Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to assess professional engineers’ understanding,
acceptance and conduct as it pertains to the Code of Ethics in the engineering profession. This
research also ascertained professional engineers’ attitudes towards and suggestions for the
Code of Ethics.
This two-phase study consisted of a review of the previous research and a
field study. The data were based on information gathered from a group of some 400
engineers from various branches of engineering in Thailand. The information was
gathered using a structured questionnaire prepared and administered by the researcher,
and the results were analysed.
From the study of earlier literature, it was found that the Code of Ethics and
Code of Conduct were the exact criteria used to evaluate the behavior of engineers. The
Engineering Act of 2542, for example, is the law governing the punishment of
engineers who commit a wrongdoing. The Engineering Assembly is a special
organization set up to control the actions of engineers. As for the Code of Ethics for
engineers, it was derived from the Code of Conduct for professional control engineers
and requires that they 1. be honest; 2. be responsible; 3. conduct themselves as
professional; 4. be just in their use of authority; and refrain from using the work of
others. As for the criteria defining the Code of Ethics, they are differentiated by their
connections to and characteristics of Ethics in 4 ways : 1. connection to the profession; 2.
connection to the general publics; 3. connection to the employer; and 4. connection to the
engineer.
From the field study, it was found that the respondents exhibited an attitude that
showed a clear understanding of the Code of Ethics although, at the same time, they did not
place a strong importance on it. It was found that some 52% had become aware of the Code of
Ethics in Engineering from their training and seminars, some 56% had never read the
Engineers’ Code of Conduct before, and some 64% had never seen any media coverage
concerning the Code of Conduct as prepared by the Engineering Assembly of Thailand.
Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that protection from and prevention of
unethical acts in the engineering profession have been overwhelmingly successful due to the
on going training in Moral and Ethical Principles. The study and teaching of Engineering
should emphasize the development of knowledge and also enhance engineers’ minds to
instill in them the principles of ethics. The standards of punishment for misconduct should be
made clear and organizations in the field of engineering should arrange for a broader
circulation of the Code of Conduct of Engineers.