The Value of Ethics
The National Society of Professional Engineers begins its discussion on its Code of Ethics with, “Engineers must perform under a standard of professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct.” Why? Engineering, a learned and essential discipline in our modern society, directly impacts the quality of life of all people, everywhere. Most professions, in some respect, must support the greater good – food service, for example, must make sure that the food it serves is safe for the public. Of course, our armed services is the greatest example of personal sacrifice for the greater good. Interestingly, a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that CEOs that had once served in the armed forces were 70% less likely to commit fraud than those that had not.
During times of corporate or personal crisis an individual may be tempted to bend the rules to support their own needs. Engineers are not allowed that luxury. Too much is at stake. Here at Shaw Engineering, we recently decided to spend some time with our staff going over the National Society of Engineers Code of Ethics. We decided to do this not only as a refresher, but to remind ourselves of the immense value of what we do for our clients and the importance of the ethics and integrity we bring to the table everyday. We found this exercise to be extremely beneficial on many levels.
Below are the 10 Benefits of Managing Ethics in the Workplace by Carter McNamara you and your teams might also find helpful.