GE 451: Professional Ethics

THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar

1. Ethics: Greek Word Ethos
Moral principles that deals with what is good and bad. It deals with moral duties and obligations.
It could be of several types as Moral ethics, business ethics, professional ethics, management
ethics etc. Ethics is different from morality. And sometimes may be against it.
2. Morality: Latin Word Moralis
Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
Morality is simple seeing good in everything.

3. Morality and Ethics:

While both talks about rightness and wrongness of the actions and decisions, morality covers a
wide range of judgement and ethics deals with only professional behavior.
While ethics is certain code of conducts applicable within an organization or society that decides
the rightness and wrongness of the actions, morality is totally based on personal beliefs and it is
an internal thing developed by each individual.

4. Professional Ethics:
Professional ethics consists of the personal, and corporate standards of behavior expected by
professionals.
These are professionally accepted standards of personal and business behavior, values and guiding
principles.
A professional must abide by those code of conducts to maintain the integrity, honesty,
transparency, respectfulness towards the job as well as society.
5. Education:
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.
Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values,
beliefs, and habits. It is a learning experience.
Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research.

6. Profession:
Profession is a paid job that involves prolonged training and a formal qualifications.
Profession is a work that required sophisticated skills, the use of judgement and exercise of
discretion.
The end result of a professions should always be serving.

7. Who is professional:
One who is a member of profession is called professional. A professional is a paid promised
amount for his/her expertise.
A true professional always does his/her job within the code of conduct, following the ethical
theories of his profession. He/she must not think about material benefits over the morality and his
ultimate job that is serving the society.

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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
Many people call themselves a professional but comes out they don’t even know what professional
means. Just doing a job and making money is not professional. It goes beyond that. They must
think about the moral and ethical dimensions of their job and do their obligations with honesty.

8. Engineer and Engineering:

One who applies scientific knowledge to create products and processes to satisfy basic needs for
food and shelter and in addition, enhances the convenience, power and beauty of our everyday
lives.
Engineer are the people who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, systems, structures
and materials to fulfill objectives and requirements while considering the limitations imposed by
practicality, regulation, safety, and cost.
Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge and mathematical methods to practical
purposes of the design, analysis, or operation of structures, machines, or systems.
The contentious process of applying skills, learning, practicing them is engineering.

9. Engineering Ethics:
Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics and system of moral principles that apply to the
practice of engineering.
It examines and sets the obligations by engineers to society, to their clients, and to the profession.
Engineering Ethics, constitutes the rules and standards governing the conduct of engineering in
their role as professionals.
Basically it a set of philosophies indicating the ways that engineer should conduct themselves in
their professional capacity.

10. Significance of Studying Engineering Ethics:

11. Professionalism:
The level of excellence or competence that is expected from a professional. It describes the
qualities, skills, competence and behaviours you are expected to bring to the professional
workplace.

12. Characteristics/Attributes of professionalization:

A. Specialized knowledge and skills:

First and foremost, professionals are known for their specialized knowledge in that particular
area. A professional has deep personal commitment to develop and improve skills and they
have appropriate degree and qualifications.
Though, not all areas demands extensive knowledge, not all professionals have top degree and
qualifications, what matters the most is that these professionals have worked in a serious,
thoughtful and sustained way to master the specialized knowledge needed to succeed in their
fields.
B. Competency:
A professional is expected to get the job done. They are reliable and keep their promises. If
somehow they are not able to deliver ultimate performance, they manage themselves and do
their best to make things right.
Professionals do not make excuse but focus on finding solutions.

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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
C. Honesty and Integrity:
Professionals must exhibit qualities such as honesty and integrity. They must keep their word,
and they can be trusted implicitly because of this. They never compromise their values, and
will do the right thing, even when it means taking a harder road.
More than this, true professionals are humble and egoless. They immediately ask for help
when they need it, and they're willing to learn from others.
D. Accountability
Professionals hold themselves accountable for their thoughts, words, and actions, especially
when they've made a mistake. This personal accountability is closely tied to honesty and
integrity, and it's a vital element in professionalism.
E. Self-Regulation/Independence:
A professional must stay professional under pressure. Genuine professionals show respect for
the people around them, no matter what their role or situation. They exhibit a high degree of
emotional intelligence (EI) by considering the emotions and needs of others, and they don't
let a bad day impact how they interact with colleagues or clients.

