Presented by: Speaker’s Name Before We Watch Gilbane Gold, Let’s Consider: How Engineering Addresses Public Needs The Importance of Ethical Leadership

Presented by:Presented by:

Speaker’s NameSpeaker’s Name

Before We Watch Gilbane Before We Watch Gilbane Gold, Let’s Consider:Gold, Let’s Consider:

How Engineering Addresses Public Needs

The Importance of Ethical Leadership

Characteristics of Ethical Leaders

Creativity

Design

Maintenance

Public Public GoodGood

Engineering

Planning

Public Public NeedsNeedsPublic Public NeedsNeeds

EthicsEthics&&

TeamworTeamworkk

EthicsEthics&&

TeamworTeamworkk

Construction

What is Important for What is Important for Ethical Leaders?Ethical Leaders?

An effective ethical leader will…

…Create “Candor” in the workplace…

…an environment where the engineer feels safe bringing up and resolving ethical issues.

Effective Ethical Effective Ethical Leaders?Leaders?

An effective ethical leader will …

… Foster an environment of “Trust” among individuals in the Workplace…

…and this trust will encourage openness among team members without fear of retribution.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Effective Ethical LeaderEffective Ethical Leader

An effective ethical leader will:

Treat everyone as intrinsically valuable…

and not as a means to an end.

How Do We Develop How Do We Develop Ethical Leadership Ethical Leadership

Skills?Skills?

To achieve “Ethical Leadership Skills,” engineering leaders, in both education and industry,

need to possess the following need to possess the following traits:traits:

Understanding

... A clear understanding of

professional ethics

Effective Leaders Will Have:Effective Leaders Will Have:

Communication Skills

An ability and willingness to

communicate ethical issues.


Ability

to recognize ethical issues.


Appreciation

for the frequency at which ethical issues

occur.


Awareness

that guidance on ethical dilemmas is available from

a variety of sources


Comprehension ...

“Knowing What’s Right”


The Desire

Willingness &

Courage …

... to “Do What’s Right”


Ability

Listing optionsTesting the optionsMaking a decision,

and Most importantly, Acting !Acting !

to resolve ethical issues by using traditional engineering methods of inquiry, namely:


QuestionQuestion

How does all this tie How does all this tie together?together?

ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE

EngineeringEngineeringLeadershipLeadership

Idea for graphic based on Professional Responsibility: The Role of the Engineer, Jnl. of Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1997

by Drs. Steve Nichols and Bill Weldon, UT/Austin

SOCIETAL NEED

ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

ENGINEERING DESIGN

Answers to ethics Answers to ethics questions?questions?

Sometimes there are several right answers to ethics issues...

Sometimes there are no right answers...

But, like engineering design problems, there is a personal best answer.

Resources for Resources for LeadersLeaders

• Text Books and Articles• Ethics Centers & Institutes• Ethics Newsletters …

•examples

Where Can We Get Where Can We Get

Guidance?Guidance?

From:

- Rules of Professional

Conduct -

- Codes of Ethics -

Rules of Rules of Professional Conduct Professional Conduct

Expectations of Company

Licensing Boards

Professional Societies

Technical Societies

Board of Ethical ReviewBoard of Ethical Review

Over 200 NSPE-BER Cases on the Internet at www.nspe.org

Guidance from theGuidance from theNational Society of Professional National Society of Professional EngineersEngineers

An Interesting An Interesting ThoughtThoughtAn Interesting An Interesting ThoughtThought

On Engineering EthicsOn Engineering Ethics

If the “Ethics Rope” BreaksIf the “Ethics Rope” Breaks

Now Let’s WatchNow Let’s Watch

Gilbane Gold is the name given to

dried sludge from the city of Gilbane

wastewater treatment plant. It is sold

to farmers as a commercial fertilizer.

The annual revenue generated saves

the average family about $300 per

year in taxes.

Synopsis of StorySynopsis of Story

Z CORP, a computer components

manufacturer, discharges wastewater

containing small amounts of lead and

arsenic into the city sewers. By

current city test standards, the

discharge meets allowable levels.


Z CORP environmental engineers

know of a newer test which shows that

the discharge may still meet the letter

of the law, but exceeds the spirit of

the law.


Protection of the health,

safety, and

welfare of the public

is the principal

concern.


DAVID JACKSON: Environmental engineer working for Z

CORP

TOM RICHARDS: Engineering consultant fired by Z CORP

PHIL PORT: Manager of environmental department

FRANK SEEDERS: Z CORP's engineering manager

DIANE COLLINS: VP in charge of Z CORP's Gilbane plant

LLOYD BREMEN: Former commissioner

WINSLOW MASSIN: Professor emeritus, Hanover University

MARIA RENATO: TV reporter

List of CharactersList of Characters

Protection of public health and the environment (spirit versus letter of the law)

Quality of life and welfare of people (jobs and taxes)

Free enterprise (profitability & competition in the marketplace)

Personal integrity (view of self and living up to personal standards)

Ethical Concepts include:Ethical Concepts include:

Think of them from:Think of them from:

1.1. A A Personal Viewpoint

2.2. A A Responsibility Viewpoint

Let’s consider these Let’s consider these concepts and:concepts and:

Suggested Strategy Suggested Strategy for for

Study and DiscussionStudy and Discussion

From a “personal” viewpoint, list two or three major

ethical issues in the video.

ThenThen

From a “responsibility” viewpoint, assume you are

the President of ZCORP. List two or three actions

you would take immediately (within the next 2 days)

After Watching Gilbane After Watching Gilbane Gold, break into small Gold, break into small

groups and:groups and:

Questions & DiscussionQuestions & Discussion

Documents

Presented by: Speaker’s Name Before We Watch Gilbane Gold, Let’s Consider: How Engineering Addresses Public Needs The Importance of Ethical Leadership