effects of technological growth

7/31/2019 Effects of Technological Growth

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Effects of Technological Growth:

Engineering ethics

Ethics and morality are among the most difficult subjects to define and discuss.

To some critics any use of technology leads to increasing alienation and

dehumanization; thereof, technology is considered far from moral. However, most

people recognize the great improvement in the quality of human existence which has

been possible only with the input of technology. For them, the issue is to maximize

the gains and minimize the loses; stemming from technology. Hence, they focus

upon the principal practitioners of technology, the engineers, and wish to examine

the moral nature of the decisions made by these practitioners.

Ethical codes can be of help in most instances that confront us, but dilemmas do

arise in which it seems there are no suitable alternatives. In such a case, all external

guides are helpless, and it is, indeed, necessary to resort to ones own internal

values.

The greatest moral dilemmas, in society, are those related to war. Engineers, say

some, are immoral if they work on weapons, because their clear moral duty is to

oppose war by refusing to be involved in those activities which support it.

Undoubtedly, the best known critic of product safety (and engineers) is Ralph Nader.

It is his thesis that engineers identify their personal objectives too closely with those

of the companies for which the work. He feels that the professional creed of

engineers should require them to be independent of corporate directions.

A more militant approach is that taken by the committee for social responsibility in

engineering (CSRE) seeks to challenge the present orientation of engineering and

declares that its objectives are to end unemployment and pollution and provide

adequate medical care, housing, education, transportation and communication

systems for all people. To implement these objectives, engineers are to be

organized in groups to oppose corporate power.

The Institution of Engineers, a professional body in India, has its own Code of Ethics

for its corporate members. The same is reproduced below:


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Code of Ethics of Corporate Members

The Code

1. A corporate Member will co-operate members in his profession by the fre inter-

change of information and experience and will contribute to the work of

engineering institution to the maximum effectiveness he is capable of.

2. A Corporate Member will endeavour to protect the engineering profession from

misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

3. A Corporate Member will refrain from expressing publicly an opinion on an

engineering subject unless he is informed as to the facts relating to that subject.

4. A Corporate ---- will express an opinion only when it is founded on adequate

knowledge and --- conviction if he is serving as a witness before a court or

commission.

5. A Corporate Member will not divulge any confidential findings or actions of an

engineering commission or committee, of which he is a member, without

obtaining official consent.

6. A Corporate Member will take care that credit for engineering work is given to

those to whom credit is properly due.

7. A Corporate Member will not offer his professional services by advertisement or

through any commercial advertising media, or solicit profession work either

directly, or through an agent, or in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of

the profession.

8. A Corporate Member will not submit a proposal for an engineering engagement

unless he is invited to do so.

9. A Corporate Member will not directly or indirectly injure the professional

reputation or practice of another Corporate Member.

10. A Corporate Member will exercise restraint in criticizing the work of another

Corporate Member and remember that the proper forum for technical criticism is

an engineering society or the engineering press.

11. A Corporate Member will not try to supplant another Corporate Member in a

particular employment.

12. A Corporate Member will not complete unfairly with another Corporate Member

by charging fees below those customary for others in his profession practicing in

the same field and in the same area.


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13. A Corporate Member will not associate in work with an engineer who does not

conform to ethical practices.

14. A Corporate Member will act in professional matters for his client or employer as

a faithful agent or trustee.

15. A Corporate Member not will misrepresent his qualifications to a client or

employer or to the profession.

16. A Corporate Member will not disclose information concerning the business or

technical affairs of his client or employer without his consent.

17. A Corporate Member will present clearly the consequences to be expected if his

professional judgment is overruled by a non-professional authority where he is

responsible for the professional adequacy of the work.

18. A Corporate Member will act with fairness and justice between his client or

employer and the contractor when dealing with contracts.

19. A Corporate Member will not be financial interested in the bids as or of a

contractor on competitive work for which he is employed as an engineer unless

he has the written consent of his client or employer.

20. A Corporate Member will not receive any commission, discount or other indirect

profit in connection with any work with which he is entrusted.

21. A Corporate Member will make his status clear to his client or employer before

under taking an engagement if he may be called upon to decide on the use of

inventing equipment or any other thing in which he may have a financial interest.

