IE 90 - Chap 6 (Available Options when Ethical Thresholds are Reached)

1. Departure and/or
2. Whistle-blowing

Available Options when Ethical Thresholds are Reached

Whistle-blowing

MOST controversial topic in Engineering Ethics

a significant moral problem

"Whistle-blowing occurs when an employee or former employee conveys information about (WHAT EXACTLY) to someone in a position to take action on the problem, and does so outside approved organizational channels (or against strong pressure)."

(DTAR)
-Disclosure
-Topic
-Agent
-Recipient

Enumerate the four main parts of whistle blowing

Disclosure

Intentionally or unintentionally (under pressure) conveying the information outside the organization

Topic

Information is believed to be a significant moral problem for the organization

Topic

The following are the examples of what in the four main parts of whistleblowing? (threats to the public/workers, unethical policies, injustices to workers)

Agent

Person disclosing the information is an employee or former employee, can also be a from a second source like journalist

Journalist

Second source (person) disclosing information in a whisteblowing case

Recipient

information is conveyed to a person/organization that can solve the problem

External Whistle-Blowing

When information is disclosed to someone outside the organization

Internal Whistle-Blowing

When information is conveyed to someone within the organization

Open Whistle-Blowing

Involved people openly reveal their identity

Anonymous Whistle-Blowing

Involved people concealed their identity

5

How many conditions that permit/obligate to whistle-blow?

1. Actual/potential harm reported is SERIOUS
2. Harm has been adequately documented
3. Concerns have been reported to immediate superiors
4. (After not getting satisfaction from immediate superiors), regular channels within the organization have been used to reach up to the highest levels of management
5. Existence of reasonable hope that whistle blowing can help prevent or remedy the harm

Enumerate the conditions that permit/obligate to whistle-blow

Prima Facie

accepted as correct unless proven otherwise

T

T/F
Conditions are not always necessary for permissible and obligatory whistle blowing

Condition # 2: Harm has been adequately documented

What condition may not be required all the time, especially if reporting can aid competitors?

one's supervisor

Conditions 3 and 4 may be inappropriate when ________ is the main source of the problem

Loyalty, collegiality, & respect for authorities

Enumerate corporate values which are commonly used as presumptions

T

T/F:
Corporate virtues may be overridden by public-spirited virtues such as public health & safety

public health & safety

Corporate virtues may be overridden by public-spirited virtues such as ____

F

T/F:
Whistle-blowing is the best solution to a problem

Truthfulness

centers on meeting responsibilities about truth

Sissela Bok

Person who urges everyone to acknowledge the principle of veracity

Principle of Veracity

There is a strong presumption against lying and deception, although the presumption can occasionally be overridden by other pressing moral reasons in particular context

Canon 3: Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
Canon 5: Avoid deceptive acts

From the NSPE Code of Ethics, two concerns HONESTY. What are those?

Trustworthiness

centers on meeting responsibilities about trust