13. What makes a professional different?

A. Specialized knowledge skills
B. Competency
C. Honesty and integrity
D. Self-respect and respect for others
E. Accountability
F. Obligations towards organisation and society
G. Self-regulation and discipline
H. Fulfilling the demands
I. Independence

14. Ethical Thinking/ Study of ethics:

A. Ethics involves the system of systematic enquiry into standards of behaviour and their hidden
values and justification. Ethics help us to understand and justify those values.
B. Applied ethics sees the way in which moral values can be applied to particular areas like
business. It states that ethical dimensions is a fundamental part of all judgements and decisions.

15. Virtue:
Virtue implies high moral standards.
From the viewpoint of virtue, good is found neither in the act not in its consequence, but in the
character of the agent.
No rule can give guidance in every scenario. We need to develop the capacity to deal with situation
as it comes.

16. Virtues/characteristics of ethics:

Moral maturity is the state in which individual develop the capacity to take responsibility for
ethical decision making. Moral maturity can be attend by development of personal value system.
There are four fundamental virtues also called Plato’s Devine Virtues:
A. Wisdom/Prudence:
Examining a problem morally and seek for the truth in its all expects of existence. It is closely
related to the skills of listening and being still in extremes cases. It helps in avoiding premature
judgements, and for achieving creative planning.
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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
B. Temperance/Control:
It is the quality of moderation, balance and self-control. We should not emphasis too much on
the likings and control attraction to the positive emotions. It strongly suggest to ensure that
person is not controlled by the passions like anger or fear that may ruin the judgement.
C. Fortitude/Stamina:
It describes the quality of courage and resilience. It enables a person to make better decisions
and to stand against the pressure and challenges to make better decisions.
D. Justice:
It is the quality of one to make even and fair judgement by treating all the parties equally. It
requires an awareness of right and wrong. And code of standards based on which decisions can
be taken.

17. Ethical Theories:

A. Utilitarianism: Most good for the most people
An action is good/ethical if its outcome is greatest for most of the people. Also called theory
of consequences.
B. Deontological theory: General rules for all or Rule based ethics
Deontology is the study of the nature of duty and obligations. Good things can be self-evident
and summed up to form a common rule. Ex “It is wrong to kill”. By this theory action of killing
is always bad. It breaks the basic rule of live.
C. Theory of Respect for people:
This theory is entirely based on the people whom we respect or chose to respect.
D. Rights Ethics/Theory: Respect human rights
This theory is based on the basic individual human rights and moral principles.
E. Virtue Ethics/Theory: Virtue and defects
It is based on individual personal virtues and traits.
F. Situational Ethics:
Rightness and wrongness based on the current situation and scenario.
G. Natural law Theory:
It believes in one should not try to change or manipulate natural ways of enjoyments.
H. Duty Ethics: Duties to respect persons

18. Major Moral Principles:

A. Moral Autonomy:
Autonomy means self-determining or being independent. It is a kind of skill and habit of
thinking rationally about ethical issues on the basis of moral concern.
It is more kind of self-learning form the experience and surrounding rather than teaching in the
classroom. Person lacking these qualities often becomes sociopaths that lacks moral concern
and guilt.
B. Moral Disagreement:
Certain issues which can be debated and then can be proved wrong based on the disagreement
of the wise and good will peoples. Issues such as abortion, surrogacy and racism are those king
of issues on which a majority can disagree.
C. Moral Absolutism:
This theories believes that “There is only one right perspective and that is the one held by
them”. Ex All religious fundamentals, Dictators etc.
D. Moral Relativism:

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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
It believes in no action can be called absolutely moral. What is moral and right for one or a
majority, may not hold true and moral for everybody else. No one is wrong and everyone is
right in his sphere.
E. Moral Pluralism:
While moral absolutism fail to believe there can be more than one right decision, relativism
fails to offer an agreement, moral pluralism states, in a given situation, more than one moral
truth can be found and they can conflict each other in some views. Moral truths are real but
partial. And they are plural in number
F. Ethical Egoism:
Ethical egoist believes in we should look only at consequences that is going to affect us. Each
person should perform those actions that contribute most to their own self-interest.
As each person is the best judge of their own self-interest, they are self-responsible for
maximizing their own self-interest.
Ethical egoism is often criticize by many as it the thing that morality has to overcome and not
encourage.
G. Feminist Consequentialism:
It basically states “Consequences should be based in terms of its effect on the relationships and
feelings.”
Some feminist believes, negative consequences are those that destroy relationships and hurt
others especially emotionally. While positives are those that builds a healthy relationship.
19. Is engineering a social Experimentation?

