civil engineering

What did Intel learn from this experience? The early designs for new chips con- tinue to have fl aws, and sometimes these fl aws are not detected until the product is already in use by consumers. However, Intel’s approach to these problems has changed. It now seems to feel that problems need to be fi […]

Can Codes and Professional Societies Protect Employees? One important area where professional societies can and should function is as pro- tectors of the rights of employees who are being pressured by their employer to do something unethical or who are accusing their employers or the government of unethical conduct. The codes of the professional societies

How can this conflict be resolved? In clause I.4, the NSPE code indicates that engineers have a duty to their employers, which implies that the engineer should go ahead with the unsafe design favored by his employer. However, clause I.1 and the preamble make it clear that the safety of the public is also an

What does the NSPE code tell us about this situation? There are some specifi cs of these two codes that are worth noting here. The IEEE code doesn’t mention a duty to one’s employer. However, the IEEE code does explicitly mention a duty to protect the environment. The NSPE code has a preamble that succinctly

How does a code of ethics achieve these goals? First, a code of ethics helps create an environment within a profession where ethical behavior is the norm. It also serves as a guide or reminder of how to act in specifi c situations. A code of ethics can also be used to bolster an individual’s

What Is a Code of Ethics? Primarily, a code of ethics provides a framework for ethical judgment for a profes- sional. The key word here is “framework.” No code can be totally comprehensive and cover all possible ethical situations that a professional engineer is likely to encounter. Rather, codes serve as a starting point for

How would such engineers be employed? \The pattern of employment would certainly be different for engineers trained this way. Engineers in all fi elds might work for engineering fi rms similar to the way in which civil engineers work now, consulting on projects for government agencies or large corporations. The corpo- rate employers who now

Codes of Ethics are labor unions for the elite, strictly limiting the number of practitioners of the profession, controlling the working conditions for professionals, and artifi cially infl ating the salaries of its members. An analysis of both models in terms of law and medicine would show that there are ways in which these professions

Other Aspects of Professional Societies We should briefl y note that professional societies also serve other, perhaps less noble, purposes than those mentioned previously. Sociologists who study the nature of professional societies describe two different models of professions, sometimes referred to as the social-contract and the business models. The social-contract model views professional societies as

Differences between Engineering and Other Professions Although we have determined that engineering is a profession, it should be noted that there are signifi cant differences between how engineering is practiced and how law and medicine are practiced. Lawyers are typically self-employed in private practice, essentially an independent business, or in larger group practices with Chapter