Guidelines for Ethical Decisions

In various situations, professionals must decide what course of action would be most beneficial. The answer typically relies on a set of ethics, specific to their profession. These ethics are a collection of moral principles that pertain to, or endorse, a particular group, field, or code of behavior. The purpose of ethics is to proactively address questions which commonly arise in multiple occupations. This course will present and explore principles employed by professionals in the field of construction, like architects, engineers, and contractors. These principles are used to effectively prioritize decisions and create hierarchies when faced with uncertain and complex situations. There are various sets of guidelines that aim to establish either "standards" or "rules" for this specific objective. While standards are only intended for advice and suggestions, rules carry the weight of being enforceable. Breaching rules can result in disciplinary action, expulsion from a professional organization, or even the loss of a license to provide services for architecture, engineering, or construction. Our objective is to explore the comprehensive framework of ethical guidelines and universally acknowledged principles which are obligatory and invaluable for professionals working in those fields.