Ethics Case Study Paper: Critical Inquiry In Engineering

Ethics Case Study Paperegr 104 Critical Inquiry In Engineering1 List

Ethics Case Study Paper EGR 104 Critical Inquiry in Engineering 1. List the ethical issues you observed in Henry’s Daughters. • Bribing government officials. • Plagiarism (Copying an idea or concept being implemented by another group.) • Sexual Harassment/Inappropriate workplace interactions • Conflict of Interest • Sharing of Proprietary Information • Favoritism shone towards teams and family members. • Sexist Comments • Confidentiality Breaches • Inappropriate use of Intellectual Property • Dishonest Business Methods and Communication 2. From your personal perspective, prioritize these ethical issues from most critical to least critical. 1. Conflict of Interest 2. Sexual Harassment/Inappropriate workplace interaction 3. Bribery 4. Sharing of proprietary information 5. Plagiarism 6. Inappropriate use of Intellectual Property 7. Confidentiality breaches 8. Favoritism shown toward teams and family members 9. Dishonest business methods and communication 10. Sexist comments 3. Discuss the movie from these three other perspectives: a. Henry’s Perspective: Assume you are Henry. i. What specific ethical issues do you face? One ethical canon that Henry blatantly violated was that Engineers should avoid deceptive acts. From the very presentation he was buying off political and municipal leaders. Henry should have considered a legality test of his actions. As is true of most corrupt organizations the truth eventually came to light, and Henry had to face the consequences of his actions. It seemed that Henry was pretty deep in a rut when it came to his actions, and I’m not sure if there was anyone that could have helped him out of his problems. Maybe if he went on TV with Dr. Phil he could have confessed all his wrongdoings and turned his life around. Being motivated by money to perform corrupt behaviors such as using government funds to pose a fake competition that will lead to financial gain and bribing a government official for his cooperation. ii. Which of these specific ethical issues is the most important? Financial and legal consequences can result in the loss of assets, licenses, and even jail time. Also, they’re allowing a huge gap for making mistakes due to this dishonesty environment. iii. What are some things that you should consider? First thing could be coming forward and mentioning the involvement of his daughters in his business. Also the fact that an engineering license could be revoked due to these actions although Jail time could be faced as a consequence of these decisions. Also, consulting a lawyer for future business decisions to stay out of legal trouble is considerable. iv. From whom or where should you seek guidance? · The NSPE code of Ethics. · Close friends who do follow this code. · Family members other than both daughters. b. Laura’s Perspective: Assume you are Laura. i. What specific ethical issues do you face? · Living with a family member who is in competing business. · Sharing proprietary information regarding the projects with family members who are key stakeholders involved with the project. · Manipulation from father into sharing information about company decisions and team information. · Deciding between right and wrong – side with father and politicians of a corrupt business, side with sister and leak confidential information, or do the right thing and stay out of all of it. Also, Laura had a very large conflict of interest with both design teams. She knew that her father was heavily supporting one team, and her sister was an active part of the other. She should have removed herself from the decision-making position she was in and let an unbiased party handle the team selection process. ii. What decisions would you change if you were Laura? Would not have listened to father and shared information about the teams. Not sharing any information regarding the projects with family and not showing Julie software that the other group was developing. Would have been honest about the corruption seen in the business. iii. what decisions would you change if you were Laura? Not sharing any information regarding the projects with family and not showing Julie software that the other group was developing. iv. From whom or where could you seek guidance? · The NSPE code of Ethics · Fellow co-workers who were not involved in the complex family dynamics · Family who was not a part of the business · Possibly a lawyer if needed C. Julie’s Perspective: Assume you are Julie. i. What specific ethical issues do you face? · The involvement of father in overall career. · Treatment from fellow coworkers and boss. · Stealing information and tactics from competing team. · Using the other group’s idea for software as her own, even if she created her own version. · Someone from within the company plagiarizing individual work with no credit given. ii. which of these specific ethical issues is the most important? Created entirely new software that performed a different function or used a different algorithm to create a similar product instead of just copying the existing software. iii. What decisions would you change if you were Julie? · Would have stood up against unfair and inappropriate behavior of coworkers and boss. · Would not have looked at the competing team’s proprietary information, even if a family member offered to share it. · Consult an Intellectual Property lawyer or even fellow teammates to discuss a better way of approaching this problem. iv. From whom or where could you seek guidance? · The NSPE code of Ethics · Friends who are not involved in the team, family or company to eliminate bias d. Responsibility Perspective: If you were in charge and had the authority and the funding to make any changes you wanted to make in your organization policies: i. What specific steps would you take to improve the organization culture? · Ensure there were no conflicts of interest, and if family members worked together, eliminate circumstances in which there may be unethical decisions may be made · Enforce a strict system to ensure there is no bribery or sharing of proprietary information · Ensure all conflicts of interest are explicitly expressed · Avoid having family in competing positions ii. Who would you involve in this process? An outside, unbiased source that would be free from conflicts of interest, bribery and corruption

Paper For Above instruction

The case study from Henry’s Daughters highlights multiple ethical issues prevalent in engineering practice and business conduct, emphasizing the complexity of ethical decision-making in professional environments. This analysis will explore the key ethical issues identified, prioritize them based on personal judgment, and examine the perspectives of Henry, Laura, and Julie. Furthermore, it will propose actionable steps to foster an ethical organizational culture, drawing on professional codes of ethics and best practices.

