ME Homework Ethics II -- Gilbane Gold Analysis

Subject: Ethics Assignment 2

INTRODUCTION:

Engineering (or Professional) Ethics is a central part of the engineering profession. A social contract exists between the engineer and the general public. In exchange for the freedom to police our own members, the right to formulate technical standards and the benefit of financial support for engineering education, engineers are expected to look out for the welfare of society in technical decisions and behave in an acceptable professional manner.

ASSIGNMENT:

During the 2nd ethics session in ME176 lab, you watched a videotape of an ethics case called Gilbane Gold, and then responded to some questions about the case. For the final ethics assignment for the class, your ethics team should now perform an ethical analysis of the Gilbane Gold situation using the Engineering Ethics Decision Matrix (section 1.10 of Exploring Engineering) as a tool in your analysis. Your team should do the following:

· Provide an appropriate introduction that summarizes the Gilbane case thoroughly and accurately (use the in-class discussion to guide you)

· Complete an Ethics Decision Matrix for the Gilbane case

· Evaluate the ethical merits of the given case based on the Ethics Decision Matrix, and clearly state what your team would do if you were David Jackson and were placed in his situation at the end of the video. You should more completely answer the final question from the in-class review document that the entire class discussed.

OUTCOME/DOCUMENTATION:

provide a professional cover memo as well as the responses to the above bulleted topics. This assignment is worth 50 points and is due April 14.

Engineering Ethics Decision Matrix (Exploring Engineering, section 1.10)

Options → NSPE Canons (	Go along with the decision	Appeal to higher management	Quit your job	Write your state representative	Call a newspaper reporter
Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public
Perform services only in the area of your competence
Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees
Avoid deceptive acts
Conduct themselves honorably

Example Decision Matrix for ABC/XYZ Case

Options →

NSPE Canons 

Go along with

the decision

Appeal to higher

management

Quit your job Write your state

representative

Call a newspaper

reporter

Hold paramount the

safety, health and welfare

of the public

No, this might be

dangerous to do

Yes, let them make

the final contract

decision

No, the

potential risk

would remain

No, seems like over

reaction

No, seems like over

reaction

Perform services only in

the area of your

competence

Yes, did a proper

review of options

for new materials

Yes, this is the

proper chain of

authority

Maybe, if you

feel you can’t

do job

No, you aren’t a

legal expert

No, you aren’t a

legal expert

Issue public statements

only in an objective and

truthful manner

No, this would be

a falsified report

Maybe, but try to get

a correct report

sent?

No, doesn’t

stop false

report

No, you didn’t have

this authority in

ABC

No, you didn’t have

this authority in

ABC

Act for each employer or

client as faithful agents or

trustees

No, this would be

lying to customer

Yes, alert

management to this

action

Maybe, but not

really looking

out for XYZ

Yes, if this is only

way to get word out

Yes, if this is only

way to get word out

Avoid deceptive acts

No, this would be

lying to customer

Yes, express

concerns for this

No, if false

report still sent

Yes, if this revealed

deception

Yes, if this revealed

deception

Conduct themselves

honorably

No, this would be

lying to customer

Maybe, can disagree

privately?

Maybe, could

you have done

more?

Yes, if this revealed

deception

Yes, if this revealed

deception

Total of responses

Yes/No/Maybe:

1/5/0 4/0/2 0/3/3 3/3/0 3/3/0