Ethics in engineering is ethics in the everyday world. As engineers, we are required to conduct our business with the utmost integrity, professionalism, and knowledge in our field. What we do shapes the world as we know it, and to take part in any type of action which could be deemed as unsafe, unhealthy, or contradictory to the best interests of the common public goes against the Code of Ethics for Engineers. Moreover, it goes against what we stand for as members of society, especially given the great privilege and responsibility that we have accepted as our career. In [your firm], we believe that what we do today will impact the world tomorrow. By acting in unethical manners, we are not only jeopardizing our integrity, but the wellbeing of the communities that we serve. As the sculptors of the modern world, we are required ensure that any of our projects are seen through in a diligent, cautious, and honest manner. There is to be no falsification of any kind, whether it be in the form of data, blueprints, or information that we disclose to the public. Everything that we present must be accurately conveyed, and for the greater good of the projects which we have chosen to undertake. [Your firm] takes its values seriously, and makes a point to take note of the engineering scandals that unfortunately occur in everyday life. In order to avoid a decline in our reputation, disappointment in our supporters, and a heavy conscience weighing on our minds, we strive to avoid these same types of mistakes. While mistakes may occur in [your line of work], we do not attempt to cover up these mistakes before making the final result ready for the public. We will, however, humbly acknowledge our mistakes for what they are: solvable errors. When these are brought to our attention, either by our own findings or someone else’s, we will backtrack in order to properly address the situation so that our end results will satisfy the needs of the public in the most effective, safe way possible.
One mistake that has arisen recently was the scandal involving Volkswagen in 2015. While the mistake itself was not the true error of their ways, it ended up being detrimental to their customers as well as themselves. This was because they knowingly went out of their way to engineer around accurate emission control systems, thus being able to falsify data on emissions tests. In reality, certain emissions were programmed only to be indicated under laboratory testing. This was done through reprogramming of the turbocharged direct injection diesel engines that are commonly found in their vehicles. In everyday testing situations, such as at a DMV, the vehicles would be able to pass an emissions test even though they were really emitting outrageous amounts of undetectable pollutants into the air. Moreover, the scandal emerged in 2015, 7 years after the release of the 2009 (and later) models which had to be recalled due to inaccurate emissions testing results. This in itself shows that Volkswagen not only knew about their unethical practices, but that they had been attempting to cover them up for years. This cost the company quite a bit of respect amongst it’s consumers, and proved to be detrimental to their finance as well. Ultimately, the company lost some of its key executives, billions of dollars in legal repercussions and a reform campaign, and the faith of the customers that they were meant to serve, not swindle. This particular scandal is a shining example as to why it is of the utmost vitality for engineers to maintain a sense of ethics in our line of work. While it is a broad field of occupation, our final products affect more people than we could possibly imagine, in ways that matter the most.
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For me personally, academic integrity has never been an issue. While there have been moments when I have felt tempted to get answers from a classmate, or have essays written by an online essay mill, I have always known that these habits will follow me well into my career. Academic dishonesty also takes away from the challenge of learning new material that I am perfectly capable of learning with enough study and ambition. Finding ways to work around problems as opposed to addressing them or avoiding them is never the answer, and leads to complications later on. This is a concept that can be applied universally, regardless of one’s profession or field of study. Plus, it also takes away from the fulfillment that comes from thinking creatively and solving life’s problems. If the problem is merely avoided or worked around, it still exists. When either one of these options inevitably ends up failing, the problem that was unsuccessfully covered up becomes more evident than before, and thus more problematic. In order to avoid a series of errors that stem from one mistake, integrity must be practiced to avoid future problems. In any field of engineering, problems will surely arise. As engineers, it is simply our job to solve these problems. This is the purpose behind our line of work, and working against it not only creates trouble for ourselves, but for the general public as well. In order to get into the habit of creative, honest problem solving, I have put forth my effort in maintaining academic integrity by submitting original work that does not dance around the problems, but is proactive in finding the solution.
