ME Homework Ethics II -- Gilbane Gold Analysis
Subject: Ethics Assignment 2
INTRODUCTION:
Engineering (or Professional) Ethics is a central part of the engineering profession. A social contract exists between the engineer and the general public. In exchange for the freedom to police our own members, the right to formulate technical standards and the benefit of financial support for engineering education, engineers are expected to look out for the welfare of society in technical decisions and behave in an acceptable professional manner.
ASSIGNMENT:
During the 2nd ethics session in ME176 lab, you watched a videotape of an ethics case called Gilbane Gold, and then responded to some questions about the case. For the final ethics assignment for the class, your ethics team should now perform an ethical analysis of the Gilbane Gold situation using the Engineering Ethics Decision Matrix (section 1.10 of Exploring Engineering) as a tool in your analysis. Your team should do the following:
Provide an appropriate introduction that summarizes the Gilbane case thoroughly and accurately (use the in-class discussion to guide you)
Complete an Ethics Decision Matrix for the Gilbane case
Evaluate the ethical merits of the given case based on the Ethics Decision Matrix, and clearly state what your team would do if you were David Jackson and were placed in his situation at the end of the video. You should more completely answer the final question from the in-class review document that the entire class discussed.
OUTCOME/DOCUMENTATION:
provide a professional cover memo as well as the responses to the above bulleted topics. This assignment is worth 50 points and is due April 14.
Engineering Ethics Decision Matrix (Exploring Engineering, section 1.10)
| Options → NSPE Canons | Go along with the decision | Appeal to higher management | Quit your job | Write your state representative | Call a newspaper reporter |
| Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public |
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| Perform services only in the area of your competence | |||||
| Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner | |||||
| Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees | |||||
| Avoid deceptive acts | |||||
| Conduct themselves honorably |
Example Decision Matrix for ABC/XYZ Case
