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Learning from Failures
(Web Page on this Site)
This article by Nathan Khal was originally published in the CEES Ethics Column in November of 2009. It describes the Koror-Babelthaup Bridge collapse and the difficulties encountered by engineers attempting to examine the records for useful lessons. It highlights issues of confidentiality in failure investigations and the right scientists and engineers to examine documents that have been sealed by litigation.
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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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Speaker's Guide for the Presentation: How to Be a Good Engineer
(Web Page on this Site)
This set of pages comprises a sample lecture that might be given to an audience of engineering students on the topic of the importance of ethical behavior in the engineering profession. Text for slides, an annotated bibliography, and several examples of engineering ethics pledges and oaths are also included. The talk was prepared by the authors for the Ethics Committee of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Washington, DC.
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Carrot and Stick: Incentive Proposals for Eliminating Whistleblowing
(Web Page on Another Site)
This article by Walter L. Elden appeared in the August 1996 issue of Engineering Ethics Update. He proposes several incentives to reduce or eliminate whistleblowing.
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On Being the Bearer of Bad News
(Web Page on this Site)
By Philip Koopman. In this essay, Philip Koopman discusses the perils of presenting problems to management, and offers concrete suggestions and advice on how best to proceed in such a situation. This essay was originally published as part of a series on ethics and engineering by the SSIT Ethics Committee of the IEEE.
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Military Projects in the Workplace: Introduction
(Web Page on this Site)
In this student project scenario, an employee objects to working on a federally-sponsored corporate project to develop parts for use in a new weapon. Interviews with employees in various companies reveal a diversity of responses to this problem.
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Essays on Ethics Support by Professional Societies and on Wrongful and Retaliatory Discharge
(Web Page on this Site)
Essays and information about the history of the IEEE professional ethics activities and their involvement with issues of wrongful discharge.
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A Comparison of Ethical Concern Channels in Aerospace Corporations
(Web Page on this Site)
A student project using interviews with several aerospace firms, this essay explores how ethical concerns are managed within these organizations.