In ethical decision-making,understanding stakeholdersiscrucialbecause every professional decision impacts multiple parties, includingclients, employers, the public, and regulatory bodies.
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
1. Why Identifying Stakeholders is Critical in Ethics:
Stakeholders havedifferent interests, rights, and expectationsin any ethical decision.
Professionals mustbalance these interests fairly and transparently.
2. Who Are the Key Stakeholders in Technology & Engineering?
Clients– Expectfair treatment, honesty, and high-quality work.
Employers– Requireloyalty, competence, and compliance with company policies.
Regulatory Bodies (e.g., OACETT, PEO)– Ensurecompliance with ethical and legal standards.
The Public– Must beprotected from harm and unsafe practices.
3. Real-World Example:
Acivil engineering technologistworking on abridge designmust consider:
Client interests(cost and deadlines).
Public safety(ensuring structural integrity).
Regulatory compliance(meeting building codes and environmental laws).
Employer expectations(delivering a profitable project).
Ethical decision-making requiresbalancing these factorswithout compromising public safety.
4. Why Option A Is Correct:
5. Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
B & C (Constructing or articulating arguments to the public)– Ethical decision-makingis about fairness and integrity, not just public communication.
D (Tolerating disagreement)– Ethics requiresaddressing conflicts fairly, not justaccepting them.
[Reference:, OACETT Code of Ethics – Stakeholder Responsibility & Ethical Leadership, Ontario Engineering Code – Stakeholder-Centered Decision-Making, ]