Professionalism and Ethics Murali Varanasi September 16, 2009.

Professionalism Professionalism and Ethicsand Ethics

Murali VaranasiMurali VaranasiSeptember 16, 2009September 16, 2009

What is a Profession?What is a Profession?

In a broad sense, any occupation by In a broad sense, any occupation by which to earn a living.which to earn a living.

the people who do a type of work, the people who do a type of work, considered as a group.considered as a group.

any type of work which needs special any type of work which needs special training or a particular skill, often one training or a particular skill, often one which is respected. B) because it which is respected. B) because it involves a high level of education. involves a high level of education.

Finally, which is held to set standards Finally, which is held to set standards and code of ethics.and code of ethics.

What is a Profession?What is a Profession?

For our purpose, professions are For our purpose, professions are those forms of work involving those forms of work involving advanced expertise, self-regulation advanced expertise, self-regulation and serving the public good.and serving the public good.

Examples: Doctors, Lawyers, Examples: Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers.Engineers.

Can we distinguish between a Can we distinguish between a profession and an occupation?profession and an occupation?

DiscussionDiscussion

Michael Davies defines a profession as :Michael Davies defines a profession as :

“ “ A profession is a number of A profession is a number of individuals in the same occupation individuals in the same occupation voluntarily organized to earn a living by voluntarily organized to earn a living by openly serving a certain morally openly serving a certain morally permissible way beyond what law, permissible way beyond what law, market and [everyday] morality would market and [everyday] morality would otherwise require”otherwise require”

In that case, carpenters, barbers and porters, In that case, carpenters, barbers and porters,

and other groups who organize their work and other groups who organize their work around a shared code of ethics should be around a shared code of ethics should be recognized as professionals.recognized as professionals.

What about athletes?What about athletes?

Do you agree or disagree, and why? Can this Do you agree or disagree, and why? Can this issue be settled by a reference to dictionary ?issue be settled by a reference to dictionary ?

Discussion – cont.Discussion – cont.

Do the following definitions, or partial Do the following definitions, or partial definitions, of professionalism express definitions, of professionalism express something important, or do they something important, or do they express unwarranted views?express unwarranted views?

Consider:Consider:

a. “Professionalism implies a certain a. “Professionalism implies a certain set of attitudes. A professional analyzes set of attitudes. A professional analyzes problems from a base of knowledge in problems from a base of knowledge in a specific area, in a manner which is a specific area, in a manner which is objective and independent of self – objective and independent of self – interest and directed towards the best interest and directed towards the best interests of his client. In fact, the interests of his client. In fact, the professional’s task is to know what is professional’s task is to know what is best for his client even if his client best for his client even if his client does not know himself” .does not know himself” .

Consider:Consider:

b. “So long as the individual is looked b. “So long as the individual is looked upon as an employee rather than as a upon as an employee rather than as a free artisan, to that extent there is no free artisan, to that extent there is no professional status”.professional status”.

Consider:Consider:

c. “ A truly professional man will go c. “ A truly professional man will go beyond the call of duty. He will beyond the call of duty. He will assume his just share of the assume his just share of the responsibility to use his special responsibility to use his special knowledge to make his community, his knowledge to make his community, his state, and his nation a better place in state, and his nation a better place in which to live. He will give freely of his which to live. He will give freely of his time, his energy, and his worldly time, his energy, and his worldly goods to assist his fellow man and goods to assist his fellow man and promote the welfare of his community. promote the welfare of his community. He will assume his full share of civic He will assume his full share of civic responsibility.”responsibility.”

Consider:Consider:

Disputes arise over how a person becomes Disputes arise over how a person becomes or should become a member of an or should become a member of an accepted profession. Such disputes often accepted profession. Such disputes often occur in engineering. Each of the occur in engineering. Each of the following has been proposed as a criterion following has been proposed as a criterion for being a “professional engineer” in for being a “professional engineer” in United States. Assess these definitions to United States. Assess these definitions to determine which, if any, captures what determine which, if any, captures what you think should be a part of meaning of you think should be a part of meaning of “engineers ”.“engineers ”.

Definitions?Definitions?

a. Earning a bachelor’s degree in a. Earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering at a school approved by engineering at a school approved by ABET (formerly known as the ABET (formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. (If applied in and Technology. (If applied in retrospect, this would rule out retrospect, this would rule out Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Nicola Tesla)and Nicola Tesla)


b. Performing work commonly b. Performing work commonly recognized as what engineers do. recognized as what engineers do. (This rules out many engineers who (This rules out many engineers who have become full-time managers, but have become full-time managers, but embraces some people who do not embraces some people who do not hold engineering degrees.)hold engineering degrees.)


c. In the united states, being officially c. In the united states, being officially registered and licensed as a registered and licensed as a professional Engineer (PE). professional Engineer (PE). Becoming registered typically Becoming registered typically includes:includes:


(1) Passing the Engineer-in-Training Examination (1) Passing the Engineer-in-Training Examination shortly after or before graduation from an shortly after or before graduation from an engineering schoolengineering school

(2) Working four to five years at responsible (2) Working four to five years at responsible engineering.engineering.

(3)Passing a professional examination, and(3)Passing a professional examination, and (4) Paying the requisite registration fees.(4) Paying the requisite registration fees.

