Business Ethics
• Ethics in Engineering
• Moral Reasoning
• Moral Framework: A Global Survey
• Engineering as Social Experiment
• Safety Risk and Design
• Workplace Culture, Responsibilities and Rights
• Honesty
• Engineering and Environmental Ethics
• Engineering Ethics in Global Context
• Technology and Engineering Leadership
1
Title: Engineering as Social Experimentation
• Introduction
• Engineering projects impact society and involve uncertainties.
• Ethical considerations require treating engineering as a social
experiment.
• The responsibility of engineers extends beyond technical aspects.
2
Engineering as Experimentation
• Similar to scientific experiments, engineering involves:
• Uncertainties in design and execution.
• Learning from trial and error.
• The potential for unforeseen consequences.
• Unlike controlled laboratory experiments, engineering projects affect
society directly
3
Similarities to Standard Experiments
Both involve:
Testing hypotheses.
Dealing with unknown variables.
Assessing risks and outcomes.
Example: Bridge construction involves material testing, stress analysis,
and safety evaluations
4
Learning from the Past
Engineers must analyze past failures to improve future designs.
Examples of past failures:
Titanic Disaster (1912): Lack of lifeboats and overconfidence in safety measures-
technological complacency.
Teton Dam Failure (1976): Ignored warning signs (water seeping through dam and
erosion) , rushed construction, USA , June 1976
5
Contrasts with Standard Experiments
• Engineering projects:
• Lack full experimental control (real-world application vs. lab testing).
• Involve human subjects, requiring ethical considerations.
• Require informed consent and public awareness
6
Engineers as Responsible Experimenters
• Conscientiousness: Commitment to ethical decision-making.
• Comprehensive Perspective: Evaluating social, environmental, and
safety impacts.
• Moral Autonomy: Acting independently based on ethical principles.
• Accountability: Taking responsibility for engineering outcomes.
7
Informed Consent in Engineering
Similar to medical ethics, people affected by engineering decisions
should:
Be fully informed of risks.
Give voluntary consent.
Have access to safety measures.
Example: Ethical considerations in self-driving car development
8
The Challenger Disaster (1986)
• Engineers warned about faulty O-rings in cold weather.
• Pressure from NASA and political considerations led to launch
approval.
• Result: Shuttle explosion, loss of seven astronauts.
• Ethical Lesson: Engineers must prioritize safety over external
pressures
9
Balanced Outlook on Law
• Laws provide minimum safety standards but do not cover all ethical
responsibilities.
• Engineers should:
• Go beyond legal compliance.
• Advocate for higher safety and ethical standards.
• Example: Boeing 737 MAX crisis and regulatory oversights (fatal crash- Oct
2018, 189 people and Mar 2019, 302 People)
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Balanced Outlook on Law
• Lack of Transparency – Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System
(MACS) to compensate aerodynamic changes.
• Relied on only single sensor, if faulty could cause plane nose down repeatedly
• Boeing was aware but did not info Regulator and pilot to avoid cost of re
training.
• Corporate pressure Compete with airbus industry (business Pressure)
• FAA delegated much authority to Boeing (Conflict of Interest)
Ethiopian Airline
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Conclusion
Engineering is inherently experimental, requiring ethical responsibility.
Engineers must learn from past failures and prioritize safety.
Ethical decision-making ensures public trust and professional integrity
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