Reference no: EM131033737

Engineering and Ethics Final Note: Please follow the template “Evaluation of Case Study” wherever required. Question 1: Consider the following example and answer the questions below. (Use the template: Evaluation of Case Study) A talented engineer named John works in a large automotive firm. He has been working on task of building sensors for the automated cars. After extensive work and research, he builds high end sensors for which he plan to get patent with his firm. As soon as the other competitive automotive firm finds out, they approach John to offer him a job at a higher position and benefits with an intention of getting the patent transferred to their firm. What are the ethical issues involved in case of John’s acceptance? Using line drawing technique, explain whether accepting the offer would be considered as accepting a bribe or not? Explain why line drawing technique is a good approach for this case? Present any other technique to resolve this ethical dilemma? Determine the positive and negative effects of John’s decision? Question 2: How is legal liability similar to moral responsibility? Provide an example of a contemporary issue (socio-economic, cultural, political, safety and health) of liability in engineering, technology or a technical solution. Discuss resolution of these ethical issues and how engineers can protect themselves from against liability to risk? (write at least 3 - 4 paragraphs) Question 3: Consider the following case study and answer the questions below. An electric car is an automobile that uses electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device that is propelled by one or more electric motors. Electric cars can significantly reduce air pollution, as they do not emit tailpipe pollutants and reduce in greenhouse gas and other emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil. But widespread adoption of electric cars causes higher cost, lack of recharging infrastructure outside of home charging and range anxiety which is the driver's fear that the electric energy stored in the batteries will run out before the driver reaches their destination, due to the limited range of the existing electric cars. The United States government also views energy efficient vehicles as environmentally friendly alternatives to vehicles that run purely on gasoline and provided tax credits to increase the popularity. Determine the possible impacts (political, environmental, health, safety, cultural, economic) of the electric car technology on society (including individual, local, regional, or global context)? What are the ethical solutions to these impacts on the society? Discuss ethical standards that needs to be set by the government to reduce the impact of this technology. In your opinion, should all the vehicles running on gasoline or diesel be replaced with energy efficient vehicles? Question 4: Discuss the various forms of “trustworthiness” expected of engineers as professionals. (write at least 2 - 3 paragraphs) Consider the following case study and answer the questions below. Amy is an electrical and electronics engineering student. She is making electrical measurements in the electronics laboratory. Amy is a good student and is confident that she has set up the circuit properly. When Amy tries to do the required calculations to verify the formulas in her book she finds that the data she took appears to be incorrect. She suspects that one of the electrical components she was given is not working properly. Her teacher, Mr. George, is busy helping some of the weaker students so she decides not to report her problem. Instead she does the mathematical calculations to determine what a correct set of data would be and simply changes her own data to match what she has calculated. Describe the ethical issue raised by Amy’s performance in this case? Since Amy is bright enough to figure out the correct data, is there anything wrong with what she has done? Using NSPE code of Ethics for Engineers (NSPE) what are the cannons and rules of practice in professional obligations that are relevant in situations like this. Reflect other options for Amy based on code of ethics? If you were in Amy’s place, what would you have done? Question 5: Consider a situation where “David” works for a US based firm in another Country “XYZ”. The government in Country XYZ assess taxes at an exorbitant rate as the firms are allowed to report only 70% of their actual earnings. If a firm reported its actual earnings, the taxes would force it out of business. David’s firm is considering whether it should adopt the local practice of dishonestly reporting its profits to Country XYZ, even though it would be illegal to do this in the United States. Whatever the decision, the firm will continue to report its profits honestly to the US government. Describe ethical issues raised in this case and if it causes bribery with Country XYZ in the assessment of taxes? Be sure to address cross-cultural nature of the issues. Is this practice of reporting only 70% of its profits to the Country XYZ morally permissible for David’s firm? Does the practice violate the “Golden Rule” and the “rights of anyone"? Using the ethical approaches found in the text for cross-cultural ethics, do you think if there are any creative middle way solutions? If so, discuss them. Do you recommend David’s firm continue to reporting less than its actual profit to Country XYZ?