Identification of Ethical Issues

Henry’s Daughters presents several ethical dilemmas, including bribery, plagiarism, sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, confidentiality breaches, favoritism, inappropriate use of intellectual property, dishonest communication, and sexist comments. Bribing government officials undermines the integrity of public procurement processes and violates legal standards. Plagiarism involves copying ideas or concepts from other teams, which compromises originality and intellectual honesty. Sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace interactions create a hostile environment, threatening employee well-being and organizational reputation. Conflicts of interest occur when personal relationships interfere with professional judgment, leading to biased decision-making. Sharing proprietary information indiscriminately risks intellectual property rights and competitive advantage. Favoritism towards family members and between teams compromises fairness and credibility. Breaches of confidentiality and misuse of proprietary IP diminish trust among stakeholders. Lastly, sexist comments reflect underlying cultural issues, potentially leading to discrimination claims and undermining team cohesion.

Prioritization of Ethical Issues

From a personal perspective, prioritizing these ethical issues involves considering their potential impact on both individuals and the organization. The most critical issues are conflict of interest and sexual harassment, given their profound implications for fairness, legal liability, and organizational culture. Conflict of interest can distort decision-making processes and erode trust, while sexual harassment directly affects employee safety and well-being. Bribery, due to its legal consequences, ranks next in importance, as it can lead to severe penalties and reputational damage. Sharing proprietary information is also crucial because it jeopardizes intellectual property rights and competitive advantage. Plagiarism, although ethically serious, is slightly less immediate but still damaging to professional integrity. Other issues, such as confidentiality breaches, favoritism, dishonesty, and sexist comments, are significant but tend to be secondary in their immediate impact. However, addressing all these issues is essential for creating an ethically sound environment.

Ethical Perspectives

Henry’s Perspective

As Henry, facing the temptation to secure lucrative contracts through bribery and deception presents significant ethical dilemmas. The violation of the engineering canon against deceptive acts, particularly in transactions involving government officials, underscores a blatant breach of professional ethics and legal standards. The most pressing concern for Henry is the potential legal and financial repercussions, including loss of license and imprisonment. Recognizing that such misconduct damages reputation and future business opportunities is crucial. Moving forward, Henry should consider self-reporting, seeking legal counsel, and adhering strictly to the NSPE Code of Ethics, particularly the principles of honesty, integrity, and avoiding deceptive practices. Ethical decision-making requires acknowledging personal faults and striving to restore professional credibility through transparency and corrective actions.

Laura’s Perspective

As Laura, dealing with the conflict of living in a family-run organization involved in questionable practices poses complex ethical challenges. Sharing proprietary information, manipulation by her father, and involvement in biased decision-making conflict with her professional responsibility to uphold integrity. She faces the dilemma of loyalty to family versus ethical obligations to the organization and stakeholders. To address this, Laura should consider refraining from sharing confidential information, removing herself from biased decision-making processes, and advocating for transparency. Consulting the NSPE Code of Ethics and seeking guidance from impartial colleagues or legal advisors can help her navigate these conflicting loyalties. Her responsibility is to promote fairness and avoid complicity in unethical conduct while safeguarding her professional integrity.

Julie’s Perspective

As Julie, ethical challenges stem from the influence of her father, potential theft of proprietary ideas, and the temptation to plagiarize. The decision to innovate using her own ideas or to reuse existing software involves weighing originality against efficiency. The most critical ethical issue is her choice to develop entirely new software with different algorithms, which demonstrates respect for intellectual property rights. Sticking to ethical practices entails resisting undue influence from family or colleagues, avoiding misuse of proprietary data, and consulting with IP professionals. Julie should strive to maintain independence, stand against unethical behavior, and seek guidance from professional codes and peers to ensure her work upholds integrity and originality.

Responsibility and Organizational Culture

Leadership plays a pivotal role in cultivating an ethical organizational environment. To improve organizational culture, I would implement policies explicitly addressing conflicts of interest, prohibit bribery, and emphasize the importance of confidentiality and intellectual property rights. Ensuring all members understand and adhere to the NSPE Code of Ethics is fundamental. Involving external auditors or ethics officers can help monitor compliance objectively. Education and training programs focused on ethics will reinforce appropriate conduct. Transparency in decision-making, establishing whistleblower protections, and promoting a culture of accountability are also vital. Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment where ethical principles guide behavior, fostering trust among employees, clients, and stakeholders.

Involving unbiased third parties, such as external auditors or ethics consultants, ensures impartial oversight. Keeping open channels for reporting unethical conduct without fear of retaliation encourages a healthy ethical climate. By aligning organizational policies with professional standards, leadership can prevent unethical practices and promote integrity across all levels of operation.

Conclusion

The case of Henry’s Daughters underscores the importance of adhering to ethical principles in engineering and business practices. Recognizing and prioritizing ethical issues, understanding the perspectives of individuals involved, and implementing enforceable policies are essential steps toward fostering an ethical organizational environment. Continuous education, transparent decision-making, and external oversight are key strategies to uphold professional integrity and trust in the engineering profession.

References

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