10 solved ethics FE exam problems

ETHICS PRACTICE PROBLEMS 1. You are evaluating methods of promoting your consulting engineering firm. Which of the following promotional methods is most likely to violate ethical standards?

(A) radio advertising (B) multiple ads in the “yellow pages” of the phone book (C) giving free imprinted pens and calendars to prospective clients (D) company brochure with self-laudatory language Solution Self-laudatory advertising is demeaning to the dignity of the engineering profession. Boasting that “We’re the best” exaggerates your ability.

Answer is (D).

2. A friend comes to you and asks for advice in making a formal complaint against an individual who is offering to perform engineering services. If it is an alleged violation of the registration law, the friend should be advised to (A) contact the appropriate engineering society (B) contact the state registration board (C) discuss the alleged violation with the individual (D) not get involved Solution Since the registration law appears to have been violated, the state engineering board of registration should be notified. If your friend chose not to get involved, this would be a violation of his/her obligation to society.

Answer is (B).

3. Complete the sentence: “If you check the calculations for a licensed (registered) friend who has begun a consulting engineering business….”

(A) you do not need to be a licensed engineer (B) your friend assumes all liability for your work (C) you should be paid for your work (D) the friend’s client should be informed of your involvement

Copyright 2001 Professional Publications, Inc.

Ethics Practice Problems - 1

Solution You need to be licensed, since you are checking your friend’s work and not the other way around.

You assume some liability because you checked the work. Whether you get paid is a matter entirely between you and your friend, and it is legal for you to do the work as a favor with no payment. If your friend pays you, your friend can only ethically be reimbursed by the client if your friend contracted with the client to provide your services. Your friend’s client has a right to know who is working on the project so that the client can judge whether you are qualified.

Answer is (D).

4. Complete the following: “Engineers are to uphold the health, safety, and public...”

(A) confidence (B) good (C) welfare (D) trust Solution “welfare” (NCEES FE Reference Handbook) Answer is (C).

5. Two engineers submitted sealed bids to a prospective client for an engineering project. The client informed engineer A of the amount that engineer B had bid and invited engineer A to resubmit a lower bid. What should be A’s course of action?

(A) A should submit another quote, but only if the work can be performed adequately at the lower bid.

(B) A should withdraw from consideration for the project.

(C) A should remain in consideration for the project but should not change his bid.

(D) A should bargain with the client for the cost of the work.

Solution The prospective client has attempted to do something unethical by changing the rules of competition after the competition has begun. Engineer A would violate his/her ethical oath if he/she cooperates with the prospective client’s devious plan. Engineer A should stick to the original rules of competition.

Answer is (C).

Copyright 2001 Professional Publications, Inc.

Ethics Practice Problems - 2

6. Which of the following can override the ethical requirement to perform a thorough analysis and checking of engineering work for your client?

(A) time constraints (B) budgetary constraints (C) legal constraints (D) other ethical obligations Solution Ethical obligations to society can override obligations to an individual. The other constraints can be dealt with in various appropriate ways.

Answer is (D).

7. You have advised a potential client that your fee for doing certain professional design work will be 6% of the final cost of construction. The potential client informs you that one of your competitors has offered to do the work for 5.5%. The best response would be to (A) reduce your fee (B) inform the potential client of the requirements of ethical practice (C) suggest that your client accept the lower offer (D) refuse to compete on the basis of fee alone Solution Engineers should not compete on the basis of fee. If an engineer bids for a certain quality or amount of work, reducing the fee charged can result in a reduction of the quality or amount of work. Such a reduction may have subsequent implications.

Answer is (D).

8. “Plan stamping,� as the term is commonly encountered in consulting engineering, refers to the (A) illegal action of signing off on a project that you did not design but did check (B) illegal action of signing off on a project that you did not design or check (C) legal action of signing of on a project you did not design or check but for which you are not accept any compensation (D) legal action of signing off on a project you did not design but for which you are taking full responsibility Solution

Copyright 2001 Professional Publications, Inc.

Ethics Practice Problems - 3

“Plan stamping” is unethical and illegal in all states. It is the act of “rubber stamping” plans without looking at them, regardless of compensation.

Answer is (B).

9. Which of the following methods for determining charges for professional engineering services is considered unethical?

(A) percent of cost (B) contingency basis (C) cost plus fixed fee (D) per diem Solution Charging on a contingency basis is unethical for engineers, since fees for services depend on the outcome of the project and not on the work performed.

Answer is (B).

10. An engineer is working for a surveying firm under contract to an agency of the US government. During his scheduled time off, the engineer uses the firm’s resources to perform surveys for private developers. This is probably unethical because (A) permission may not have been given to use the firm’s equipment or resources for outside work (B) the government contract may have provisions that prohibit misuse of materials or equipment furnished by it (C) equipment may break or wear out prematurely, and time to make repairs or obtain replacements will have an adverse effect on the firm’s contract schedules (D) fees that the engineer charged can be less than fees charged by other surveying firms Solution It is not ethical for a person having the advantage of regular salary and access to borrowed resources to compete for consulting work.

Answer is (D).

Copyright 2001 Professional Publications, Inc.

Ethics Practice Problems - 4