Experimentation is a test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth,
to examine the validity of a hypothesis, or to determine the efficacy of something previously
untried.
Experimentation (Preliminary tests or Simulations) plays a vital role in the design of a product or
process of Engineering.
Engineering broadly involves people, environment and nature, it is inherently a risky activity and
should be viewed as an experimentation process.
Similarities with standard experimentation:
A. Any project is carried out in partial ignorance due to uncertainties of model and calculations,
uncertainties of material used, uncertain behaviours of material under test condition.
The success of engineering projects depends upon the ability of accomplishment of task. To
overcome the uncertainties of the outcome, an engineer should have practical knowledge of
scientific laws about science and society.
B. The final outcomes of engineering projects are generally uncertain like that of experiments
what we do i.e. In engineering, in most of the cases, the possible outcomes may not be known
and even small and mild projects itself involve greater risks. Ex, a reservoir (Dam) construction
may cause damage to the surroundings and affect the eco system.
C. Effective Engineering relies upon knowledge gained about products both before and after they
leave the factory- knowledge needed for improving current products and creating better ones.
That is, ongoing success in engineering depends upon gaining new knowledge.
To overcome these aspects, we can use the concept of monitoring and learning from past. This
monitoring is done by making periodic observations and tests by looking at for the successful
performance and the side effects of the jobs.

20. What is collegiality?

“Having authority vested equally among colleagues”. It is the relationship between colleagues.
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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
It is a virtue that strengths one’s motivation to live up to professional standards. It increased shared
values in order to support co-operation.
Collegiality seems to be absent at the place of competition among the colleagues.

21. What are the central elements of the collegiality?

A. Respect:
It is affirming the worth of other engineers engaged in producing socially useful and safe
products. It is about valuing one’s colleague professional expertise and devotion towards
society.
B. Commitment:
It means having devotion towards moral ideas inherent in the practice of engineering. Even
where there is competition and rival one should stay committed to the code of conducts and
obligations.
C. Connectedness:
It is an awareness of being part of a cooperative organisation shared by commitment and
expertise. And one must do it with appropriate attitude. The sense of unity with other engineer
evokes cooperation and mutual support.
D. Cooperation:
The sense of unity and acting together as a team. Each of engineer in an organisation is a part
of something bigger and they together share a much bigger goal than their individual one. To
achieve the goal they must cooperate.

22. Process of achieving Collegiality:

A. Develop recognition and articulation of shared value.
B. To establish a sense of professionalization.
C. In vision at tangible growth.
D. Defining expectation.
E. Paying attention to gender diversity issues.
F. Score keeping (individual).
G. Building trust.
H. Practice area of leadership.

23. Loyalty:
Loyalty is when we recognise the importance of the connections that we have with others and then
acting in a way that not only protects those connections but also strengthens them.
It is a virtue beyond obligations and duty which is based on legal professionalism and
responsibility.
Loyalty to and employer can mean two things:
A. Agency-Loyalty:
Acting to fulfill one’s contractual duties as an employee. These duties are specifies in terms of
the particular task for which one is paid. It is entirely matter of actions, whatever it motivates.
B. Identification-Loyalty:
This is oriented more towards attitude, emotions and sense of personal identity. It can also be
understood as agency based loyalty is motivated by identification by the group to which one is
loyal.
It implies seeking to meet one’s moral duties to a group or organization willing, with personal
attachment and affirmation.
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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar

24. Conflicts of Interests:

A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple
interests. Two or more interests are not simultaneously visualizable. It may cause impairment in
judgements and moral decisions.
Professionally, these are the situations where professionals have an interest which if pursued might
keep them meeting their obligations to their employers and clients.
In some cases, interest involves serving some other professional role like consultant for
Competitor Company.
COI threaten good judgement in faithfully serving an employer or client. Scenarios:
A. The professional is in a relationship or role that acquires exercising good judgement on behalf
of interests of employer or client.
B. The professional has some additional or side interests that could threaten good judgement in
serving the interest of the employer or client.

25. Scenarios of COI:

A. Financial Investment:
B. Insider trading:
Sharing or leaking inside sensitive information to gain an advantage or set up a business
opportunity for oneself, family or friend.
The information might concern one’s own company or other company with one does business.
Ex Stock market
C. Bribes:
Bribe is a substantial amount of money or goods offered beyond a stated business contract with
aim of winning an advantage in gaining or keeping the contract.
Minimum two parties are involved with most commonly having one mediator.
D. Gifts:
Gifts are not bribes as long as they are small gratuities offered in normal conduct of business.
Ex taking cup from other company, dining with clients etc.
E. Kickbacks:
Rewards or arrangements made by a company to their representatives in exchange for contracts
actually gained.

26. Occupational crimes:

Occupational crime refers to a crime committed by someone during the course of his or her
employment.
These are illegal acts made possible through one’s lawful employment. It is secretly violation of
laws regulating work activities.
Mainly occupational crimes are special and extremes of COI when crime involves personal gain
or a savior from the fall.
These crimes deserves special attentions because of its frequent occurrence and much intense
impact. Compared to a street robbery, these crimes may deal with billions of dollars.

