American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Faculty of Engineering

Course Name: Engineering Ethics Course Code: EEE 3107

Semester: Fall 2019-20 Section:

Demonstrates individual responsibilities based on norms of engineering practice

Item:
(CO4)
Presentation Title:

Student Name: Student ID:

Student’s Department Submission Date:

Rubrics:

Proficient Good Acceptable Unacceptable Secured

Category
[6] [5] [4] [2] Marks
Issue/problem to be Issue/problem to be Issue/problem to be Issue/problem to be
considered critically is stated considered critically is considered critically is considered critically is stated
clearly and described stated, described, and stated, but description leaves without clarification or
Explanation of
comprehensively, delivering clarified so that some terms undefined, description.
issues relevant information understanding is not ambiguities unexplored,
necessary for full seriously impeded by boundaries undetermined,
understanding. omissions.
Thoroughly (systematically Identifies own and others’ Questions some Shows an emerging
and methodically) analyzes assumptions and several assumptions. Identifies awareness of present
Influence of own and others’ assumptions relevant contexts when several relevant contexts assumptions (sometimes
context and and carefully evaluates the presenting a position. when presenting a position. labels assertions as
assumptions relevance of contexts when May be more aware of assumptions). Begins to
presenting a position. others’ assumptions than identify some contexts when
one’s own (or vice versa). presenting a position.
Specific position Specific position Specific position Specific position
(perspective, hypothesis) is (perspective, (perspective, hypothesis) (perspective, hypothesis) is
imaginative, considering the thesis/hypothesis) considers acknowledges different sides stated, but is simplistic and
Student’s position complexities of an issue. the complexities of an issue. of an issue. obvious.
Limits of position Others’ points of view and
(perspective,
(perspective, hypothesis) are assumptions are
thesis/ acknowledged. Others’ acknowledged within
hypothesis) points of view and position (perspective,
assumptions are synthesized hypothesis).
within position (perspective,
hypothesis).
Innovative Extends a novel or unique Creates a novel or unique Experiments with creating a Reformulates a collection of
Thinking idea, question, format, or idea, question, format, or novel or unique idea, available ideas.
or uniqueness (of product to create new product. question, format, or product.
knowledge or knowledge
idea, claim,
that crosses boundaries.
question etc.)
Conclusions and related Conclusion is logically tied Conclusion is logically tied Conclusion is inconsistently
Conclusions and outcomes (consequences and to a range of information, to information (because tied to some of the
implications) are logical and including opposing information is chosen to fit information discussed;
related outcomes
reflect student’s informed viewpoints; related outcomes the desired conclusion); related outcomes
(implications and evaluation and ability to (consequences and some related outcomes (consequences and
consequences) place evidence. implications) are identified (consequences and implications) are
clearly. implications) are not clear. oversimplified.
Total Marks
Comments:
(Out of 30):
 Engineering Ethics
Overview
This final examination is a chance for you to research an ethical topic that is interesting to your team. Your team will
choose a case from a given list of engineering ethics cases, conduct research on the case, analyze the situations
presented in the case, and then present your analysis to the class in an oral presentation.
Assignment Detail:
The following is a detailed layout of the process leading up to the oral presentation on ethics:
1. Selection of Possible Ethics Cases
Teams are required to choose ONE ethics case from the 15 that are provided at the end of this document. The chosen
cases should be those that are of most interest to your group; consider the related engineering field(s). The cases
provided are a mix of hypothetical and real-world situations.
2. Ethics Case Analysis and Oral Presentation
After you have selected the case, your group is required to complete an analysis of your ethics case. The information in
the completed analysis should provide the base of the content for your presentation. Make sure to include as much
detail as possible, including assumptions you may have made. You will be evaluated based on your ability to:
 Address each of the issues and points of ethical conflict presented in the case or problem. Include any
assumptions made about this case.
 Identify what engineering field(s) this ethics case is related to.
 Identify the protagonist. Describe the general duties or obligations of the protagonist, which are grounded in
moral considerations.
 Consider each interested party’s legitimate expectations of the protagonist.
 Identify all possible actions and recognize the positive and negative consequences of each action.
 Provide a selected action and rationale.
 Provide at least a total of two references, not including Wikipedia.
Your presentation must be 7-8 minutes long and you will be allotted an additional 2-3 minutes for questions. When
giving your presentation, you should dress professional for a business casual environment. You are welcome to use
notecards when presenting, but keep in mind that you should not read directly from the cards (or the screen!). Each
team member should participate equally in giving the presentation. You are highly encouraged to practice ahead of time
to make sure information flows well and that your group stays within the 7-8 minute time limit. Presentations will occur
over one class period.
Your presentation should reflect your analysis of the case. Because you have already completed the analysis, creating
the presentation should just require documenting your existing work and focus on layout of material. Be sure to include
background information on the case so your audience (the class) can understand your analysis. When building your
presentation, make sure your slides clearly convey your information and that the audience will be able to easily read all
information on the screen. You are encouraged to include visuals in your presentation. There is no required number of
slides for this presentation.
3. Report on the Ethical Case
You must submit individual report on the selected case. While writing the report-
1. Identify the primary “ethical dilemma (or question) in the case.
2. List the stakeholders in the case (and try to identify an important “right” of each stakeholder).
3. List and describe alternative courses of action that may be taken and determine the likely consequences of each
proposed action for each stakeholder.
4. Describe your normative recommendation in this case. What is the basis of your recommendation?
 Engineering Ethics
Ethics Cases:
This section of the document contains the ethics cases your group can choose to research. Please choose ONE case that
is interesting to your group. While reading these cases think about what majors each focus on. Your team must find and
reference at least one more source, in addition to the one provided, for your presentation; you may not use Wikipedia.

