ASCE Code of Ethics Case Studies

In ASCE Code of Ethics Case Studies, you'll learn ...

• History of the ASCE Code of Ethics
• Case Study #1: A straight-forward case of corruption during bidding of a levee reconstruction project following Hurricane Katrina
• How the "best-value" bid evaluation method used in the levee reconstruction project created an environment conducive to corruption
• Case Study #2: Determining the ownership of intellectual property developed during employment

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 2 PDH

Length: 24 pages

Every human being is faced with the temptation and motivation to take ethical shortcuts. Oftentimes, actions and activities appear to be in one's self-interest, but violate obligations to others. Even those most concerned about the honesty and integrity of their work are subject to strong pressures from revenue demands, employers, clients and managers to take actions with which they are uncomfortable.

This course focuses on The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Code of Ethics. ASCE is the oldest engineering society in the United States, incorporating as the American Society of Engineers and Architects in 1852. It developed its first code of ethics in 1914, which lays the foundation for the codes developed by many states and other engineering societies.

The purpose of this course is not to solve ethical dilemmas, but to provide a framework for recognizing and evaluating ethical issues and generating alternatives.

The objectives are to:

• Familiarize the reader with the portions of the ASCE Code of Ethics that regulate engineers' ethical obligations to employers, clients, the community and the profession, and
• Provide the framework for application of the Code to engineers’ individual professional activities

To this end, a number of though-provoking case studies are presented, along with discussions of the relevant portions of ASCE's Code of Ethics and possible alternatives for addressing the issues.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• History of the ASCE Code of Ethics
• Case Study #1: A straight-forward case of corruption during bidding of a levee reconstruction project following Hurricane Katrina
• How the "best-value" bid evaluation method used in the levee reconstruction project created an environment conducive to corruption
• Case Study #2: Determining the ownership of intellectual property developed during employment
• Case Study #3: A case requiring a bidder to hire the County Engineer's wife and daughter as the implied "price" of securing a contract
• Various iterations of Case Study #3: a) the wife and daughter are outstanding vs. mediocre prospects, b) the company is looking to fill open positions vs. the company has no pressing need for more employees
• Another iteration of Case Study #3: The company declined to hire the wife and daughter and lost the work, then discovered that the successful bidder did hire the County Engineer's relatives
• Specific Canons of the ASCE Code of Ethics that apply to the cases above, as well as how these Canons apply to your practice
• Help in developing a strategy in dealing with someone who may be pressuring you for favors in order to be awarded a contract
• A discussion of two engineering disasters that provide tragic examples of what can happen when the principles of the ASCE Code of Ethics are ignored

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 10 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.