Ethics in Engineering

Engineers are expected to uphold and advance a high level of standards of honesty, dignity, and integrity of the profession of engineering. They are expected to do this by using their knowledge and skills in enhancing the welfare of people and the environment as well. They should be honest and impartial as they provide services to the public and their clients. They should strive to increase the prestige and competence of the engineering profession. The engineering discipline has an important role in ensuring the high living quality of all the people in the society. All services provided by engineers should focus on the aspect of honesty, fairness, impartiality, and equity. These elements dedicate to public safety, health, and peoples’ well-being. Engineers must conduct their practices under a standard of professional behavior which requires compliance with the highest principles of ethical conduct. This paper analyzes a situation of the engineering profession practice of a general contractor firm and civil engineering consulting firms to determine whether there is a conflict of interest in their relationships.

There were three civil engineering consulting firms involved in a water and sewer development project that was to be set up in a village. The contractors included ABC, XYZ, and LMN consulting firms. The general contractor selected ABC to be the prime consultant to provide design services for the project while XYZ and LMN were sub-consultants. ABC offered its sub-consultants with project management and support design while the sub-contractors provided the primary project design services. ABC was asked by the general contractor to provide a construction survey service proposal during negotiations between the village and the general contractor. ABC was found to be appearing on the subcontractor list. Hence, the community felt that there existed a conflict of interest. ABC explained the nature of the service and agreed a conflict may exist. Therefore, the village accepted that a conflict did not exist. On the other hand, XYZ sent a letter to ABC as well as to the community indicating that a conflict of interest existed. The above situation can be determined using the engineering code of ethics that govern engineering practice.

Through the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) code of ethics and the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) program, professional engineers have a defined duty to the society. The ethics code states that the professional duties of Engineers shall not be influenced by the conflicting interests. They consider the duty to the welfare of the public as paramount above their duties to their clients. Their task execution to clients involves acting as faithful trustees in regard to the information of the client as confidential and avoiding conflict of interest. The duty of professional engineers to clients is that they need to disclose any direct or indirect interest that might appear to prejudice their professional judgment.

In the above situation, ABC consultant was to be the prime consultants in the project but the general contractor included it in the sub-contractor list. It may have appeared to prejudice the judgment of the general contractor as the village considered it a conflict of interest. According to the (NSPE) code of ethics, professional engineers must take the initiative of explaining to their clients any professional experiences appearing to be of prejudice. The ABC consultant firm explained to the village the nature of the duty with the aim of avoiding conflict of interest. The community agreed that there was no conflict of interest. It is evident that ABC consultancy relationship with the village had no conflict of interest. Also, due to the nature of the duty, the relationship of the consultancy firm with the general contractor had no conflict of interest. 

In conclusion, the discipline of engineering is essential in the society hence engineers are required to execute their professional duties with honesty, dignity, and integrity. Engineers are to conduct their practices in accordance with the principles of ethical conduct. The definition of the functions of the professional engineering is through the NSPE code of ethics. The construction professional work must provide clients with written statements about their nature of their employee status. It is also important for professional engineers to explain the nature of their duty to their clients so as to avoid conflict of interest. 

References

‘NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers.’ JOM 45.4 (1993): 14-16. Web.

Shamshina, Irina G. ‘Professional Competences Necessary for the Bachelor-Degree-Holding Engineer Specializing In Engineering Industries’. Pacific Science Review (2014): n. pag. Web.