1 Who Can Change Proprietary Source Code [Hypothetical]:

A software specialist works in small software firm on developing of software for various
management activities. The software expert switches to large software firm and engages in design
and development of specialist innovative software for various customer services. The software
engineer in the meantime is providing software services to the small software firms by modifying
the codes of software of present large firms. This causes ethical and legal problem to the
developer of the software working in the large firm. Extracted from Who Can Change Proprietary
Source Code accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/csaindex/WhoCanChange.aspx

2 Air Bags, Safety and Social Experiments [Hypothetical]:

Air bags can be installed in the automobiles to reduce injuries and fatalities in accidents. This
case focuses on the issues regarding public safety, professional testing and experiments on airbag
product. Extracted from an Air Bags Safety and Social Experiments accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Research_Ethics_and_Society/27992/AirBag.aspx

3 Case Study: Climate Change Adaptation and public Participation in Yuma,

AZ [Hypothetical]:

This case study focuses on public involvement and participation in adaptation and mitigation of
climatic change. Public forum in Phonix first took initiative to study the climatic conditions and
discussed various ways of adapting and controlling ecological problems. Extracted from Case
Study : Climate change adaptation and public participation in Yuma, AZ accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Climate-Change-Case-Study.aspx

4 Big Data Case Study: Big Data & Public Health [Hypothetical]:

Zhang Kar-wai, a graduate in computer science works on tracking and processing of health
related data on individual such as blood pressure, blood glucose level, eating habit, sleeping
cycles, seasonal illness, weight, reproductive health from smart phone and on-line application.
The goal is to design health related products enable to mitigate health problems and also predict
outbreak of any fatal disease. This case discusses ethical issues relating to use of personal health
related information and processing data by some algorithm and producing prediction on out
breaking of disease. Extracted from Big Data Case Study : Big Data & Public Health accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/40348/40522.aspx

5 Blowing the Whistle on a Therapeutic Patient [Real World]:

This case discusses the whistle blowing occurred by Jan, an experienced nurse in the late 1970
and early 1980 against conducting experiment on psychiatric patient without their consent.
Unethical issues regarding the experimental program and their consequences have been raised in
 Engineering Ethics
this case. Extracted from Blowing the Whistle on Therapeutic Experiment accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/gradres/graderesv1/therapeutic.aspx

6 Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Subject Aid [Hypothetical]:

Robotics is a branch of science and engineering that develops automated machines for sensing
and realizing of various tasks. Robotic and artificial intelligence system have much impact on
ethical, social, and legal issues of society. This case explores the ethical factors of robotic system
in line with benefits provided.
Extracted from Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Subject Aid accessed at:
https://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Subject-Aids/AI-and-Robotics-Subject-Aid.aspx

7 GM Ignition Switch [Real-World]:

General Motors had to recall 2.6 million Chevy Cobalt vehicles. The ignition switch contained a
design flaw that was demonstrated when owners placed weighted items on their key rings. The
key would rotate into accessary mode and shut down all mechanical and electrical functions in
the car including the air bags and power steering and brakes. This issue has caused at least 13
deaths. The problem was bought to the attention of GM in 2005, but engineers decided against a
fix because it would take too long and cost too much money. Extracted from The Long Road To
GM’s Ignition Switch Recall accessed at:
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297312252/the-long-road-to-gms-ignition-switch-recall

8 Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Disaster [Real-World]:

The meltdown happened on Three Mile Island, PA on March 28, 1979. General Public Utilities
and Metropolitan Edison were the companies responsible for the partial nuclear meltdown.
Radioactive gases released to environment and the plant site was contaminated (14 year clean-up
effort). The nuclear meltdown received a Level 5 on the International Nuclear Event Scale with
Level 7 being the worst. A Combination of design and human error lead loss of coolant, which
lead to a partial meltdown. Extracted from Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident
accessed at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html

