Cases on Engineering Practice Ethics - static index

Numerical and Design Problems with Ethical Content

Eighteen assignable problems on various topics in engineering and engineering ethics, integrating numerical and design problems with ethical issues. These 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. This project included a workshop held at Texas A & M University in August, 1995 under the direction of Professors Charles E. Harris and Michael Rabins. The problems presented here have been edited lightly for clarity.

Discussion Cases based on cases considered by the Board of Ethical Review (BER) of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

These brief cases present situations that raise ethical questions common in engineering practice and research. The cases were rewritten to make them more suitable for group and class discussion. The NSPE BER reviews cases with the narrower purpose of making an ethical judgment on the actions of (only) the engineers in the cases, based solely on the NSPE Code of Ethics. Each of the discussion cases has a link to the original NSPE case. Cases are grouped into five categories. Some cases appear in more than one category.

Eleven Detailed Cases from Texas A&M University

Most of these are historical cases in the sense that they recount actual events in detail. Several of the cases are those of famous accidents. Three of the historical cases are presented with photographs and diagrams that greatly enhance the understanding of the situation.

Three Teaching Case Studies of Accidents in Nuclear Energy Development in Japan

Hiroshi Iino, Kanazawa Institute of Technology. The two accidents in nuclear energy development by a governmental organization which are described here were fairly well disclosed, analyzed and attracted much public interest in Japan because of the nature of the project and supply engineering students with many useful lessons.

The Structural Engineer's Standard of Care

Joshua B. Kardon, S.E. This paper briefly describes a few engineering failures 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.

Some Recent Engineering Ethics Cases

Stephen Unger, Columbia University. The cases to be reported on here all came to the attention of the IEEE Ethics Committee during the past few years. 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 yet 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.

Teaching Engineering Ethics: A Case Study Approach

Edited by Michael Pritchard, from the Center For the Study of Ethics in Society, Western Michigan University. Thirty-two cases which address a wide range of ethical issues that can arise in engineering practice.

The Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident

One of the most serious accidents in the U.S. nuclear history. This account of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident includes a detailed description of the accident, a timeline of events, and some nuclear reactor technical information.

The Composite-Material Bicycle Case

A case study and analysis by Robert McGinn based on a consulting engineer's experience in coping with ethical conflicts at work, specifically: 1) a conflict between the duty not to undermine another consulting engineer who has hired him in an attempt to secure a contract to develop a composite material bicycle, and the obligation to uphold public safety; and 2) a conflict between directives to heed the problematic work orders of his client's manager, and specific obligations to follow good practices derived from the engineer's general obligation to serve the legitimate interests of the client to the best of her or his ability. (Professional Ethics, Numbers 1 and 2, Spring/Summer, 1997)

The Case of the Killer Robot

A detailed scenario which combines elements of software engineering and computer ethics. It can be used as a means of introducing computer ethics into a software engineering course. It can also be used earlier and elsewhere in the curriculum to acquaint students with the complexities of software development.

An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents

A page about Therac-25, a computerized radiation therapy machine which massively overdosed patients, and the software flaws that led to the overdoses.

Ethical Issues in the Design of Ultra-Lightweight Vehicles

This web-based case study will present the major safety and sustainability points in the ethical debate over ultra-lightweight vehicles and then ask the reader to consider a series of thought-provoking questions for both topics.

Related Cases on the Web

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Ed Turner – Responsible Charge

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 new DVD intended for student and professional engineers that includes many of the letters and documents pertaining to Turner's case.

Two cases of bridge collapses

maintained by Carleton University that illustrate the role of risk and failure in engineering work. The Quebec Bridge case collapsed twice during construction, in 1907 and in 1916. It has the longest span of any cantilever bridge in the world. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge case. One of the most famously documented failures, this bridge collapsed due to wind-induced vibrations a few months after completion in 1940. This case led to new measures to stiffen the road bed of bridges at the cost of giving suspension bridges a heavier appearance.

A large and growing collection of cases in the ASEE Engineering Case Program

The 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.

The Monts Case

Summary by David Monts. Electrical engineering David Monts was fired from a project for "continued disruption" of departmental meetings and a "negative attitude". Monts filed a law suit alleging he was actually trying to protect the public interest by pointing out several code violations.

NSPE's amicus brief on Monts' behalf

by Arthur Schwartz, NSPE General Counsel (March 2002). An example of how engineering societies may act to support ethical behavior of engineers.