Module introduction
This module provides students with a structure for preparing an in-depth case study analysis based on feedback they have received through their participation in an Ethics Bowl competition as part of the requirements for courses in Practical and Professional Ethics taught at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. Students viewing this module will find formats for analyzing decision making cases and position cases such as the decisions published by the National Society of Professional Engineers Board of Ethical Review . They will receive information pertinent to preparing in-depth case analyses, short summaries of the case pool for the Ethics Bowl competition, and a summary of procedures for carrying out a group self-evaluation. More information on the Engineering Ethics Bowl carried out at UPRM can be found in Jose A Cruz-Cruz, William J. Frey, and Halley D. Sanchez, "The Ethics Bowl in Engineering Ethics at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez" in Teaching Ethics 4(3): 15-32.
Choosing your case
- You must choose one of the two cases you presented on in the Ethics Bowl. (This means the case on which you gave your initialpresentation.
- You may choose either the first round decision-making case or the NSPE Board of Ethical Review Case
How should you choose your case?
- Which case did you find the most interesting, challenging, or fruitful?
- On which case did you receive the most interesting feedback from the other team and the judges?
- Do you want to make, defend, and implement a decision or analyze a BER decision?
Once you choose your case, you need to analyze it according to the following steps:
Decision-Making Cases
Worksheets | Decision-Making Case |
Identify and state the (ethically) relevant facts | |
STS Table (Table + Verbal Explanation) | Prepare a Socio-Technical Analysis. Fill in the STS table (see below) and then verbally describe each component. |
Value Table (Table + Written Problem Statement) | Fill out a Value Table (see below) Use it to identify the ethical problem or problems. Summarize this by providing a concise problem statement that is explicitly tied to the Value Table. |
Brainstorm Lists (initial and refined lists) | 4. Brainstorm solution to the problem or problems. Be sure to discuss how list was generated and how it was refined. Describevalue integration and interest negotiating strategies used. |
Solution Evaluation Matrix (Matrix + Verbal Explanation and Justification) | 5. Compare, evaluate, and rank the solutions |
6. Choose the best available solution. Provide a justification summarizing ethical and feasibility considerationshighlighted in Solution Evaluation Matrix. | |
Feasibility Matrix (Matrix + Verbal Explanation) | 7. Develop a plan for implementing your solution. Discuss and justify this plan explicitly in terms of the specificfeasibility considerations in the Feasibility Matrix. |
Develop and discuss preventive measures (if applicable) |