Professional Ethics Training for Engineering Firms

Ethical dilemmas are widespread within professional engineering practice. To maintain high ethical standards of engineering management practice, companies should establish programs to educate their employees about ethical conflicts. The professional ethics training (PET) program described in this paper is designed to sensitize employees to the topic of ethics, clarify company policy, and establish a system for information and appeals. To implement the program, companies must evaluate their current programs, establish goals for a new program, prepare a company code of ethics, and establish a system of communication within the company. They should then conduct training sessions for the employees. The training sessions are individualized for each department and level of employee and include all employees, from new hires to executive officers. Follow‐up to the training sessions includes evaluation, alteration, and continuing education. A successful program will generate higher morale among employees, improved public relations, and lower incidence of ethical violations.