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Scope of Engineering ethics
Immanuel kant enlightenment
Moral issues facing engineers
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In a few months time, Searle Lawson went from an ambitious engineer to a helpless employee, trapped in a messy debacle that affected himself, his company, and those external to the company as well. The events surrounding the failure of the A7D brake design involved the moral compromises of engineers and managers alike, each motivated by their own morals and priorities. However, here we will examine Lawson’s experience personally, looking at the ethical approaches and consequences the young engineer may or may have not considered. Approaching this dilemma within the context of Immanuel Kant’s core philosophy helps reinforce what makes Lawson’s predicament so ethically dubious. To Kant, morality was simply “performing the actions intended to do his or her duty” (Badaracco, 1997, p. 26). This overreaching moral hypothesis, when applied to this problem, never provides a defined solution.
The beginning of Lawson’s dilemma places him unambiguously as an engineer tasked with creating a final product for testing based on the design of his superior. However, the obvious failures of the prototype brakes set against his superiors’ personal agendas would put Lawson at a crossroads. Lawson’s role as an employee would come to stand against his duties as an engineer.
In one sense, Lawson was an engineer, with a particular set of job requirements. While he didn’t make major design decisions, he was responsible for “determin[ing] the best materals to use for the linings and discover[ing] what minor adjustments in the design would have to be made” (Vandivier, 1992, p. 207). It was specifically his job to ensure the final product was completely functional. Discovering critical design flaws most certainly were a part of his role. As an engineer, L...
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...be presumptuous to play the ‘ethical Monday-morning quarterback’ and condemn Searle Lawson’s actions; that is to say, this case study doesn’t highlight a ‘wrong’ answer to a ethical dilemma. Rather, it illuminates the moral gray area that most businesses and employees find themselves in every day. In these cases, the ‘right’ thing to do most importantly involves understanding the impact a decision will have on everything it affects.
Works Cited
Badaracco Jr., J. L. (1997). Defining Moments When Managers Must Choose Between Right and Right. United States: Harvard Business School Pr,1997.
Ciulla, J. B. (2002). The Ethics of Leadership (1 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Ermann, M. D., & Lundman, R. J. (2001). Corporate and Governmental Deviance: Problems of Organizational Behavior in Contemporary Society (6 ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, USA.
172) on this matter in front of the local environmental advocacy group. The decision confirms to the individualism approach (Pg. 157) but violates the justice approach (Pg. 158). A resulting protest can bring things to a grinding halt at Chem-Tech and jeopardize Nathan’s and all employees’ careers and livelihood. Such an action by Nathan implies that he is at the postconventional level (Pg. 160) of moral development, as his internal values assume greater importance than the expectations of significant
Margaret R.,DeCosse, David, Andre, Claire, & Hanson Markkula, Kirk O. (1988). Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Issues in Ethics, V. 1, N. 2. Sobel, Russell S. &
Many great philosophers have attempted to tackle the issue of ethics and, consequently, have come up with various ethical theories in order to define ethical and moral situations. In this paper, I will be summarizing a scene from the 2004, Academy Award winning film, Crash, and further analyzing it in terms of the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant. In terms of this scene, I will be arguing that Kant’s ethical theory provides a satisfactory analysis of its ethicality.
Of the many possible ethical dilemmas that people could face in the business world, the article: “The ‘Do Whatever It Takes’ Attitude Gone Wrong” portrays particular ethical situations in todays business world that are very common: poor social responsibility and its negative effects. Social responsibility is considering what affects business decisions and products have on society. The article reveals what goes on behind the scenes at a business in terms of poor ethical decision making and how often it occurs. It mainly focuses on how business decisions are made without consideration
Martin, M.W. and Schinzinger, R. (2005) Ethics in Engineering. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
Ethics and morality are among the most difficult subjects to define and discuss. Opinions concerning these matters are frequently automatic, held on a preconceived notions and are never subject to verification until after the fact and, often, not even then. To some critics, any use of technology leads to increasing alienation and dehumanization therefore, technology is considered far from moral. However, most people recognize great improvement of the quality of human existence which has been possible only with technology.
Consider a business case that challenges ethical behavior and standards. As the new controller for Mega Wheels, Inc., Julie Emerson needs to adhere to the IMA’s Statement of Ethical Profession...
In 2007, famed psychologist Howard Gardner was interviewed by Fryer (2007) to discuss this topic in detail. As is common knowledge, to say that trust between corporations and the public is feigning would be an understatement with unethical behaviors being perceived as the status quo thanks to the calamity of scandal plaguing Corporate America. Howard Gardner feels that with the pressure for employees and management to succeed at all costs in today’s ultra-competitive market-place, it can be easy to lose one’s way if they do not hold what he calls the ethical mind, helping people to make morally sound choices especially in work involving entities, colleagues and society as a whole (Fryer, 2007). This also serves as the author’s definition of ethics: To make morally sound choices regardless of influence of pressures or consequence even at the risk of forced resignation or involuntary termination (Fryer,
The purpose of this paper will be to identify and describe ethical tactics used in the Jeanne Lewis case. The writer will also discuss Jeanne Lewis's ethical behavior in light of her decision to work with her employees until she was confident in the strength of her team.
In my point of view, every choice has consequences. General Motors ignition switch issue has affected many families in U.S., took lives, and caused injuries to many people. Replacing the part after a decade passed will prevent future accidents from happening; however it will not replace the pain and suffrage of people who lost their loved ones. Bad decision-making, poor professional conduct and dishonesty cost GM millions of dollars. Choosing company’s financial budget over lives of innocent people is wrong. No matter how much money GM will spend on replacing the ignitions, compensating the families, going through lawsuits those lives cannot be restored. Following duty-driven ethics would have prevented the disaster from taking place.
I discovered how sticking to one’s morals should be the topmost priority for everyone involved in business, whether personal or professional. Regardless of what the consequences may be, the intensity of the problem, and the complexities it may bring, sacrificing one’s integrity should never be an option, as integrity goes hand-in-hand with the morals of an individual (Duggan & Woodhouse, 2011). They further go on to say that having individuals take part in building a code of ethics that supports employee integrity, they will act ethically. Also, I believe that companies should place more emphasis on the moral behavior of their employees, and clear-cut policies should be set regarding such ethical situations. Furthermore, I realized how serving justice while making decisions really helps in the long run, and that opting to go for the ideal rather than they deserved is not always the best option, and could hurt a company in more than one
Badaracco, J. . Defining moments, when managers must choose between right and right. Harvard Business Press, print.
Poel, Ibo Van De, and Lambèr M. M. Royakkers. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Workplace deviance refers to voluntary behaviors by employees that violate significant company norms, policies, or rules and threaten the well-being of the organization and / or its members. Examples of workplace deviance include both behaviors directed at organizations (e.g. theft, sabotage, coming to work late, and putting little effort into work) and individuals in the workplace, such as supervisors or coworkers (e.g. making fun of others, playing mean pranks, acting rudely, arguing). Until recently workplace deviance has been a neglect topic in organizational research. Employee theft and fraud is the fastest growing type of crime. It has been estimated that three quarters of employees steal at least once from their employer
Business nowadays encounter with a lot of moral challenges in today’s global economy. Everyone is thriving to be more successful than their competitors, to make their next profits, to keep their job, to earn a big bonus, or to compete effectively. There exists temptation to bend lines, omit information, and do whatever it takes to get ahead of their competition. Many business employees and executives succumb. Sadly, the theme becomes...