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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
A. Employees crime:
1. The employer who manages their own business making use of their employer’s resources.
2. The store manager who steal items from incoming shipment and sells it.
3. The trusted employees selling company products illegally and pocketing.
B. White collar crimes:
Crime committed by office workers or professionals.
It occurs mostly at the workplace and involve activities related to the one’s occupation. On its
highest level, it may also involve in manipulation of account records and legal documents for
personal gain.
C. Embezzlement and fraud:
These crime are committed either by commission or omission. Or simple by doing or keeping
quiet and letting others do.
Act of commission involves lying or making some material misrepresentation.
D. Computer theft:
Unless authorized explicitly, use of other’s computer or misuse of computer is unethical.
This type of crime involves cybercrime, information stealing, information manipulation etc.
One may hack login credential or steal credit card detail and leave no trace. The owner might
never know about these.
E. Trade Secrets:
These are concerned with company’s own activities, technologies and future plan. These
secrets if known to its competitors may severely effect company’s ability to compete.

27. IPR: Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property is an intangible property that is a result of creation of human mind such as
design, painting, symbols, literary etc.
Any property movable or immovable is protected by to prevent it from being stolen or copied.
Similarly intellectual properties are also protected in order to avoid infringement. These legal law
are termed as intellectual property rights.
Classification of IPR:
A. Patent:
Law grants protection to the inventor for 17 years in exchange of disclosing the information to
public afterwards.
These are legal rights granted for inventions employing scientific and technical knowledge.
B. Trade secret:
A secret formula, pattern or device which gives a commercial advantage. It can be bought, sold
or licensed. Ex KFC, Coke etc.
C. Industrial design:
Applicable for 10 years.
A design is an idea or conception of shape, pattern, ornaments, textile or composition of lines
and dots.
D. Copyrights:
It is the right to copy and make use of literary, music, artistic work, records, broadcast and
films.
This law limits the no of copies others can make. Ex computer programs.
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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
E. Trademarks:
Trademarks are visual symbols in the form of word, service or label applied to an article by its
manufacturer or company indicating the origin and branding. Ex Dell, HP.
F. Protection of new plant species:
World Trade Organization WTO, made it mandatory for the member counties to provide
protection on new plant species.
28. Indian constitutional law in IPR:
A. The patent act 1970
B. The copyright act 1957
C. Trade and merchandise act 1957
D. The design act 1911

29. Respect for authority:

Obligations to accept and obey authority directives.
It is not an obligation to suspend one’s critical and evaluated judgement. In common practice
people try to please their higher executives but this does not comes under respect for authority.
Institutional authority is the right of employers and managers but the goals of the organization
should be morally achievable without violation moral duties.
A professional should accept the superior authority but only after critical thinking.

30. Risk:
Risk is a potential that something unwanted and harmful may occur. Risk may include physical
damage, health, wealth etc.
It could be natural or self-caused. And may include economical damage at a large scale.
On the other hand safety is when the risks of the situation are well judged and acceptable.
The person who takes risk are risk takers while the creator is called risk averse.

31. Factors related to risk:

A. Information available
B. Cost/material benefits
C. Situation analysis
D. Precautions taken
E. No other way

32. Types of Risk:

A. Voluntary and nonovulatory
B. Short term and long term
C. Expected probability
D. Threshold level of risk
E. Reversible risk

33. Safety Analysis:

A. Specify the objective and measure. It is based on the problem.
B. Generate all possible solutions and alternatives. Try to explore as much as possible.
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 GE 451: Professional Ethics
THIS IS A PRIVET PROPERTY. Do Not Misuse. Author: Vivek Kumar
C. Analyze each solution thoroughly and critically to determine pros and cons of each.
D. Test the solution: Consequence analysis.
E. Select the best and safest solution/alternative.
F. Implementation.

34. False negative and positive concepts.

False positive matters claims for a causal connection when there is none.
False negative statements denies for any causal connection when there is one.

35. Types of enquiry:

A. Factual:
Relies on collective fact, data, diagrams and documentation.
B. Conceptual:
Understanding the concept and principle associated with profession itself. Concepts of
professionalism in terms of duty, responsibility and rights of profession.
C. Normative:
Keeping emphasis on developing professional conduct. They have two major norms:
Implicit and explicit.
36. Factors influencing the ethics:
Internal factors: Self-interest, desires, believes, conformity etc.
External factors: Family, Environment, society, climate and geographic areas, intoxication or
brain wash.

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