Engineering Ethics in Business and Industry Survey

This survey is for engineers working in engineering companies or in companies that employ a significant number of engineers. The purpose of the study is to gauge levels of awareness of the ethical issues relevant to engineers and the support available for engineering professionals in industry when they are faced with ethical issues.

NOTE: All replies to this survey are anonymous and any quotes cannot be linked to individuals. Results and quotes used in subsequent publications therefore cannot be attributed to individuals or their employers.

1. As an engineer, do you feel that ethical issues arise in the course of work?

As an engineer, do you feel that ethical issues arise in the course of work? Yes

Don't know

Please elaborate, if you would like

2. Which of the issues below are relevant to your work? (Tick all that apply)

Which of the issues below are relevant to your work? (Tick all that apply) 1. Avoiding bribery, corruption and facilitation payments 2. Preventing discrimination, harassment or bullying 3. Health and safety of workers and the public 4. Dealing with conflicts of interest 5. Fair and honest quotes and costing 6. Preventing or controlling pollution 7. Promoting sustainable practices	8. Security of information 9. Appropriate handling of intellectual property 10. Addressing human rights issues 11. Ensuring ethical standards through the supply chain 12. Cross-cultural issues 13. Working within competencies
Other (please specify)

3. Which of the above are the most important? (Please list up to three, in order of descending importance)

Which of the above are the most important? (Please list up to three, in order of descending importance)

4. Do circumstances within your company make it EASY for you to work in the following ways?

	Always	Usually	Some of the time	Often not
Work within competencies	*Do circumstances within your company make it EASY for you to work in the following ways? Work within competencies Always	Work within competencies Usually	Work within competencies Some of the time	Work within competencies Often not
Give realistic cost estimates	Give realistic cost estimates Always	Give realistic cost estimates Usually	Give realistic cost estimates Some of the time	Give realistic cost estimates Often not
Minimise health and safety risks	Minimise health and safety risks Always	Minimise health and safety risks Usually	Minimise health and safety risks Some of the time	Minimise health and safety risks Often not
Communicate information of public interest	Communicate information of public interest Always	Communicate information of public interest Usually	Communicate information of public interest Some of the time	Communicate information of public interest Often not
Avoid bribery	Avoid bribery Always	Avoid bribery Usually	Avoid bribery Some of the time	Avoid bribery Often not
Keep within planning and building regulations	Keep within planning and building regulations Always	Keep within planning and building regulations Usually	Keep within planning and building regulations Some of the time	Keep within planning and building regulations Often not
Keep within environmental regulations	Keep within environmental regulations Always	Keep within environmental regulations Usually	Keep within environmental regulations Some of the time	Keep within environmental regulations Often not

Please elaborate, if you would like

5. In your experience, do any of the following pressures make it DIFFICULT to behave ethically?

	Always	Usually	Some of the time	Often not	Never
Cutting costs	*In your experience, do any of the following pressures make it DIFFICULT to behave ethically? Cutting costs Always	Cutting costs Usually	Cutting costs Some of the time	Cutting costs Often not	Cutting costs Never
Cutting timescales	Cutting timescales Always	Cutting timescales Usually	Cutting timescales Some of the time	Cutting timescales Often not	Cutting timescales Never
Winning contracts	Winning contracts Always	Winning contracts Usually	Winning contracts Some of the time	Winning contracts Often not	Winning contracts Never
Meeting clients’ demands	Meeting clients’ demands Always	Meeting clients’ demands Usually	Meeting clients’ demands Some of the time	Meeting clients’ demands Often not	Meeting clients’ demands Never

Are there different pressures in your company which make it hard to always work in a way that you feel is ethical?

6. Have you ever been in a situation in the course of your work where you felt you were faced with an ethical dilemma?

Have you ever been in a situation in the course of your work where you felt you were faced with an ethical dilemma? Yes

Don't know

Please give details, if you would like

7. If you answered yes to the question above, did you feel that your company gave you guidance or support in dealing with the problem?

If you answered yes to the question above, did you feel that your company gave you guidance or support in dealing with the problem? Yes, they were very supportive

Yes, but the support was inadequate

I did not seek support or advice

Please give details, if you would like

8. Do you think that engineering lags behind other professions in addressing ethical issues? Which of the following do you feel is better equipped than engineering to deal with ethical issues?

Do you think that engineering lags behind other professions in addressing ethical issues? Which of the following do you feel is better equipped than engineering to deal with ethical issues? Medicine

Law

Journalism

Finance and accounting

Business (general)

None of the above, engineering is equal or leads the way

Please name any other professions which you feel lead the way in professional ethics

9. Do you feel that the engineering profession (ie, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the engineering institutions) could be doing more to promote engineering ethics and to support engineers?

Do you feel that the engineering profession (ie, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the engineering institutions) could be doing more to promote engineering ethics and to support engineers? Yes

No, they already do enough

No, it is not an important issue

If yes, what should the profession be doing?

Engineering Ethics in Business and Industry
Exit this survey

1. Ethics in engineering practice

1. As an engineer, do you feel that ethical issues arise in the course of work?

2. Which of the issues below are relevant to your work? (Tick all that apply)

3. Which of the above are the most important? (Please list up to three, in order of descending importance)

4. Do circumstances within your company make it EASY for you to work in the following ways?

5. In your experience, do any of the following pressures make it DIFFICULT to behave ethically?

6. Have you ever been in a situation in the course of your work where you felt you were faced with an ethical dilemma?

7. If you answered yes to the question above, did you feel that your company gave you guidance or support in dealing with the problem?

8. Do you think that engineering lags behind other professions in addressing ethical issues? Which of the following do you feel is better equipped than engineering to deal with ethical issues?

9. Do you feel that the engineering profession (ie, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the engineering institutions) could be doing more to promote engineering ethics and to support engineers?

Engineering Ethics in Business and IndustryExit this survey

1. Ethics in engineering practice

1. As an engineer, do you feel that ethical issues arise in the course of work?

2. Which of the issues below are relevant to your work? (Tick all that apply)

3. Which of the above are the most important? (Please list up to three, in order of descending importance)

4. Do circumstances within your company make it EASY for you to work in the following ways?

5. In your experience, do any of the following pressures make it DIFFICULT to behave ethically?

6. Have you ever been in a situation in the course of your work where you felt you were faced with an ethical dilemma?

7. If you answered yes to the question above, did you feel that your company gave you guidance or support in dealing with the problem?

8. Do you think that engineering lags behind other professions in addressing ethical issues? Which of the following do you feel is better equipped than engineering to deal with ethical issues?

9. Do you feel that the engineering profession (ie, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the engineering institutions) could be doing more to promote engineering ethics and to support engineers?

Engineering Ethics in Business and Industry
Exit this survey