9 Software Design Testing [Hypothetical]:

Engineer A employed by a software company is involved in designing of specialized software in

connection with the operations of facilities relating the public health and safety (i.e. nuclear, air
quality control, water quality control). Engineer A conducted extensive testing on the software as
per the existing standards. He faces various moral dilemmas in respect to complying the software
with the newly drafted testing standards, protecting the interest of employer and customers.
Extracted from Software Design Testing accessed
at:http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/32828/SoftwareBER.aspx

10 Beyond Expertise: One Person’s Science, Another Person’s Policy

[Hypothetical]:

Dr. Debra Reams works in the field of environmental chemistry and focuses on the oxidation and
 Engineering Ethics
reduction reactions of the heavy metal jekylhydium in water and soil. Jeckylhydium is used in
many industrial processes and is known to exist in nature primarily in two oxidation states. The
oxidized form is extremely toxic; the reduced form is harmless. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is concerned about the toxicity and potential for human exposure to jekylhydium.
The Agency is alarmed by news of the possibility of transformation from the less toxic to the
more toxic form and asks Reams to help rewrite the regulatory limits for jekylhydium in soils and
water based on her findings. Reams declined to rewrite regulations even though she was person to
clearly demonstrate the danger. Extracted from Beyond Expertise: One Person’s Science,
Another Person’s Policy accessed at:

http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/expertise.aspx

11 The Case of the Killer Robot [Hypothetical]:

Randey Samuels was a programmer at the Silicon Techtronic's Inc. who worked on programing
robots. Bart Matthews was crushed to death when the robot he was operating malfunctioned and
started to wave its hands violently. The Robot arm struck Matthews, throwing him against a wall
and crushing his skull. They were both employees of Cybernetics Inc. in Silicon Heights when
the accident occurred on February 16, 2006.
Extracted from Case of the Killer Robot accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/19049/killerrobot.aspx

12 From Fundamental Physics to the Private Sector [Hypothetical]:

Huge University and Ivy University emerged as the leaders in the new field of applying particle
accelerators, matching each other patent for patent. Since the group at Ivy spearheaded the
collaboration that wrote the original article in Popular Cross Disciplinary Research, they claimed
the first patent, which secured the rights to the idea of using the technique for medical imaging.
Groups at Ivy U. and Huge U. each began building an apparatus that would produce the specially
treated gas to be used for the new MRI technique. Ivy finished first and patented its new machine.
Huge finished a few months later, but its machine had the added capability of being able to
produce and deliver the gas with the same machine. Huge also received a patent. Both
universities are in positions to violate each other’s patents. Extracted from From Fundamental
Physics to the Private Sector accessed at:

http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/fundamental.aspx

13 Case SUMO – 1(Real World):

Over 17 million people died from cardiovascular disease worldwide in 2008 (World Health
Organization, 2013). The World Health Organization estimates that number will be over 23
million by 2030. In the U.S., approximately 600,000 people die annually from heart failure. 
One new development in cardiovascular gene therapy focuses on the SUMO-1 gene (Tilemann et
al., 2013; Woods, 2013). The SUMO-1 gene is naturally occurring in human beings, but its
activity is reduced in patients with heart failure. In studies on mice and pigs, insertion of the
SUMO-1 gene reduced blood pressure and improved overall cardiovascular function. Clinical
 Engineering Ethics
trials on SUMO-1 with human beings are just beginning. If these trials are successful, and
SUMO-1 is approved for general use, doctors will have a powerful new tool for combatting
cardiovascular disease. Extracted from Case SUMO - 1 accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/30931/31015/31250/31252.aspx#publicationContent

14 Exportation of Risk – The case of Bhopal [Real World]:

This case examines the 1984 catastrophe arising from a chemical leak at a Union Carbide
Corporation plant in Bhopal, India, which resulted in the death of as many as 3,000 and injury to
thousands more, from the standpoint of exporting risk from industrialized to developing
countries. The case, which includes comparisons with Bhopal's sister plant in Institute, West
Virginia, considers the moral responsibility for preventing such tragedies on the part of
multinational corporations, the governments of the industrialized nations where they are head
quartered, and the governments of developing countries where they operate. The moral
responsibilities of engineers and scientists working for these organizations are also considered.
Main focal point of this case is environmental and industrial safety ethics.
Extracted from Exportation of Risk : The case of Bhopal accessed at:
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Bhopal.aspx

15 CITICORP Building [Real-World]:

Structural Engineer Bill LeMessurier designed welded joints for the CITICORP building in
Citicorp Centre, N.Y (fifth highest skyscraper) 1977. However the contractor, Bethlehem Steel,
changed them to bolted joints. Tests proved that the diagonal wind loading (with a return period
of 16 years) can lead to the failure of the critical bolted joints and therefore the building.
Recalculation was not done to check what the construction change would do. The building was
strengthened by welding two-inch thick steel plates over each of the 200 bolted joints. Extracted
from:
http://www.theaiatrust.com/whitepapers/ethics/study.php