Ethics

Q1. Discuss the difference between ethics and moral.

According to Oxford Dictionary, ethic is a set of moral principles, especially ones

relating to or affirming a specific group field, or form of conduct [1]. Ethics came

from Latin word ethicus and Greek word ethikos [2]. Ethic is also known as moral

philosophy, which involves systematizing and defending and recommending concept

of right or wrong conduct to be practiced in human activities [2].

Moral is defined as the concerned towards principles of right and wrong behavior in

Oxford Dictionary [1]. The word moral origin from the Latin word moralis simply

means custom and it is first used to translate Latin moralia [1]. The term Moral is

often refer based on the standard of society perception on the right and wrong

behavior [3].

As an engineer, it is necessary to distinct between moral philosophy and engineering

ethics. Both of these principles are applied by engineers in problem solving

processes and engineering design processes in fulfilling society’s dreams of a better

world [4].

Q2:

Electrical and electronic engineering is about the generation, transmission,

storage and use of electricity, and also the transmission and transformation of

information using computer and communication, for example, creating an algorithm

for testing integrated circuits [5]. Besides, electrical and electronic engineers create

and design electrical, electronic and computer products or redesign, analyse,

manage and improvement existing systems [5]. Thus, being an electrical or electronic

engineer, one is capable of having different career path like electrical power

engineer, control engineer, microelectronic engineer, computer software and

hardware engineer, research engineer, consultant or venture into teaching line to

become a lecturer or teacher [5].

An electrical engineer is responsible for designs of system to generate,

distribute and manage electricity. Electrical engineer test electricity systems and

resolves any problem related to electricity supply to clients and customer [5]. For

instance, the breakdown of electricity supply at substation requires and electrical

engineer to diagnose the problem on site and fixed the electricity breakdown

problem [5]. In Malaysia, electrical engineer can work with Tenaga Nasional Berhad

(TNB) in order to maintain and ensure the continued supply of electricity to end

user.

Power engineers are more specialize in the area of power generation. Some

of the work of an electrical engineer are quite similar to electrical engineer,

however, the job scope of a power engineer plans and develops power systems in

order to supply power, tests and maintains these power system and also researches

alternative sources of power [5]. Power engineers are defined to the design and

management of power generation and distribution [5].

On the other hand, control engineer also commonly known as control and

instrumentation engineer are responsible for designing, developing, managing and

maintaining equipment used to monitor and control engineering, machinery and

processes [5]. A control engineer must be equipped with knowledge in specific

control discipline like advanced process control (APC), programmable logic controller

(PLC) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) [6]. Control and

instrumentation engineer highly required at manufacturing factory for example, the

manufacturing of paper which is a batch processing requires a specific control

system to operate the machinery in manufacturing papers.

References

1. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ms/definisi/bahasa-

inggeris/ethic?searchDictCode=all

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics

3. "Introducing Ethics Case Studies Into Required Undergraduate Engineering

Courses," [Online]. Available:

http://ethics.tamu.edu/Portals/3/Essays/ethics.tamu.edu_ethics_essays_moral.p

df. [Accessed 6 March 2015].

4. A. Lau, Is Ethics Important to Engineers?, Penn state: Rock Ethics Institute.

5. Electrical and Electronic Engineer, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.

6. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/control_and_instrumentation_engineer_job_descrip

tion.htm