Ethics Essay: Engineer Setting Up Established Firm

EEE4006F: Ethics Essay Assignment
March 2013

A Professional Engineer setting up a newly established engineering firm in Cape Town

HLYCOU001
Courtney Healey

As a professional engineer setting up a newly established firm, I am challenged with various ethical issues and conflicts of interest.

I decide to choose company X as my supplier for electrical components. After making my order, I receive complimentary rugby tickets from a representative at the company. I am faced with the ethical issue as to whether or not to accept this gift.

I am faced with another ethical predicament. I am informed that there is a possibility that some of the company’s products do not adhere to International Standards under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC,) and Government standards such as National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). They could be selling counterfeit products. However, their supplies have been good so far, and their business has enabled us to start up our firm quickly and cheaply. I also do not know whether the accusations contain any truth.

While working at another firm I headed up a negotiation to confirm a company as a supplier. It was agreed that the supplier would not provide supplies to any other company of the same nature. I developed a strong relationship with the supplier. It is just under 2 years since the agreement and now the supplier wants to help me with my new business which is of a similar nature of the previous firm.

Another issue which is of ethical concern is when I am informed that Company X does not take any care in the proper disposal of electronic waste. They do not participate in recycling of electronic components, contributing to the world wide electronic waste problem.

Bribery is a high and common concern amongst professionals across all industries, thus I felt it was a necessary issue to discuss. It is a difficult matter to address

References: IEEE 1. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.2 (e), pp. 77. 2. Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2003 (No. 12 of 2004) in South Africa Government Gazette.2004,vol.466, no 26311,3(a) , pp. 9 [Online]. Available: http://www.dac.gov.za/acts/Prevention%20and%20Combating%20of%20Corrupt%20Activities%20Act.pdf 12.a (17 March 2013) 3. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.2 (d) ii, pp. 76 4. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.2 (b), pp. 76 5. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.3 (a), pp. 77. 6. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.4 (a), pp. 78. 7. Engineering Council of South Africa (2006). “Rules of conduct for Registered Persons: Engineering Professional Act, 2000, (Act No.46 of 2006)” in South Africa Government Gazette. 2006, General Notice 15 of 2006, vol.489, no. 28605, 3.2 (k), pp. 77. 8. C. E. Harris, M. S. Pritchard et al M. J. Rabins, “Trust and Reliability”, in Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 4th Ed.Wadsworth, Australia: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2009, chp.6, sec.1, pp.131.