C Design for values - Engineering for Society

use plan

a manual as it describes how a technology is to be used and for what purposes. However, unlike a manual, a use plan need not be put on paper; it may be tacit and implicit.

embedded value

the value that is realized when a technology is used according to its use plan under normal circumstances.

realized value

the value that is realized in actual use.

intended value

the value that designers intend to realize when they design their products

The design process

a central area where ethical considerations concerning technology arise, because crucial decisions regarding technology are made in the design process.

Designing

an activity in which engineers translate certain functions or aims into a working product or system

Engineering design

the process in which certain functions are translated into a blueprint for an artifact, system, or service that can fulfill these functions.

Value Sensitive Design (VSD)

a design approach that aims at integrating values of ethical importance in a systematic way within engineering

VSD Empirical investigations

aim at understanding the contexts and experiences of the people affected by technological designs.

VSD Conceptual investigations

aim at clarifying the values at stake, and at making trade-offs between the various values.

Direct stakeholders

those who directly use or interact with the technology, or who have a formal role in the project, decision, or process.

Indirect stakeholders

stakeholders who are indirectly affected by the technology.

different ways to collect information about stakeholders

talk to them and interview them; read documentation; consult earlier studies; conduct an empirical study.

persona

a fictional character that represents a stakeholder or group of stakeholders and is used to think about how a technology will be used and what values matter.

participatory design

involving stakeholders in all steps of the design process, including the development of alternative technological options or designs.

Value in design project: the design project itself

the design brief, in which the goal of the project is described and constraints and requirements may be given.

Value in design project: the values of direct and indirect stakeholders

users and stakeholders may have different values from the design brief and from each other.

Value in design project: the values of the designers and the engineering profession

designers try to put specific values into a product which they hope will be realized in practice.

Value in design project: the general social values expressed in

general social values are often expressed in technical codes and standards relevant to the design process.

Codes and standards have two main functions

standardization and promotion of compatibility; guaranteeing quality or protecting public values.

Conceptualization of values

providing a definition, analysis or description of a value that clarifies its meaning and applicability.

Specification of values

translating values into more specific norms and design requirements that can guide the design process.

Hedonism

understands human well-being in terms of pleasurable experiences.

Desire satisfaction accounts

conceptualize well-being in terms of the fulfilment of people’s desires.

Objective list accounts

understand well-being in terms of a list of general prudential values.

A values hierarchy consists of

Values, Norms, Design requirements.

The values hierarchy relation Top-down

the relation of specification, where lower-level elements specify higher-level elements.

The values hierarchy relation Bottom-up

the “for the sake of” relation, where lower-level elements are pursued for the sake of higher-level elements.

A value conflict arises if

a situation makes it impossible to fully respect all relevant values simultaneously.

Cost-benefit analysis

a method for comparing alternatives by expressing all relevant benefits and costs in monetary units.

Discount rate

the rate used in cost-benefit analysis to discount future benefits or costs.

Contingent validation

an approach to express values like safety or sustainability in monetary units by asking people how much they are willing to pay.

VSD Technical investigations

analyse designs and their operational principles to assess how well they support particular values.

Incommensurability

two or more values are incommensurable if they cannot be expressed or measured on a common scale.

Multiple criteria analysis

a method for comparing alternatives using several decision criteria on which alternatives are scored.

Threshold

the minimal level of a value that an alternative has to meet in order to be acceptable.

Respecification

the revision of design requirements in light of the values for which they are a specification.

Simulation

trying out your design by building a computer model to simulate its behaviour under different circumstances.

Testing

the execution of a technology in controlled circumstances while systematically gathering data about how it functions.

Certification

the process in which it is judged whether a technology meets applicable technical norms and standards.

technological mediation

when technologies shape the actions and experiences of their users.

moralization of technology

using ethics and design mediation analysis to design technologies that deliberately shape users’ moral actions and decisions.

Social acceptance (of innovations)

an innovation is socially acceptable if it is in line with the values and needs of relevant stakeholders.

Moral acceptability (of innovations)

an innovation is morally acceptable if it meets all relevant minimal moral standards.

responsible innovation

a transparent, interactive process by which societal actors and innovators become mutually responsive to each other.

Response innovation process anticipation

an innovation process is anticipatory if possible consequences, including side-effects and risks, are anticipated and fed back into the innovation process.

Response innovation process Inclusion

all relevant stakeholders are involved in the innovation process and have a say.

Response innovation process Reflexivity

an innovation process is reflexive if it stimulates first- and second-order reflection on goals, values and assumptions.

Response innovation process Responsiveness

an innovation process is responsive if it responds to the values and needs of society and to new insights gained along the innovation pathway.

Market pull (innovation)

innovation based on new market demands.

public engagement method Referenda

people can vote for or against a particular option; all people have one vote and the outcome is usually binding.

public engagement method Public opinion surveys

people express their views and opinions through a written questionnaire or telephone survey.

public engagement method Public hearing

presentation of plans in an open forum where people can express opinions but usually have no direct impact on recommendations.

public engagement method Focus groups

planned discussions among a small group of stakeholders facilitated by a moderator.

public engagement method Citizen juries

a lay panel used to obtain a recommendation from informed citizens.

public engagement method Consensus conferences

public inquiries with citizens who assess a particular, often controversial, topic.

public engagement method Participative scenario analysis

an interactive process of scenario development and exploration with stakeholders to identify key issues.

public engagement method Policy exercises

methods aimed at developing policy options or ideas with a heterogeneous group of stakeholders.

public engagement method Participatory modelling

the active involvement of model users in modelling a phenomenon to gather different viewpoints.

public engagement method Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE)

a method where participants allocate a budget over different options to express preferences and values.

First-order learning

learning how to better achieve given goals and values.

Second-order learning

learning about what goals and values to aim for.

Technology push (innovation)

innovation based on new technical possibilities rather than market demand or societal needs.

Sources of values in design projects

Design brief, stakeholder values, designer/professional values, and social values.

Stakeholder interviews

collecting information by talking to stakeholders directly.

Documentation study

collecting stakeholder information from existing documents.

Earlier studies

using previous research to identify stakeholder values and concerns.

Empirical study

collecting new data about stakeholders through observation or research.

Standardization

ensuring uniformity and consistency across technologies and products.

Compatibility

ensuring technologies can work together effectively.

Value

a morally important principle or ideal.

Norm

a more specific prescription derived from a value.

Design requirement

a concrete requirement derived from norms to guide design.

Dimensions of Responsible Innovation

Anticipation, Inclusion, Reflexivity, and Responsiveness.

Public engagement

the involvement of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making and innovation processes.

Four sources of values in design projects

Design brief, stakeholder values, designer/professional values, and social values.