reasonably be
Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Revised 2015). construed to imply that he is a Professional Engineer with Practising Certificate; or
• using the abbreviation “Ir.” before his name or the abbreviation “P.Eng.” after his
iv. Summary of practical experience not less than 3 years using name or in any way in association with his name;
company letterhead certified by a PE in same branch of • use or display any sign, board, card or other device representing or implying that he is
engineering at which the applicant did his practical experience a Professional Engineer;
and; • be entitled to recover in any court any fee, charge, remuneration or other form of
consideration for any professional engineering services rendered subject to section 8.
v. has complied with the requirements as determined by the Board.
• use the stamp as may be determined by the Board.

3
 02/05/2018

Professional Engineer with Practicing

Certificate What is Ethics?
• Applicant shall be entitled on application to be
registered as a Professional Engineer with Practising
Certificate if he/she: • Ethics: the way in which we look at and
• is a registered Professional Engineer with the Board; understand a life situation, in terms of good

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• has passed a Professional Competency Examination and bad or right and wrong.
conducted by the Board; • Decision we make in life, including while
• has been residing in Malaysia for a period of not less practicing engineering, requires judgment of
than six months immediately prior to the date of
good and bad and right or wrong.
application.

Some definitions Some definitions

• Etiquette
•Etiquette
• rules of acceptable personal behavior and
courtesy
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

•Laws
• e.g. proper dress, answering the phone,
•Morals language, talking about others
• Laws
•Ethics
• a system of rules and punishments clearly
defined
• e.g. legal driving age

Some definitions Something to think

• Case Study: Murder
• Morals (personal ethics)
• Legal?
• personal rules of right and wrong behavior • Moral?
• e.g. derived from a person’s upbringing,
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• Ethical?
religious beliefs • Good Etiquette?

• Professional Ethics
• Answers:
• the set of standards adopted by professionals • Illegal
to govern their actions and their particular • Immoral
profession, often listed in a ‘code of ethics’ for • Unethical
that profession • Bad etiquette!

4
 02/05/2018

Something to think Simple Case Study

• A chemical company develops a new process that has a
• Case Study: Driving over the speed waste by product.
limit when you are late for class • Their internal studies show this by-product is highly
• Legal? carcinogenic.

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• Moral? • However, the by-product is not on a government list of
• Ethical? banned chemicals because it is new.
• Good Etiquette? • Legal? Moral?
• Answers:
• Answers: • Legal but immoral
• Illegal
• Moral to some, immoral to others
• Unethical
• Bad etiquette if it effects other drivers

Codes of Ethics
• Every occupational group that claim to have
professional status has a code of ethics.
• A code of ethics indicate to others that the
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

profession is seriously concerned about
responsible and professional conduct.
• When the code is breached, it brings shame
and dishonour to both the transgressor and the
profession.

BEM Code of Conducts BEM Code of Conducts

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

5
 02/05/2018

BEM Code of Conducts BEM Code of Conducts

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

BEM Code of Conducts BEM Code of Conducts
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

Preamble of the NSPE (USA)Code of Fundamental Canons of the NSPE

Ethics for Engineers (USA) Code of Ethics for Engineers
Engineering is an important and learned profession. Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:
As members of this profession, engineers are
expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty 1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

and integrity. Engineering has a direct and vital impact 2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the 3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
services provided by engineers require honesty, manner.
impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
dedicated to the protection of the public health, 5. Avoid deceptive acts.
safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform under a 6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and
standard of professional behavior that requires lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct. usefulness of the profession.

6
 02/05/2018

Responsibility in Engineering Ways in which harm is caused

• Obligation Responsibility: • Intentionally Causing Harm: Knowingly

Obligation of professionals to use their specialised deliberately causing harm!
knowledge and skill in a way that benefits clients
and the public and does not violate the trust placed • Recklessly Causing Harm: not aiming to cause

for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

in them. harm but acting in conscious awareness that
• Blame Responsibility: harm is likely to result

Refers to whom blame can be attributed for • Negligently Causing Harm: not knowingly
wrongdoing or harmful action.
causing harm but failing to exercise “due care”
• Role Responsibility:

Refers to being in a role/position (in responsible Engineers are morally responsible for harms they
charge) so that one has obligation responsibilities intentionally, negligently, or recklessly cause
and can also be blamed for harm. regardless of whom is held legally responsible

Three basic attitudes toward The minimalist view

responsibility
• Engineers have a duty only to conform to the
• Minimalist view standard operating procedures of their profession
and to fulfill the basic duties of their job as defined
• Reasonable care by the terms of their employment.
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

• Good Works • Unexpected problems can arise that standard
operating procedures are not well equipped to
handle!
• Avoidance of blame or “staying out of trouble” tends
to be the dominant concern. This minimalist view also
emphasizes a negative approach to responsibility: e.g.
“its his job, not mine!”

Reasonable Care Good Works

• Adhere to accepted standards of practice, • Sometimes we say that someone has gone
and... “above and beyond the call of duty” or “the
• Take reasonable care to ensure that mistakes extra mile”.
are prevented and the public welfare is • Engineers with good works view take on
for Engineers

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics

Leadership and Professional Ethics

protected responsibilities that no one has a right to

• Exercise and apply skill, ability and judgment expect from them. If they do not do it no one
reasonably and without neglect will fault them.
• More directly concerned with the perspective • Instead of hold someone else responsible
of those who are at risk of being harmed and engineers assume to be responsible or take on
trying to prevent that harm. certain responsibilities.

7
 02/05/2018

Impediments to Responsibility
• Self-interest – an exclusive concern to satisfy one’s own interest,
even at the possible expense to others.
• Fear – fear of acknowledging our mistakes, of losing our jobs, or of
some sort of punishment or other bad consequences.
• Self-deception – a process of denying or rationalizing away the
relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and
logical argument.

for Engineers
Leadership and Professional Ethics
• Ignorance (of vital information) – not realizing the design poses a
safety problem.
• Egocentric Tendencies – tendency to interpret situations from very
limited perspective (subjective viewpoint).
• Microscopic Vision – inaccurate, limited perspective, failing to
understand the perspective of others.
• Uncritical Acceptance of Authority – most engineers are not their
own bosses, and they are expected to defer to authority in their
organizations.
• Groupthink – an engineer will often participate in group decision
making rather than function as an individual decision maker.