Parkville Essay Samples

Summary of the Case Study

CDC, Inc., a large corporation needed to expand its company. It had seen that the Parkville recreational and wildlife area offers a good location for this opportunity of expansion. The company presented a generous amount to the City Council so that they will be able to get their approval on it. They proposed that they will need only 25% of the recreational and wildlife area; that they will strictly monitor and control the emission of smoke into the air and water; and that they will fund to the maintenance of the remaining 75% of the area. The company created a team for planning this expansion, and one of the members is Elizabeth Dorsey, an engineer in CDC who is known as an environmentalist. Jim Bartlett, the committee chair, asked David Jensen, chief engineer in the company, to talk to Elizabeth. Jim wanted David to ask if Elizabeth can help soften up the City Council in permitting them to have 25% of the recreational and wildlife area. Now, David is seeking ways on how to ask for Elizabeth’s help.

Ethical Questions

1. Will David violate the code ethics of the National Society of Professional Engineers if he will say what Jim wants him to say to Elizabeth?
2. Will David violate the code of ethics of the National Society of Professional Engineers if he becomes a part of the expansion even when the environment is at risk?

Discussion

Jim instructed David to talk to Elizabeth, as she can be their key in getting the City Council’s permission for obtaining the recreational and wildlife area. David knows that acquiring the recreational and wildlife area will have adverse effects on the living creatures in the park and will also affect the people who live there. As stated in the code of ethics, particularly in section III.1, “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public” (NSPE 1). However, the people who live in Parkville will be greatly affected if the company accrues the place. From the case study, the company said that they will closely monitor and check the emissions to ensure that they do not pollute the water and air. This reveals that the company has a chance of endangering not only the lives of the creatures that live in the wildlife area but also the lives of the people who live in Parkville.
Furthermore, Section III.2 of the code of ethics states that “Engineers shall at all times serve the public interest” (NSPE 1). It is clearly shown in the case study that the company wants to increase their profit because they were giving a big amount to the City Council. In this regard, David knows that by putting up an extension of their company, the environment’s sustainability will be damaged and future generations won’t be able to enjoy it. The people who live in Parkville will resent the company if it destroys the environment they live in.

Additional Information

David should first consider the code of ethics established by the National Society of Professional Engineers before he makes a move for the company, particularly with regards to acquiring the piece of land. If he helps the company and persuades Elizabeth to do her part, violations of the code of ethics will surely be made.

Works Cited

Engineering Ethics. Parkville Case Study, 2010. PDF file.
<http://www.cesar.wsu.edu/%7Eyonge/ce480/casestudies10.pdf>
National Society of Professional Engineers. NSPE Code of Ethics, 2007. PDF file.
<http://www.ce.wsu.edu/facstaff/~yonge/CE480/Code%202007%20July.pdf>