ETHICS
- Course
- INDE335 - ETHICS
- Department
- Industrial Engineering - English - Undergraduate
- Course Type
- Course
- Status
- Required
- Language
- English
- Credit
- 3
- ECTS
- 4
- T+P+L
- 3 + 0 + 0
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr. Behzad SANAEI
- Prerequisite
- -
- Keywords
Course Description
The aim of this course is to awaken a sense of moral responsibility as decision makers. It can be happen by giving the moral imagination of students, helping students to recognize ethical issues and think ethically about the possible outcomes of making decisions, developing analytical skills on how to analyze an ethical situation and use neutral techniques to make an ethically optimal decision. This course is designed to introduce moral rights and responsibilities of engineers in relation to society, employers, colleagues and clients. Importance of intellectual property rights and conflicting interests. Ethical aspects in engineering design, manufacturing, and operations. Cost-benefit-risk analysis and safety and occupational hazard considerations.
ETHICS
Evaluation Tools (Active Term)
No evaluation items have been defined.
Course outcomes
- 01 decide on engineering dilemmas based on scientific knowledge and ethical rules
- 02 assess managerial decisions on purpose knowing that they may harm the fellow workers, general public, organisation or environment
- 03 observe local and international ethical codes of conduct of their profession
- 04 evaluate possible actions to take which may cause conflict of interest
- 05 identify importance of honesty, confidentiality, trust and reliability
Course Syllabus
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Professional Ethics. Engineering ethics. Definitions. Preventive vs aspirational ethics |
| Week 2 | Framework of the ethics problem. Case Study. |
| Week 3 | Resolving ethical problems. Case Study. |
| Week 4 | Social values vs Technology. Case Study. |
| Week 5 | Trust and Reliability. Honesty vs dishonesty. Forms of dishonesty. Case Study. |
| Week 6 | Confidentiality. Intellectual Property. Expert Witnessing. Informing the Public. Conflicts of Interest. |
| Week 7 | Case Studies on ethics. |
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS BREAK |
| Week 9 | MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS BREAK |
| Week 10 | Risk and Liability. Case Study. |
| Week 11 | Proper Engineering and Management Decisions within organisations. Case Study. |
| Week 12 | Responsible Organizational Disobedience. Case Study. |
| Week 13 | Engineers and the Environment. Case Study. |
| Week 14 | Ethical Resources for Solving Boundary-Crossing Problems. Case Study. Case Study.. |
| Week 15 | Extra Case Studies on ethics. |
Reference Books & Course Materials
- 01 Charles E. Harris, Michael S. Pritchard, and Michael J. Rabins; "Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases", Fourth Edition, 2009, 2005 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Learning Outcomes
- L01 Explain fundamental concepts of professional ethics, engineering ethics, moral responsibility, and preventive versus aspirational ethics. SOLO 4
- L02 Analyze ethical problems in engineering cases by considering stakeholders, possible harms, responsibilities, and consequences. SOLO 4
- L03 Evaluate professional decisions involving honesty, confidentiality, trust, reliability, intellectual property, and conflicts of interest. SOLO 5
- L04 Discuss engineers’ responsibilities related to public safety, risk, liability, organizational decision-making, and responsible disobedience. SOLO 5
- L05 Report ethical judgments in written case-based assignments using appropriate professional reasoning. SOLO 3
Program Outcomes
- P01 Knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, basic engineering, computer-based computation, and topics specific to the relevant engineering discipline.
- P02 Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, basic engineering, computer-based computation, and topics specific to the relevant engineering discipline to the solution of complex engineering problems.
- P03 Ability to define complex engineering problems by using knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering, while considering the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to the problem addressed.
- P04 Ability to formulate complex engineering problems using knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering, while considering the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) associated with the problem addressed.
- P05 Ability to analyse and solve complex engineering problems using knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering, while considering the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) associated with the problem addressed.
- P06 Ability to design creative solutions to complex engineering problems.
- P07 Ability to design complex systems, processes, devices, or products in a way that meets present and future needs while considering realistic constraints and conditions.
- P08 Ability to select and use appropriate techniques and resources—including estimation and modelling—for the analysis and solution of complex engineering problems, while being aware of their limitations.
- P09 Ability to select and use modern engineering and computational tools—including estimation and modelling—for the analysis and solution of complex engineering problems, while being aware of their limitations.
- P10 Ability to conduct literature research and use appropriate research methods for the investigation of complex engineering problems.
- P11 Ability to design experiments for the investigation of complex engineering problems.
- P12 Ability to conduct experiments, collect data, analyse results, and interpret findings for the investigation of complex engineering problems.
- P13 Knowledge of the impacts of engineering practices on society, health and safety, the economy, sustainability, and the environment within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- P14 Awareness of the legal implications of engineering solutions within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- P15 Knowledge of ethical responsibility and adherence to the principles of professional engineering conduct.
- P16 Awareness of acting impartially without discrimination in any matter and of being inclusive of diversity.
- P17 Ability to work effectively as an individual.
- P18 Ability to work effectively as a team member or leader in intra-disciplinary teams (face-to-face, remote, or hybrid).
- P19 Ability to work effectively as a team member or leader in multidisciplinary teams (face-to-face, remote, or hybrid).
- P20 Ability to communicate effectively in spoken form on technical matters, taking into account the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession).
- P21 Ability to communicate effectively in written form on technical matters, taking into account the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession).
- P22 Knowledge of professional practices such as project management and economic feasibility analysis.
- P23 Awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation.
- P24 Ability for independent and lifelong learning.
- P25 Ability to adapt to new and emerging technologies.
- P26 Lifelong learning ability that includes the capacity to think critically about technological changes.
Po-Lo Matrix
| LO | P01 | P02 | P03 | P04 | P05 | P06 | P07 | P08 | P09 | P10 | P11 | P12 | P13 | P14 | P15 | P16 | P17 | P18 | P19 | P20 | P21 | P22 | P23 | P24 | P25 | P26 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L01 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.19 |
| L02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.38 |
| L03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.38 |
| L04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.58 |
| L05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.58 |