Abstract
We argue that the practice of engineering does not exist outside the domain of societal interests. That is, the practice of engineering has an inherent (and unavoidable) impact on society. Engineering is based upon that relationship with society (inter alia).
An engineer’s conduct (as captured in professional codes of conduct) toward other engineers, toward employers, toward clients, and toward the public is an essential part of the life of a professional engineer, yet the education process and professional societies pay inadequate attention to the area. If one adopts Skooglund’s definition of professional ethicsI (how we agree to relate to one another), then the codes of professional conduct lay out a road map for professional relationships. As professionals, engineers need to internalize their codes and to realize that they have a personal stake in the application of codes as well as the process of developing the codes. Yet, most engineers view professional codes as static statements developed by “others” with little (or no) input from the individual engineer. Complicating the problem, questions of professionalism (such as ethics) are frequently viewed as topics outside the normal realm of engineering analysis and design. In reality, professional responsibility is an integral part of the engineering process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Koen, B.V. (1994) Toward a Strategy for Teaching Engineering Design. Journal of Engineering Education 83: 193.
Koen, B.V. (1985) Definition of the Engineering Method. American Society of Engineering Education, Washington, D. C.
Walton, J.W. (1991) Engineering Design: From Art to Practice. West Publishing Company, St. Paul, MN., USA.
Ferguson, E.S. (1993) How Engineers Loose Touch. Invention & Technology, Winter: 16–24.
Petroski, H., (1994) Failed Promises. American Scientist 82: 6–9.
Rabins, M. & Harris, E. (1994) Controls, Risk, & Educational Responsibility: The Ethical/Professional Links. Proceedings of IFAC Syymposium, Advances in Control Education Tokyo, Japan, August 1.
Harris, E., Pritchard, M. & Rabins, M. (1995) Engineering Ethics Concepts and Cases. Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, CA., USA.
Martin, M. and Schinzinger, R. (1988) Engineering Ethics, 2nd Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Davis, M. (1995) An Historical Preface to Engineering Ethics, Science and Engineering Ethics 1: 33–48.
Spier, R. (1995) Science, Engineering and Ethics: Running Definitions. Science and Engineering Ethics 1: 7.
Waldron, K.J. (1992) Secret Confessions of a Designer. Mechanical Engineering, Nov: 60–62.
National Research Council (1991) Improving Engineering Design: Designing for Competitive Advantage. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., USA.
American Society of Mechanical Engineering (1993) Innovations in Engineering Education: Resource Guide, ASME.
Chaplin, C. (1989) Creativity in Engineering Design—The Educational Function; The Education and Training of Charted Engineers for the 21st Century. A Study Undertaken for the Fellowship of Engineering. 2 Little Smith Street, Westminster, London, November.
Efatpenah, K., Nichols, S. & Weldon, W. (1994) Design in the Engineering Curricula: A Changing Environment. Advances in Capstone Education: Fostering Industrial Partnerships, August 3–5.
Nichols, S. (1993) The Mechanical Engineering Design Projects Program: An Experience in Industrial/University Cooperation. Innovations in Engineering Design Education: Resource Guide, ASME.
Pugh, S. (1991) Total Design, Integrated Methods for Successful Product Engineering. Addison Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA.
Springer, S.P. (1983) Left Brain, Right Brain. W. II. Freeman, San Franciso (1987), CA., New York (1986, 1989, 1993), N.Y.
Pahl, G. & Beitz, W. (1988) Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach, (Edited by Wallace, K.), The Design Council, London, Springer-Verlag, London, Paris, Tokyo.
Dixon, J.R. (1966) Design Engineering: Inventiveness, Analysis and Decision Making. McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y.
Penny, R.K. (1970) Principles of Engineering Design. Postgraduate 46: 344–349.
National Research Council (1991) Improving Engineering Design: Designing for Competitive Advantage. National Academy Press, Washington, D. C.
Criteria for Accrediting Programs in Engineering in the United States, Section IV.C.2. Effective for Evaluation During the 1995–96 Accreditation Cycle, Engineering Accreditation Commission, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
Johnson, D.G. (1993) Teaching Ethics in Science and Engineering. Science and Engineering Ethics 1: 83–87.
Grinter, L.E. (ed.) (1952) Report on Evaluation of Engineering Education. Journal of Engineering Education 46: 25–60.
Weil, Vivian (1992) Engineering Ethics in the Classroom, Engineering Ethics in Engineering Education, Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 1992. Proceedings of an NSF sponsored workshop in professional ethics.
Whitbeck, C. (1995) Teaching Ethics to Scientists and Engineers: Moral Agents and Moral Problems. Science and Engineering Ethics 1: 299–308.
Prasad, B. (1995) Concurrent Engineering Fundamentals. Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Jones, J.V. (1988) Engineering Design: Reliability, Maintainability and Testability. TAB Professional and Reference Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA.
Criteria for Accrediting Programs in Engineering in the United States, Criteria iv.C.3.d.(3)(c). Effective for Evaluation During the 1995–96 Accreditation Cycle, Engineering Accreditation Commission, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
Vandenburg, W.H., and Khan, N. (1994) How Well is Engineering Education Incorporating Societal Issues. Journal of Engineering Education 83: 357–61.
Skooglund, C., El Paso Faculty Workshop On Ethics & Professionalism, Texas State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and the Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism, April 15–16, 1993. This is one in a series of workshops developed by Professor Jimmy Smith to provide focus and experience to faculty members in the integration of the discussion of ethics into the engineering curriculum.
Broome, T.H. & Pierce, J. (1997) The Heroic Engineer. Journal of Engineering Education 86: No. 1, 51.
American Society for Engineering Education. Engineering Education for a Changing World. A Joint Project the Engineering Deans Council, and Corporate Roundtable of the American Society for Engineering Education, 1994.
Student Code of Ethics. Civil Engineering Department, University of New Mexico. Revision 041393, 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nichols, S.P. Professional responsibility: The role of the engineer in society. SCI ENG ETHICS 3, 327–337 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-997-0039-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-997-0039-x