Today, development of the engineering industry to foreign countries is necessary and practically an unavoidable conclusion in order for firms to flourish. Although such endeavors and projects deliver new and thrilling technical challenges, they also present a different set of ethical challenges. The question is how professional engineers should respond when faced with practices different than those to which they are accustomed.
The term “ethics” is defined as accepted rules of conduct by society. Ethics are essential to the arrangement of a dynamic society. Ethics are what give us as humans the aptitude to function correctively in our behavior, and retain us from having anarchy. Ethics is dealing with what is good and bad and using moral principle …show more content…
These concerns include local standards/codes, local licensing practices and contact with government officials. However, the first two pose nearly as much of a dilemma as the last one. Even within the United States, engineers are confronted with unpredictable standards and codes in different geographical locales. For example, seismic codes are more rigid in California, energy efficiency is more important in the Northeast and fire protection requirements are more stringent in an urban setting than rural. Engineers adapt their designs as necessary. While practicing in foreign countries, engineers must follow the pertinent local codes just as they would do in the U.S. Yet, the Rules of Practice do state that an engineer 's "primary obligation is to protect the safety, property and welfare of the public." With that principle held paramount, engineers are required to bring to the attention of local officials, any codes which in their opinion risk these safety and health tenets and to only stamp drawings which provide an satisfactory level of safety. On this point, there can be no …show more content…
For example, there could be important concerns developing in the areas of race, gender or religious association in particular situations. While the Code does not actually have an anti- discrimination clause, the Preamble is clearly calling for services to be provided with “fairness and equity.” Before conducting business in a foreign country, the project team needs to become familiar with the local customs and decide whether they feel comfortable operating within whatever restrictions are normally in place with such an environment.
Increased globalization of engineering practice certainly does create ethical challenges but the Code of Ethics for Engineers is surely an appropriate guide to use in addressing these issues in a professional and uniform
The term “ethics” is defined as accepted rules of conduct by society. Ethics are essential to the arrangement of a dynamic society. Ethics are what give us as humans the aptitude to function correctively in our behavior, and retain us from having anarchy. Ethics is dealing with what is good and bad and using moral principle …show more content…
These concerns include local standards/codes, local licensing practices and contact with government officials. However, the first two pose nearly as much of a dilemma as the last one. Even within the United States, engineers are confronted with unpredictable standards and codes in different geographical locales. For example, seismic codes are more rigid in California, energy efficiency is more important in the Northeast and fire protection requirements are more stringent in an urban setting than rural. Engineers adapt their designs as necessary. While practicing in foreign countries, engineers must follow the pertinent local codes just as they would do in the U.S. Yet, the Rules of Practice do state that an engineer 's "primary obligation is to protect the safety, property and welfare of the public." With that principle held paramount, engineers are required to bring to the attention of local officials, any codes which in their opinion risk these safety and health tenets and to only stamp drawings which provide an satisfactory level of safety. On this point, there can be no …show more content…
For example, there could be important concerns developing in the areas of race, gender or religious association in particular situations. While the Code does not actually have an anti- discrimination clause, the Preamble is clearly calling for services to be provided with “fairness and equity.” Before conducting business in a foreign country, the project team needs to become familiar with the local customs and decide whether they feel comfortable operating within whatever restrictions are normally in place with such an environment.
Increased globalization of engineering practice certainly does create ethical challenges but the Code of Ethics for Engineers is surely an appropriate guide to use in addressing these issues in a professional and uniform