--- title: "Ethics and need for code of conduct" subject: "Engineering Professional Practice" chapter: 2 key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:ethics-why-code-of-conduct" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/ethics-why-code-of-conduct site: BCT Engineering --- # Ethics and need for code of conduct Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 2: Profession and Ethics - Asked in: 2070 Bhadra, 5 marks - Video: [Professional Ethics in Engineering, Part 7: Codes of Ethics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HrtcSwpVE) — illinoisfoundry - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/ethics-why-code-of-conduct - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-2 ## Question What do you understand by ethics? Why are codes of conduct required for professionals? ## Short answer Ethics are moral principles distinguishing right from wrong. A code of conduct is required to protect public safety, guide professionals in dilemmas, maintain public trust, ensure uniform standards, support refusing unethical orders, enable discipline, and foster fair competition. ## Answer **Ethics** is the study of moral principles that distinguish right from wrong and guide how people ought to behave. In a profession it means the standards of good conduct expected from its members, such as honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect for life. A **code of conduct** is a written set of rules and principles prescribed by a professional body (e.g. Nepal Engineering Council) that members must follow. #### Why codes of conduct are required 1. **Protect the public:** the public cannot judge technical work, so a code ensures that safety, health and welfare come first. 2. **Guide in dilemmas:** gives clear direction when interests conflict (employer vs public). 3. **Maintain trust and image:** shows society that the profession is self-disciplined and reliable. 4. **Uniform standards:** all members work to the same minimum standard of honesty and competence. 5. **Basis for discipline:** gives the Council clear grounds to warn, suspend or de-register violators. 6. **Support for individuals:** an engineer can refuse unethical orders by citing the code; it gives courage against pressure and corruption. 7. **Fair competition:** prevents unethical practices such as bribery, false advertising and undercutting. 8. **Shared values:** inspires professional pride and an ethical culture. 9. **Legal protection:** reduces negligence, litigation and misconduct. Hence a code of conduct is necessary for any profession that claims to serve society. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is a code of conduct? A. Informal advice B. Written rules and principles prescribed by a professional body that members must follow C. A company rule only D. A law passed by parliament only Answer: B. A code of conduct is a written set of rules prescribed by a professional body such as the NEC. (Key point: Code of conduct) 2. Why does a code protect the public? A. The public can easily judge technical work B. The public cannot judge technical work, so the code ensures safety, health and welfare come first C. It reduces fees D. It increases engineers' profit Answer: B. Since the public cannot judge technical work, the code sets safety first. (Key point: Protect public) 3. How does a code help the Council? A. Gives a clear ground to warn, suspend or de-register violators B. Lets it avoid acting C. Removes the need for registration D. Lets it set prices Answer: A. The code is the basis for discipline. (Key point: Basis for discipline) 4. How does a code help an individual engineer under pressure? A. It lets him obey unethical orders B. It lets him refuse unethical orders citing the code C. It lets him quit D. It has no effect Answer: B. An engineer can cite the code to refuse unethical orders and resist corruption. (Key point: Support for individuals) ## Related in Engineering Professional Practice - [NEC code of conduct and Council Act 2055](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Anec-code-conduct-act-2055) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 5 - [Ethics and code of ethics for engineers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acode-of-ethics-engineers) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2, asked 2× - [Profession, code of ethics, tort and liability](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aprofession-code-ethics-tort) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2 - [NEC duties; ethics vs moral behaviour](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Anec-duties-ethics-vs-moral) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3 - [Tendering and need in government sector](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Atendering-why-government) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 4 - [Contractor asks supervisor to prepare running bill](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acontractor-running-bill-bribe) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7 ## Related in other subjects - [Code of ethics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Acode-of-ethics) — ICT Project Management, chapter 15 - [Convolutional vs block codes; (7,4) cyclic code for 1011](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fcommunication_systems%3Aconv-vs-block-cyclic-7-4-1011) — Communication Systems, chapter 8, asked 2× - [Cyclic codes](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fdata_communication%3Acyclic-codes) — Data Communication, chapter 8, asked 3× - [Hamming codes and their properties](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fdata_communication%3Ahamming-code-properties) — Data Communication, chapter 8