Credit for Engineering Work Design Competition (adapted from NSPE Case No. 92-1)

Amory, an engineer, is retained by the City to design a bridge as part of an elevated highway system. Amory retains the services of Carroll, a structural engineer, with expertise in horizontal geometry, superstructure design and elevations, to design certain parts of the bridge. Carroll drafts plans for the bridge's three curved welded-plate girder spans, a critical part of the bridge's design.

Months later, Amory enters the bridge design into a national organization's bridge-design competition, and it wins first prize. The entry, however, fails to credit Carroll for his part in the bridge design.

What, if anything, should Carroll do?

--adapted from NSPE Case No. 92-1

NSPE Code of Ethics An earlier version may have been used in this case.

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Original Case and BER Judgement

Cite this page: "Credit for Engineering Work Design Competition (adapted from NSPE Case No. 92-1)" Online Ethics Center for Engineering 6/10/2006 National Academy of Engineering Accessed: Monday, May 20, 2013 <www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/ec92-1.aspx>