Ethics

EG1004 Ethics

Engineers are expected to maintain high ethical standards. The duty to be honest, deal fairly with others and adhere to the law of the land does not apply only to engineers, and there are other standards that apply to the activities of any professional interaction with a client or customer. But there is a still more refined standard that is specific to the profession you are soon to join.

Like other professional organizations, engineering societies provide codes of conduct with which their members must comply. These codes represent the consensus of opinion on the behavior required to maintain ethical standards. Most agree that it is wrong to cause people harm and that the profession is engaged in the active promotion of the public welfare. High levels of integrity and practice must be sustained. Engineers have an obligation to the maintenance of the public's safety and to their employers and clients.

Conflicts of interest must be avoided. Engineers have a further obligation to other engineers to be honest and forthright regarding their experience and qualifications. In criticizing their fellows, engineers must take great care not to injure reputations. Engineers should always attempt to improve the understanding of technology generally while increasing their own technical competence.¹

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) maintains a code of ethics on its website at www.ieee.org. It is valuable resource for you as you prepare to enter the profession.

Footnotes

¹ Oakes, W.C., L.L. Leone, and C.G. Gunn, Engineering Your Future. Okemos, MI: Great Lakes Press, 2002

Return to Table of Contents

Continue to next topic: Plagiarism

Continue to previous topic: Teamwork