The document discusses various global ethical issues related to engineering. It covers topics like multinational corporations, environmental ethics, business ethics, computer ethics, engineers as managers, consultants, expert witnesses, advisors, and moral leadership. For each topic, it provides brief explanations and highlights important aspects related to ethics. The document was presented by Hingston Xavier, an assistant professor at Christ College of Engineering.

1. MODULE – 5
Global Ethical Issues
HINGSTON XAVIER
Assistant Professor
Christ College of Engineering, IJK
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

2. MULTI NATIONAL CORPORATIONS
(MNCs)
• A multinational company is one which is incorporated in
one country (called the home country); but whose
operations extend beyond the home country and which
carries on business in other countries (called the host
countries)
• A multinational corporation is known by various names
such as: global enterprise, international enterprise, world
enterprise, transnational corporation etc.
• E.g. : Cadbury, Coca-Cola Corporation, Unilever etc,.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

3. Advantages of MNCs from the
Viewpoint of Host Country
• Employment Generation
• Automatic Inflow of Foreign Capital
• Proper Use of Idle Resources
• Technical Development
• Managerial Development
• End of Local Monopolies
• Improvement in Standard of Living
• Promotion of international brotherhood and culture
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

4. Limitations of MNCs from the
Viewpoint of Host Country
• Danger for Domestic Industries
• Repatriation of Profits
• No Benefit to Poor People
• Danger to Independence
• Disregard of the National Interests of the Host
Country
• Careless Exploitation of Natural Resources
• Selfish Promotion
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

5. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
• Environmental Ethics deal with issues related to the
rights of individuals
• The environment ethics include −
1. The study of moral issues concerning the
environment
2. Moral perspectives, beliefs and attitudes
concerning those issues.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

6. Two World Views on Environmental
Ethics
1.) Anthropocentric Worldview
 Man is considered to be most capable for
managing the planet earth.
 The success of mankind depends upon how
good managers we are for deriving benefits for
us from nature.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

7. 2.) Eco-centric Worldview
• Nature exists not for human beings alone, but
for all the species
• The earth resources are limited and they do not
belong only to human beings.
• The success of mankind depends upon how best
we can cooperate with the rest of the nature
while trying to use the resources of nature for
our benefit.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

8. BUSINESS ETHICS
• The term ‘Business Ethics’ refers to the system of moral
principles and rules of the conduct applied to business.
• A business should aim to have fair dealing with everyone
dealing with it
3 Sources of Business Ethic:
• Religion
• Culture
• Law
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

9. Importance of Business Ethics
• Corresponds to Basic Human Needs
• Credibility in the Public
• Credibility with the Employees
• Better Decision Making
• Profitability
• Protection of Society
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

10. COMPUTER ETHICS
• Computer ethics are related to all
the computer professionals such as
programmers, analysts, operators,
designers, etc. along with the
users.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

11. The ten commandments of Computer Ethics, created
in 1992 by the Computer Ethics Institute consists of
the following
One should never use a computer −
1. To harm the people (anti-social activities)
2. To interfere with other’s work (illegal manipulations)
3. To snoop into other’s files (malware)
4. To steal a computer/data (hacking)
5. To bear false witness (manipulation and morphing)
6. To use/ copy a software you didn’t pay for (like illegal downloads and usages)
7. To use other’s intellectual output inappropriately (violating IPR)
8. Doing without thinking of social consequences of the program being written
9. Always use a computer ensuring consideration and respect towards fellow beings.
10. To use or copy other’s software without compensations (illegal pirated versions)
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

12. ENGINEERS AS MANAGERS
• An Engineer is responsible in promoting ethics in an
organization, through framing organizational policies,
responsibilities and by personal attitudes and obligations.
• An engineer should be able to work as a manager in such
situations, resolving conflicts according to priorities,
keeping the organizational benefits in mind.
• The issue must be resolved without hurting anyone’s
feelings and by developing a mutual understanding
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

13. CONSULTING ENGINEERS
• The consulting engineers differ from the salaried
engineers of an organization
• These consulting engineers work in private and
are paid per advice they offer or for the service
• Consultants are individuals who typically work
for themselves but may also be associated with
a consulting firm.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

14. The consulting engineers have ethical
responsibilities different from the salaried
engineers, as follows
• Advertising
• Competitive Bidding
• Contingency Fee ( Commission paid)
• Safety and Client’s Needs
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

15. ENGINEERS AS EXPERT WITNESSES
• Engineers are required to act as consultants
and provide expert opinion and views in
many legal cases of the past events.
• They are required to explain the causes of
accidents, malfunctions and other
technological behavior of structures,
machines, and instruments
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

16. Engineers as expert witnesses implies :
• Exhibit the responsibility of confidentiality
• They must answer questions truthfully
• Experts should earnestly be impartial in
identifying and interpreting the observed
data, recorded data, and the industrial
standards
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

17. ENGINEERS AS ADVISORS
• The engineers are required to give their view on the future such as
in planning, policy-making, which involves the technology.
• Various issues and requirements for engineers who act as advisors
are:
 Objectivity
 Study All Aspects
 Values
 Technical Complexity
 National Security
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

18. MORAL LEADERSHIP
• Engineers contribute to technological process, as
managers provide many forms of leadership in
developing and implementing technology.
• Moral leaders, are the individuals who direct,
motivate, organize groups towards morally
valuable goals.
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg

19. Moral Leadership is Important
because:
• To build Morally creative leaders
• Participation in Professional Societies
• Voluntary service
• Leadership in Communities
• Motivate the group
Thank You
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HIngston Xavier (AP), Christ College of Engg