Engineering Ethics: An Industrial Perspective

Part I: An Ethics Foundation


Chapter 1: A Personal Engineering Ethics Threshold
1.1 A Real World Example 1.2 What Is Engineering Ethics? 1.3 Ethical Theories 1.3.1 Utilitarianism 1.3.2 Duty Ethics 1.3.3 Rights Ethics1.3.4 Virtue Ethics 1.4 Engineering Ethics Codes 1.4.1 NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers 1.4.2 IEEE Code of Ethics 1.4.3 Code Effectiveness 1.5 Professional Responsibility 1.5.1 Protection of Public Safety 1.5.2 Technical Competence 1.5.3 Timely Communication of Negative & Positive Results to Management 1.6 Ethical Dilemmas 1.6.1 Public Safety & Welfare 1.6.2 Data Integrity & Representation 1.6.3 Trade Secrets & Industrial Espionage 1.6.4 Gift Giving & Bribery 1.6.5 Principle of Informed Consent 1.6.6 Conflict of Interest 1.6.7 Accountability to Clients & Customers 1.6.8 Fair Treatment 1.7 Determining Your Personal Engineering Ethics Threshold for Action 1.7.1What Is Your Personal Threshold? 1.8 References 1.9 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 2: Options for Action When an Engineering Ethics Threshold is Reached
2.1 Departure 2.2 Whistleblowing 2.3 The Employee Conscience 2.3.1 Employee Protection Legislation 2.3.2 Employee Protection Procedures 2.3.3 Employee Protection Examples 2.4 The Observer Conscience 2.4.1 Observer Protection Legislation 2.4.2 Observer Protection Procedures 2.4.3 Observer Protection Examples 2.5 Conclusion 2.6 References 2.7 Questions for Discussion

Part II: National Case Studies


Chapter 3: 1978 - Ford Pinto Explosion
3.1 The Reported Story 3.2 The Back Story 3.3 Applicable Regulations 3.4 An Engineering Perspective 3.5 References 3.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 4: 1981 - Kansas City Hyatt Regency Skywalk Collapse
4.1 The Reported Story 4.2 The Back Story 4.3 Applicable Regulations 4.4 An Engineering Perspective 4.5 References 4.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 5: 1986 - Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion
5.1 The Reported Story 5.2 The Back Story 5.3 Applicable Regulations 5.4 An Engineering Perspective 5.5 References 5.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 6: 1989 - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
6.1 The Reported Story 6.2 The Back Story 6.3 Applicable Regulations 6.4 An Engineering Perspective 6.5 References 6.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 7: 1989 - San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Earthquake Collapse
7.1 The Reported Story 7.2 The Back Story 7.3 Applicable Regulations 7.4 An Engineering Perspective 7.5 References 7.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 8: 1994 - Bjork Shiley Heart Valve Defect
8.1 The Reported Story 8.2 The Back Story 8.3 Applicable Regulations 8.4 An Engineering Perspective 8.5 References 8.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 9: 1999 - Y2K Software Conversion
9.1 The Reported Story 9.2 The Back Story 9.3 Applicable Regulations 9.4 An Engineering Perspective 9.5 References 9.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 10: 2002 - Bell Laboratories Scientific Fraud
10.1 The Reported Story 10.2 The Back Story 10.3 Applicable Regulations 10.4 A Scientific Perspective 10.5 References 10.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 11: 2002 - Ford Explorer Rollover
11.1 The Reported Story 11.2 The Back Story 11.3 Applicable Regulations 11.4 An Engineering Perspective 11.5 References 11.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 12: 2003 - Columbia Space Shuttle Explosion
12.1 The Reported Story 12.2 The Back Story 12.3 Applicable Regulations 12.4 An Engineering Perspective 12.5 References 12.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 13: 2003 - Guidant Ancure Endograft System
13.1 The Reported Story 13.2 The Back Story 13.3 Applicable Regulations 13.4 An Engineering Perspective 13.5 References 13.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 14: 2003 - Northeast Blackout
14.1 The Reported Story 14.2 The Back Story 14.3 Applicable Regulations 14.4 An Engineering Perspective 14.5 References 14.6 Questions for Discussion

Chapter 15: 2004 – Indian Ocean Tsunami
15.1 The Reported Story 15.2 The Back Story 15.3 Applicable Regulations 15.4 An Engineering Perspective 15.5 References 15.6 Questions for Discussion

Part III: Individual Case Studies

Chapter 16: Anonymous Industrial Engineering Ethics Cases
16.1 Case 1: Biomedical Engineer 16.2 Case 2: Mechanical Engineer 16.3 Case 3: Electrical Engineer 16.4 Case 4: Geologic Engineer 16.5 Case 5: Biomedical Engineer 16.6 Case 6: Electrical Engineer 16.7 Case 7: Mechanical Engineer 16.8 Case 8: Biomedical Engineer 16.9 Case 9: Computer Engineer 16.10 Case 10: Electrical Engineer