PROFESSION & PROFESSIONALISM

Profession

The Latin root of the word profession is professionen, which means the making of a public declaration. The act or fact of professing
Professions are occupation requiring sophisticated knowledge, group commitment to some public good, and a significant degree of self regulation.

Professionalism

The term professionalism refers to the quality, competencies and skills of professionals.
It has behavioral implications and refers to manifestations of a professional. When the criteria of profession are apply to ones profession, it makes for professionalism.

Definition of Professionalism

Professionalism as independence

Directly relates professionalism and freedom from coercion. A professional should have the freedom according to once own judgement about conduct.

Professionalism as serving employers

Is opposite to above view. It says loyalty and loyal service employees/ clients is the art professionalism.

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Professionalism can be achieved from following criteria

Knowledge

Job must include theoretical knowledge, clear judgement and caution with formal education Organization must by accepted by the public to set the standards for that profession. Profession must help the public by doing favour to them as per its code of ethics.

Organization

Public Good

Professional responsibility as a professional virtue

Professional responsibility is nothing but being morally responsible as a profession. It includes variety of specific virtues which important in a particular situation. Self direction virtues Public-spirited virtues Team-work virtues Proficiency virtues

Self direction virtues

Essentials in exercising the moral autonomy and the responsibilities. These virtue are divided into two groups. Focus on understanding and gaining knowledge through perception. Focus its attention towards commitment and understanding actions such as courage, selfdiscipline, firmness, loyalty to commitments and integrity.

Public-spirited virtues

These virtues based on the benefits of clients as well as general public who are affected by the work of others.

Examples of these virtues are justice, sense of community and generosity

Team-work virtues

These virtue help the professional to work with other people in a better and successful manner.
Examples are cooperativeness, loyalty to employers.

Proficiency virtues

These virtue based on the proficiency of an individual about his technical skills and jobs.
Examples are competence, alertness to danger and careful attention on the tasks.

Professional Rights

Right to privacy Right to participate in activities of ones own choosing outside of work Right to reasonably object to companys policies without fear of retaliation Right to due process Rights accorded to engineering professionals include the right of professional conscience: engineers may choose not to participate in activities which he/she considers to be unethical Intellectual Property Rights

Whistle blowing
Definition: The act by an employee which informs the public or higher management of unethical or illegal behavior by an employer or supervisor Types of whistle blowing: Internal External Open Anonymous When should whistle blowing be attempted? Need Proximity Capability Last resort

Whistle blowing

When is an engineer morally obligated to blow the whistle?

You may blow the whistle if all of the previous conditions have been met You must blow the whistle when you feel that there is great imminent danger of harm if the activity continues unchecked and if all of the previous conditions have been met

Gifts and Bribes

When does a gift become a bribe?

Bribery: Something offered or given to someone in a position of trust in order to induce him/her to act dishonestly

Where is the line which separates appropriate and inappropriate gifts?

Look for answers in written company policy and ethical codes

Thank you