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Teaching Engineering Ethics: A Case Study Approach
(Web Page on this Site)
From the Center For the Study of Ethics in Society, Western Michigan University. A list of thirty-two cases, edited by Michael Pritchard, which address a wide range of ethical issues that can arise in engineering practice.
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Professional Ethics in Engineering Practice: Discussion Cases Based on NSPE BER Cases
(Web Page on this Site)
A collection of cases brought before the National Society of Professional Engineers Board of Ethical Review. The NSPE BER reviews cases with the specific purpose of making an ethical judgment on the actions of (only) the engineers in the cases, based solely on the NSPE Code of Ethics.
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Engineering Ethics Cases from Texas A&M
(Web Page on this Site)
These are summaries of cases maintained in full by Texas A& M University on their site. The full cases include diagrams, numerical problems, teaching guides, and other useful classroom material. They investigate engineering ethics issues, from gross violation of environmental regulations to conflict of interest in the operations of a professional engineering society.
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The Structural Engineer's Standard of Care
(Web Page on this Site)
This paper briefly describes cases of engineering failure with which the author has become familiar in his practice as a consultant and expert in construction defects lawsuits, and other engineering failures in the published record, in order to expose students to the concept of the engineer's standard of care.
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Three Teaching Case Studies of Accidents in Nuclear Energy Development in Japan
(Web Page on this Site)
Historical Case
An essay describing three historical Japanese cases and their use in the development of ethics education in Japan.
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Some Recent Engineering Ethics Cases That Have Come to the IEEE
(Web Page on this Site)
Stephen Unger, Columbia University. The cases reported on here all came to the attention of the IEEE Ethics Committee during the 1990s. Most came in via the ethics hotline, while the initial contacts for others was via communications addressed to authors of ethics columns that appeared in the IEEE Institute. Most of these cases have not been carefully investigated, although we are fairly confident that the essential information is correct. The outcomes of most of the cases are not known-in some cases matters are still in a state of flux. Names and other information that might identify individuals or organizations have been suppressed or fictionalized.
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Numerical & Design Problems With Ethical Content
(Web Page on this Site)
These 18 assignable problems were originally developed as part of an NSF-funded project to create numerical problems that raise ethical issues for use in engineering and other course assignments. They are technical problems that apply to a number of engineering disciplines.
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Ethical Issues in the Design of Ultra-Lightweight Vehicles
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
This web-based case study presents the major safety and sustainability points in the ethical debate over ultra-lightweight vehicles and then asks the reader to consider a series of thought-provoking questions for both topics.
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An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents
(Web Page on this Site)
Historical Case
Abstract of a 1993 article from IEEE Computer about the Therac-25 computerized radiation therapy machine and its software flaws, which caused massive overdoses to patients.
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Case of the Killer Robot
(Web Page on this Site)
A synopsis and index of the documents in the Case of the Killer Robot, a detailed hypothetical scenario that combines elements of software engineering and computer ethics. The case consists of several FICTIONAL newspaper articles.
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Optimization, Option Disclosure, and Problem Redefinition: Derivative Moral Obligations of Engineers and the Case of the Composite-Material Bicycle
(Web Page on this Site)
This article describes the moral obligation of engineers and how it is related to design, manufacturing and responsible conduct of research; specifically composite material used in bicycle frame design.
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Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident
(Web Page on this Site)
Historical Case
Index to Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident Information. A discussion of the accident at the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979 as one of the most serious in the history of the U.S. nuclear industry.
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Cost of Design Improvement
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
WPI begins production and ships the first portion of the order to GFI on time. GFI, at this point, is very happy with the component and wants WPI to ship the final three quarters of the order as soon as feasible. As Philip is working on the component he thinks of an apparent solution to the 'nagging problem' that bothered him in the design. It would involve a small change in the production process, while increasing the cost to three dollars more per component. Philip is convinced that, had they known about this improvement earlier, GFI would have wanted it.
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Question of Delegating Responsibilities
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
Dan Dorset had been looking forward to this trip for weeks. Once he was assigned to help Rancott install its equipment for Boulding, Inc., he arranged his vacation at a nearby ski resort. The installation would be completed on the 12th, and his vacation would begin on the 13th. Unfortunately, not all of Rancott's equipment arrived on time.
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US Parts
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
John Budinski, quality control engineer at Clarke Engineering, has a problem. Clarke contracted with USAWAY to supply a product subject to the requirement that all parts are made in the United States. Although the original design clearly specifies that all parts must satisfy this requirement, one of Clarke's suppliers failed to note that one of the components has two special bolts that are made only in another country. There is not time to design a new bolt if the terms of the contract are to be met. USAWAY is a major customer, and not meeting the deadline can be expected to have unfortunate consequences for Clarke.
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The Value Engineering Clause
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
A design firm considers adding unnecessary items to an initial design in order to boost profits.
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Risk Assessment and Nuclear Waste Sites
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
A scenario in which an engineer must choose between state-of-the-art science and a simpler method to fulfill a contract.
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The Persistent Engineer
(Web Page on this Site)
Fictionalized Case
Is it within an engineer's responsibility to fight against a public danger, even if it is not within his area of expertise?
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Lamination Press Layout
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
An engineer discovers potentially hazardous dust in the company press room.
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Generating Good will in a Subdivision Without Electricity
(Web Page on this Site)
Fictionalized Case
Are engineers obligated to use their expertise and skill to solve social and ethical problems?
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Chemical A or B?
(Web Page on this Site)
Open-Ended Scenario
A scenario in which an engineering student attempts to innitiate a manufacturing process that will ensure the safety of company workers and is met with stiff resistance from management.
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Is the Bidding Process Written in Stone?
(Web Page on this Site)
Hypothetical Case
This case discusses a common practice in some countries of "underbidding for a job" by including deliberate mistakes in the construction drawings.
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The ASEE Engineering Case Library
(Web Page on Another Site)
This webpage contains cases from the ASEE Engineering Case Program. Cases are accounts of real engineering work, written for use in engineering education. Many of them raise ethically significant issues. A synoptic classification of cases by disciplines, areas, and suggested assignments is available.
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The First Quebec Bridge Disaster - A Case Study
(Web Page on Another Site)
Historical Case
A very detailed case study of the design failures underlying The First Quebec Bridge Disaster maintained at Carleton University. Writen by John Tarkov and implemented for the webpage by Neal Holtz.
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Ed Turner – Responsible Charge
(Web Page on Another Site)
Historical Case
A detailed and well-documented site by the former city engineer of Idaho Falls, Idaho, about his refusal to sign and seal plans over which he did not have responsible charge and about the personal, professional, legal, and ethical ramifications of his situation. The 2005 update page has information about a DVD intended for student and professional engineers that includes many of the letters and documents pertaining to Turner's case.