Transcript Important Attributes for a New Engineer Source: Arizona State

Ethics and Professionalism
T. Barber
Important Attributes for a New Engineer
Source: Arizona State students, faculty, industry representatives
Rank
Students
Faculty
Industry Reps
1
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
2
Computer Literacy
Communication Skills
3
4
Math/Science
Proficiency
Communication Skills
Math/Science
Proficiency
Communication Skills
5
Technical Skills
6
7
8
9
10
Technical Skills
Motivation to
Continue Learning
Ethics and
Professionalism
Open Mind /
Positive Attitude
Computer Literacy
Ethics and
Professionalism
Open Mind /
Positive Attitude
Math/Science
Proficiency
Technical Skills
Motivation to
Continue Learning
Open Mind /
Motivation to
Positive Attitude
Continue Learning
Business / Management
Business / Management
Practices
Practices
Ethics and
World Affairs
Computer Literacy
Professionalism
And Cultures
World Affairs
Business / Management
World Affairs
And Cultures
Practices
And Cultures
Important Attributes for a New Engineer
PW Manager of Advanced Technology
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Passion
Optimism
Business View
Historic perspective
Product knowledge
• Action [vs. Watching]
• Teamwork /
Collaborbator
• Technical Competence
• Communication
Attributes that Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Looks for
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Evidence of professional and ethical behavior
Ability to “flip-flop” the brain
Solid understanding of engineering fundamentals
Ability to work and comfortable with Open Ended
problems
Solid understanding of design
Understand the competing pressures driving the
design
Exhibit Nympholepsy
Good communication and team working skills
Nypholepsy: The frenzied yearning for the unachievable. [Passion]
Important Attributes for a New Engineer
What’s important to students does not agree with industry wants.
• Problem solving:
– ability to identify and define a problem,
– Break down large problem into series of smaller problems
– develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and
– effect one or more designs to solve a problem.
• Effectiveness in communicating ideas.
• Ethics and professionalism: personal maturity, initiative, poise,
enthusiasm, appearance, and the ability to work with people.
Professionalism
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•
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On time [or before]
Attentive
Positive attitude
Proactive
Prepared: notes, paper, pen
Properly dressed [for the appropriate context]
– Business casual
– Suit and tie
– Jeans
• Be aware of cultural, political, technical issues
Engineering Professionalism
Ethics
Outline
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Background issues
ASME Code of Ethics
Dilbert cartoon
Scruples cards
Examples of your ethical situations
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Photocopying
File sharing
Copying software
Cheating, seeing someone else cheating
Taxes
Not reporting an accident
6. Noted examples of ethical issues
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Davis-Besse Ohio nuclear plant
Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring failure
Internet company dealings with China
Guidant & Medtronics heart devices
7. Ethics exam
• Faculty answers
• Student answers
Background Issues
One expression I use is “It’s not that engineers are
immoral, but sometimes in their approach they’re
amoral.” When they enter the workplace, they think
those decisions are left to other people, that they’re
just there to do their job….
Prof. J. Herbert, Arizona State. [ASEE Prism, Oct. 2007]
Background Issues
• Immoral: not moral, conflicting with general
moral principles.
• Amoral: being neither moral or immoral, lacking
moral sensibility
ABET standards require universities to demonstrate students
have a solid understanding of ethics in the workplace.
Background Issues
Given the following heat transfer problem:
• You own a residential building in an urban area.
• Can you calculate how many BTU’s per hour are
necessary to heat a building in Chicago FROM 0 to 20
degrees F?
Background Issues
“Thinking Like an Engineer,” Prof. M. Davis Illinois Inst. Tech.
Students asked to calculate how many BTU’s per hour are
necessary to heat a building in Chicago FROM 0 to 20
degrees F.
Obviously, the numbers are off – such temperatures would
keep the building well below freezing. Students often work
the numbers without thinking what the numbers mean.
[also ethics.iit.edu].
Similar issue in Kannon’s “The Good German,” where the
Nordhausen rocket works are discussed.
CODE OF ETHICS OF ENGINEERS
The Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and
dignity of the engineering profession by:
I. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement
of human welfare;
II. Being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the
public, their employers and clients; and
III. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the
engineering profession.
The Fundamental Canons
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public in the performance of their professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.
3. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout
their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional and
ethical development of those engineers under their supervision.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client
as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest or the
appearance of conflicts of interest.
5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Engineers shall associate only with reputable persons or organizations.
7. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
8. Engineers shall consider environmental impact in the performance of their
professional duties.
Engineering Ethics
Outline
• Scruples cards
– Day-to-day ethical experiences
• Examples of your ethical situations
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Photocopying
File sharing
Copying software
Cheating, seeing someone else cheating
Taxes
Not reporting an accident
Outline
• Noted examples of ethical issues
• Davis-Besse Ohio nuclear plant
• Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring
failure
• Internet company dealings with China
• Guidant & Medtronics heart devices
• Ethics exam
• Faculty answers
• Student answers
Challenger and Whistleblowing
• Space Shuttle Challenger – Thiokol O-ring failure
– 6 mos. before Challenger exploded, Roger Boisjoly wrote
a portentous memo. He warned if weather was too cold,
seals connecting sections of shuttle’s huge rocket
boosters could fail.
– Mr. Boisjoly gave presidential commission internal
corporate documents
– Thiokol cut him off from space work, was shunned by
colleagues and managers.
– A former friend warned him, “If you wreck this company,
I’m going to put my kids on your doorstep,”
– Roger Boisjoly, 73, died in Jan. 2012
Davis-Besse Nuclear Plant
Separate power point file presentation