22. A Corporate Member will immediately inform his client or employer of any

interest in a business which any compete with or affect the business of his client

or engineer.

23. A Corporate Member will not allow an interest in any business to affect the

engineering work for which he is employed or may be called upon to perform.

24. A Corporate Member will engage or advice engaging engineering experts and

specialists when in his judgment such services are to the interests of his client or

employer.

25. A Corporate Member will not review the work of another Corporate Member for

the same client, except with the knowledge of the second Corporate Member,

unless such engineering engagement or the work which is subject to review is

terminated.


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26. A Corporate Member will not accept financial or other compensation from more

than one interested party for the same services pertaining to the same work,

without the consent of all interested parties.

27. A Corporate Member will subscribe to the principle of appropriate and adequate

compensation for those engaged in engineering work, including those in

subordinate positions.

28. A Corporate Member will endeavour to provide opportunity for the professional

development and advancement of engineers in his employ.

29. A Corporate Member, if he considers that another Corporate Member is guilty of

uneth8ical, illegal or unfair practice, will present the information to the Council of

the Institution for action.

30. A Corporate Member who is engaged in engineering work in a country aboard

will order his conduct according to the professional standards and customs of

that country, adhering, as closely as is practicable to the principles of his Code.

In a word world whose predicament are far beyond the capacity of individual

countries to solve. The Club Rome has decided to adopt a global perspective to

seek a deeper understanding of interactions within the tangle of contemporary

problems to suggest effective solutions and to take a longer term perspective in

studies than governments do. How? With the contributions of its members about

main Global Issue and as we hope your texts and proposals.

Environment

Environment is one of the main concerns of the Club of Rome expressed In Its first

Report Limits to Growth 1972, one of Its main focuses.

Mostly man-made damage to nature has expanded to such an extant that it might

put at stake the very survival of Humankind. It is the responsibility of each

government, but also of each individual; to act in order to eradicate the macro-

pollutions which are affecting water, air and earth and endangering the health of

human beings. Environment is an important facet of the global issue we have to

face, interlinked with energy, population explosion in some countries, poverty and

underdevelopment. Our concern is to increase general awareness as much as

prevention.


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Demography

The world population has more than trebled since 1900 and doubled since 1950. The

impact of this demographic growth has had tremendous consequences on

environment, employment, health, food & water availability... here are contradictory

trends: in some countries an increasing ageing population as In Europe, or Japan;

while in the poorest countries, such as in Africa there is a population explosion,

which means providing education, housing, jobs, etc. For all the young people

arriving on the market.

Development

After 40 years of development policies, starvation, malnutrition and poverty still exist

in a number of developing countries or in large part of them. Moreover poverty is

now expanding in the so-called rich countries of the North. Why? It is unacceptable

and the Club of Rome has made a number of proposals to put an end to this

Intolerable situation which is the source of suffering, immigration, criminality, drug

trafficking. It is also acting in liaison with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs),

Governments, International Institutions of both the North and the South to contribute

to improving the present situation.

Values

Man cannot live by bread alone. There is an increasing need to look for a system of

values, common or compatible, respecting the different cultures and ethos.

Governance

Is this world ungovernable? Why are governments not able to solve the most

important issue such as unemployment, environmental pollution,, corruption,

criminality, terrorism?

The Club of Rome has been studying this very important issue for several years and

there are a number of cases which have to be attacked.

What should be the role of the civil society in governance?

Work in the Future

New technologies have created a real revolution in reducing the amount of human

work thanks to robots, computers, telecommunication and now the combination of

these different items which we call Multimedia. Another aspect of this new situation

is due to the globalization of the economy and the effect of delocalization. The Club

of Rome is studying what Is the future of work. How the available work will be

distributed. Therefore how human life, so long based on work, will be organized in


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the future, what will be the activities of human beings, in terms of works occupations

services for the community, training, leisure, etc.

Information Society

Communication has many different meaning. Real communication means dialogue,

negotiations far removed from any manipulation. In the information society it is

essential to give communication its full signification.

New Technology

The speed of development of new technologies in the field of computers and

telecommunication, biotechnologies, new materials, space is almost unbelievable.

