Ethics: A Responsibility for Us All

by Hiromasa Haneda

Engineers seek prestigious and successful careers in competitive and collaborative work environments that spur technological progress to society. The key toward professional success is balancing both individual and team goals. And the balancing act is where ethics comes in.

Many organizations have their own codes of ethics; the IEEE is no exception. The IEEE Code of Ethics requests — even expects — the following from members:

1. Accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and promptly disclose factors that might endanger the public or the environment.
    
2. Avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and disclose them to affected parties when they do exist.
    
3. Be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data.
    
4. Reject bribery in all its forms.
    
5. Improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application and potential consequences.
    
6. Maintain and improve our technical competence and undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations.
    
7. Seek, accept and offer honest criticism of technical work, acknowledge and correct errors, and properly credit the contributions of others.
    
8. Treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age or national origin.
    
9. Avoid injuring others, their property, reputation or employment by false or malicious action.
    
10. Assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and support them in following this code of ethics.

Being aware of and understanding the IEEE Code of Ethics is critically important, since colleagues’ goals and perceptions could differ because each of us experiences things differently and possesses different knowledge of a given subject. In many cases, an initial small error or misjudgment could snowball into a disaster. Inevitably, at some point in our careers, we will all find ourselves in a situation where we must demonstrate a high standard of ethics.

The IEEE Ethics and Member Conduct Committee (EMCC) provides guidance in these types of situations. While the EMCC cannot provide advice, committee members can direct individuals to available resources that can help them make the decisions they will ultimately have to make themselves. Case Western University’s online Ethics Center for Engineering is one such resource.

On the job, we must adhere to our employer's code of business conduct and related compliance programs. Likewise, as a professional organization, the IEEE also requires its members to adhere to the IEEE's ethical code. In fact, members who are found to have violated the IEEE Code of Ethics may be censured, suspended or expelled from the IEEE.

Many of the ethical situations that have triggered EMCC investigations could have been avoided if those involved had been aware of, understood or appreciated the IEEE Code of Ethics. For each of us, ethics awareness and practice is a life-long process that must be part of our daily routines. This component is essential for our continuing development as engineering professionals.

Other Resources

• For more information about the history of the IEEE’s Code of Ethics, read George McClure's article in the September edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer.
• www.niee.org
• www.globalethics.org (free weekly newsletter subscription available)
• You can ask questions or request assistance from the IEEE Ethics and Member Conduct Committee by writing to ethics@ieee.org. Or visit their Web site at www.ieee.org/ethics.

Hiromasa Haneda is the 2004 chair of the IEEE Ethics and Member Conduct Committee (EMCC). This article is based on comments and suggestions made by EMCC. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's.