Articles
1. Do you think the emissions scandal has seriously harmed the reputation of the entire automotive industry?
Yes: 68%
No: 29%
Don't know: 3%
There’s broad agreement here that VW’s exposure is just the tip of the iceberg and also that the German carmaker’s large size and position within the industry means its actions reflect poorly on everyone.
2. Will the emissions scandal affect your decision when you buy your next car?
Yes: 63%
No: 30%
Don't know: 7%
One would expect PE readers to make meticulous decisions when purchasing a car, although many say they would not base their choices on emissions figures anyway, which they have long-believed to be false. A future aversion to the VW brand is also commonplace.
3. Do you feel large corporations are held to account sufficiently when cases of poor engineering ethics are brought to light?
Yes: 19%
No: 71%
Don't know: 10%
A resounding majority here believe large companies get off lightly when ethically poor actions and decisions are exposed. A lack of consistency in judgements and geography is also a problem.
4. Have you ever been in a situation or made a decision as an engineer in which ethics was an important consideration?
Yes: 74%
No: 24%
Don't know: 2%
Pleasantly, almost a quarter of readers are coasting through their careers without an ethical care in the world, but most have had to consider their professional integrity at some point.
5. Have personal ethical considerations ever affected your choice of job?
Yes: 54%
No: 45%
Don't know: 1%
This personal choice is likely overriden by the pragmatic need to earn money to a lot of people – ethics are great as long as you can afford them. Many engineers express a desire to help improve society for others as a career aim, and some clearly stand by that, whereas many don’t ever have to make that call.
6. Do you think your company takes engineering ethics seriously enough?
Yes: 78%
No: 12%
Don't know: 10%
The result here is a clear indication that most firms take their responsibilities seriously, at least on the face of things. Most companies have ethics policies and some mandatory training, but whether this is because of past problems or possible future problems is perhaps a moot point.
7. Do you feel the engineering profession takes ethics seriously enough?
Yes: 70%
No: 17%
Don't know: 13%
Perhaps it is disturbing that almost a third of PE readers either don’t know or said No to this question. For many, there is an obligation for engineers to be authoritative on technical matters that most people will be ignorant of.
8. Would you be prepared to turn whistleblower to expose poor ethical decisions or actions by engineers?
Yes: 78%
No: 19%
Don't know: 3%
The response to this question is gauged by the seriousness of the transgression, or perhaps not if you are super-ethical. Reassuringly, most readers desire/require a clear conscience in order to sleep at night and say they would do the right thing if the well-being of others were at risk.