(Only those engineers whose work directly affects public (Only those engineers whose work directly affects public safety and who sign official documents such as drawings safety and who sign official documents such as drawings for buildings are required to be registered as PE’s. for buildings are required to be registered as PE’s. Engineers who practice in manufacturing or teach at Engineers who practice in manufacturing or teach at engineering schools are exempt. Nevertheless, many engineering schools are exempt. Nevertheless, many require their PE license out of respect for the profession require their PE license out of respect for the profession or for prestige.) or for prestige.)


d. Acting in morally responsible ways d. Acting in morally responsible ways while practicing engineering. The while practicing engineering. The standards for responsible conduct standards for responsible conduct might be those specified in might be those specified in engineering codes of ethics or an engineering codes of ethics or an even fuller set of valid standards.even fuller set of valid standards.

((This rules out scoundrels, no matter how creative they This rules out scoundrels, no matter how creative they

maybe in practice of engineeringmaybe in practice of engineering) )


e. Continuous Improvement: Imagine e. Continuous Improvement: Imagine presenting a computer design presenting a computer design utilizing vacuum tube technology.utilizing vacuum tube technology.


CharacterCharacterThe Professional Choice, Integrity, Honesty, Truthfulness, The Professional Choice, Integrity, Honesty, Truthfulness, Forthrightness, Trustworthiness, Being Responsible, Being Forthrightness, Trustworthiness, Being Responsible, Being Diligent, Doing What Is Right, and Projecting a Professional Diligent, Doing What Is Right, and Projecting a Professional ImageImage

AttitudeAttitudeThe Professional Approach, Adopting a Service Mentality, The Professional Approach, Adopting a Service Mentality, Seeking Responsibility, Determination, and Being a Team Seeking Responsibility, Determination, and Being a Team PlayerPlayer

ExcellenceExcellencePressing for Excellence, Continual Improvement, Being Pressing for Excellence, Continual Improvement, Being Attentive, and Following InstructionsAttentive, and Following Instructions

CompetencyCompetencyExpertise, Performance, Personal Effectiveness, and Being a Expertise, Performance, Personal Effectiveness, and Being a Good CommunicatorGood Communicator

ConductConductProfessional Maturity, Manners Matter, Loyalty, Respect for Professional Maturity, Manners Matter, Loyalty, Respect for Authority, Confidences and Confidentiality, and A Touch of Authority, Confidences and Confidentiality, and A Touch of ClassClass

The Five KeysThe Five KeysSummary of each of the Five Keys Summary of each of the Five Keys

to Being a True Professionalto Being a True Professional

DEFINITION - DEFINITION - GlobalizationGlobalization

the interaction and expansion of the interaction and expansion of scientific and engineering scientific and engineering discoveries geographically discoveries geographically causing specificity of career causing specificity of career paths within a discipline. paths within a discipline.

DEFINITION – Team DEFINITION – Team BuildingBuilding

necessary interaction of necessary interaction of individuals and groups as individuals and groups as a consequence of a consequence of specialization and specialization and globalization.globalization.

DEFINITION - EthicsDEFINITION - Ethics

The science of human duty; the body of The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from this science; a rules of duty drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and particular system of principles and rules concerting duty, whether true or rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a false; rules of practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as, single class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical ethics.political or social ethics; medical ethics.

[1913 Webster][1913 Webster]

Why study Ethics? - 1Why study Ethics? - 1 Engineering projects impact societyEngineering projects impact society Engineers share responsibility to create Engineers share responsibility to create

new products, prevent harm and alert new products, prevent harm and alert dangersdangers

Engineering students should become Engineering students should become aware of situations in which moral aware of situations in which moral reasons come into conflict and correct reasons come into conflict and correct actions are not obviousactions are not obvious

One level of ethical responsibility is for One level of ethical responsibility is for decisions made by individual and decisions made by individual and companiescompanies

Why study Ethics? - 2Why study Ethics? - 2 At another level, issues such as At another level, issues such as

technological advances, responsibilities of technological advances, responsibilities of engineers, professional societies, and engineers, professional societies, and industrial organizations are important.industrial organizations are important.

Many professional societies have Many professional societies have developed a code of ethics for their developed a code of ethics for their membersmembers

Electrical Engineers belong to IEEEElectrical Engineers belong to IEEE

Why study Ethics? - 3Why study Ethics? - 3

Typical topics in study of ethics include:Typical topics in study of ethics include: Moral awareness and reasoningMoral awareness and reasoning Taking responsibilityTaking responsibility Respect for personsRespect for persons Tolerance of diversityTolerance of diversity Resolving moral conflictsResolving moral conflicts Minimizing harm to humans and animalsMinimizing harm to humans and animals

Why study Ethics? - 4Why study Ethics? - 4

Commitment to safetyCommitment to safety Workplace responsibilities and rightsWorkplace responsibilities and rights HonestyHonesty Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues Global issuesGlobal issues Computer ethicsComputer ethics

ReferencesReferences

Ethics in Engineering, 4Ethics in Engineering, 4thth edition edition

Martin and SchinzingerMartin and Schinzinger

McGraw-Hill, Inc. 2005McGraw-Hill, Inc. 2005

http://http://www.onlineethics.org

http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/whatis/code.htmlhttp://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/whatis/code.html

Professionalism and Ethics Murali Varanasi September 16, 2009.

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