These technologies represent significant progress for the good of humankind, but the

negative impact of these technologies in some cases should not be neglected. What

will be the consequences on Government, the management of corporation, values,

education, but also on the individual psychology and behavior and on societies?

Education

Systems of education are less and less adapted to the new issues, to the new

emerging global society we are presently involved in. New priorities force us to

redefine the role of education, which should be conceived as a permanent learning

process. Transmission of knowledge is no longer sufficient, and new objectives such

as developing ones own potential and creativity, or the capacity of adaptation to

change are becoming essential in a rapidly changing world.

The New Global Society

The world is changing rapidly. We have to understand these new data in order to

have a better understanding of other cultures, other languages, other modes of

reasoning. The Club of Rome, taking advantage of its hundred members

coming from 52 countries on the five continents and its 30 National

Associations with different professional backgrounds, different philosophies

and experiences is particularly ready to discuss this new global society and to

encourage individuals to be actors and not victims of this new world.

World Economic and Financial Order

The globalization of the economy and of the information has changed the general

picture we were accustomed to. There are no regulations, no ethics, and we have to

learn how we wish to live with this globalization, which favours the rich over the poor

and affects so many facets of individual and collective existence.


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Responsibility of Engineering

Due care must enter into the design and production stages on the product.

In general, manufacturers responsibilities would extend to the following three areas.

i.) Design: The design engineer should ascertain whether the design of an article

conceals any dangers. Whether it incorporate all feasible safety devices, and

whether it uses materials that are adequate for the purpose the product is

intended to serve.

ii) Production: The Engineer in charge of production should control the

manufacturering process so as to eliminate any defective items, identify any

weakness that become apparent during production and ensure that short cuts,

substitution of inferior materials, or other economizing measures are not taken

during the manufacture that would compromise the safety of the product.

iii) Information: The engineer in charge of manufacture should fix labels, notice or

instruction on the product that will warn the consumer of all dangers involves in

using or misusing the item.

In the case of drugs, professionals with responsibility of manufacturing, have a

duty to warn physician of any risks or dangerous side effects of using the

products.

Marketing and Professional Ethics

Marketing misallocates scarce economics resources. Marketing also involves too

much competitive promotion. Marketing is also considered wasteful. It is felt that

there are too many middle men especially in retail trade. And marketing is said to

create too much materialistic and artificial values. Advertising and saies promotion

encourage consumers to place too much emphasis on the satisfaction of material

wants and to substitute material values for moral values. The midas touch of

advertising tries to convert all human weakness and strivings into cash. Offensive

and misleading promotion is a poor substitute for carefully planned promotion of

creative selling.

Marketing adversely influences our environment or ecology. Disposable or

throwaway packages have created problem of pollution in big cities. Papers napkins,

disposable diapers, diapers, drinking cups, bottles, beverage cans, etc. have added

pollution though we enjoy convenience.

Refineries, power plants, fertilizer and chemicals and paper industries etc. are

responsible for pollution of our environment.


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Appropriate Technology Movement of Schumacher & Later Developments

The economist E.F. Schumacher has claimed that the most pressing social need at

present is finding ways of decreasing consumption. Increasing consumption has led

to a rapid industrial expansion that has polluted much of the natural environment and

has rapidly depleted our non renewable resources. Unless we limit consumption, we

will soon out run the finite natural resources our planet possesses with disastrous

consequences for us all.

Advancement in technology would find ways to minimize the consumption of non-

renewable resources without sacrificing standard of living and also find out suitable

substitutes of non-renewable resources.

Schumacher was a profound western thinker of the modern times. About the decline

in aesthetic, ethical, cultural and spiritual values, Schumacher has remarked

At present there can be little doubt that the whole of mankind is in moral danger not

because we are short of scientific and technology know-hows but because we tend

to use it destructively, without wisdom.

"Wisdom helps us discriminate between true knowledge and false knowledge.

Wisdom also helps decide the significance of knowledge and right use of knowledge.

Wisdom is the way knowledge is used to add value to life,

But the really important question of human existence to-day is how to lead a good

life and how to be a good human being, and how to create a good society.

