This document discusses the key characteristics of a profession. It outlines that professionals hold themselves accountable for their work, provide specialized services based on theoretical knowledge, require significant practical experience under senior members, have autonomy over their work, work directly with clients rather than customers, are bound by an ethical code specific to their profession, achieve success based on merit, and deal with matters of great responsibility for their clients. The document also discusses the moral and ethical foundations of a profession, how ethics guide practical decisions, and the goals and problems of professional work.

1. The Profession and the Professional
Accountability
Professionals hold themselves ultimately accountable
for the quality of their work with the client.
Based on specialized, theoretical knowledge
Professionals render specialized services based on theory,
knowledge, and skills that are most often peculiar to their profession
and generally beyond the understanding and/or capability of those
outside of the profession.
Institutional preparation
Professions typically require a significant period
of hands-on, practical experience in the
protected company of senior members before
aspirants are recognized as professionals.
Autonomy
Professionals have control over
and, correspondingly, ultimate
responsibility for their own work.
Clients rather than customers
Members of a profession exercise
discrimination in choosing clients
rather than simply accepting any
interested party as a customer
Direct working relationships
Professionals habitually work directly
with their clients rather than through
intermediaries or proxies.
Ethical constraints
Professionals are bound to a
code of conduct or ethics
specific to each profession
Merit-based
In a profession, members achieve
employment and success based on
merit and corresponding voluntary
relationships rather than on
corrupted ideals such as social
principle
Moral and Ethical Foundations
Those who believe in moral absolutes have a moral
core articulated by various core values. When those
values are mutually consistent, the individual then,
by definition, has integrity.
Ethics in practice
An ethical code is a rational
construct built upon a
foundation of values.
Professionalism
Means behaving in an ethical
manner, while taking and fulfill their
legitimate responsibilities in every
situation every time, without fail.
Professional Ethics
Professional ethics is a code of values
and norms that actually guide practical
decisions when they are made by
professionals
Goals of Professional Work and Their
Problems
Professional work is different from
occupational work in a way that implies
that professional ethics is distinct from
an occupational work ethic.
Great responsibility
Professionals deal in matters of vital importance to their
clients and are therefore entrusted with grave
responsibilities and obligations.
CODE OF ETHICS OF ENGINEERS - THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the
engineering:
I. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare;
II. being honest and impartial, and servicing with fidelity the public, their
employers and clients;
III. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering
profession; and
IV. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.
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