ENVIRONMENT & POLLUTION

Environment

Degradation and Pollution

Environment is concerned with the relationships of living things and their

environment. It provides a framework by which can be seen that all living things

related to other living things, and they are like-wise related to their physical

environment.

Pollution of air, water and soil is caused by several agents. The main among them

are:

i) Natural Pollution

ii) Population explosion


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iii) High Standard of Living of People

iv) Deforestation

v) Vehicular Traffic

vi) Dams and Canals

vii) Agriculture

vii) Population Explosions & Industrial Growth

Sustainable Development

This refers to development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.

The right to development must be fulfilled so as to meet developmental and

environmental needs of present and future generation.

The Govt. and the public must work together for eradicating poverty is an

indispensable requirement for sustainable development. International actions in the

field of environments of interest are needs of countries.

In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall

constitute an integral part of the development process and can not be considered in

isolations from it.

To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, the

engineering professionals should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of

production and consumption.

Also the Governments -should promote appropriate demographic policies.

The creativity ideals and courage of the youth should be mobilized for building a

good society in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future

for all.

Environmental Regulations, Eco-friendly Technologies

a) Eco-friendly Technologies & Products: Process technology is intimately

linked up with pollution control technology. During the last 5 decades, in

many advanced countries, several process technologies have undergone

changes and replacement.

Many innovations involving pollution-free process technologies have resulted

from research investigation on pollution on control measures.

Example: Eco friendly Technologyies:


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1) Recycle of waste paper and old News print followed by-deinking process

this technology has been accepted world-wide as an eco-friendly technology

which does not encourage de-forestation for manufacturing paper and also the

process uses eco-friendly technology which generate minimum effluent which is

easily treated before discharge into surface water.

2) Production of Chemical Fertilizer from Natural Gas instead of using coal or

Naptha (i.e. Petroleum Fraction). Technology of using coal or Naptha Produce

lot of harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and Nitrogen oxides etc.

3) Countries conscious of clean environment are encouraging more and more

eco-friendly process which encourage hydro-electric power, non-conventional

and renewable energy source such as wind generators, solar power stations and

are discouraging thermal power stations which are worst polluters of

environment.

4) Technology for Production of chemicals to replace CFC compounds

presently used in refrigeration and other uses, which are primarily responsible

for ozone layer degradations. MNCs like ICI, Du Pont & others have developed

this type of eco-friendly technology.

5) Eco-friendly Process and Products: As a part of social responsibility of

business, a company is required to maintain clean and health environment

voluntarily. Hence, it must take steps to prevent all types of pollution.

Since 1986, the emphasis had been on sustainable economic development that

meets the needs of present as well as future generations, i.e. development without

environment degradation.

Economic development and sound environment management complement each

other and are two sides of the same coin.

The companies will realize the seriousness of environment concerns and issues.

They will learn to opt for processes and products which are environment friendly.

Using a titled earthen pitcher as its symbol, the Eco mark label is intended to enable

consumers to choose products which are environment friendly. Like the BIS (Bureau


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of Indian Standard) mark of the Agmark, an Eco mark product is a guarantee that its

use will mean environment friendly technologies.

For getting the Eco mark, the products must be produced by the environment friendly

technologies.

The products must be environment friendly also transport, use and disposal. Hence,

it must also have package which is environment friendly.

The Products requiring Eco mark labels in India are textiles, toilet soaps, detergents,

paper, paints, packages, pesticides and drugs.

In many western countries Eco-mark labeling has achieved considerable progress.

The German blue Angel Environment Labelling Scheme by 1994 has 4000 Eco mark

products.

Waste recycling is a global concern to protect our environment from solid / liquid

wastes causing pollution. The planned waster management and its use are duly

encouraged by the government.

The major task for India is to ensure that in all our economic and social processes,

we take full account of the environment costs. Now we are in a situation where land,

air and water degradation already constitutes a serious problem in our country.

Growing air and water pollution is pressure affecting the quality of most of our lives.

As development proceeds, the use of energy and natural resources will also

increase. The challenge ahead is to adopt a pattern and style of development that

will not put unsustainable pressure on our resources, particularly non-renewable

ones.

India has a special legislation to provide environment protection. Under this national

Environment Protection Act, Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental

Impact Statement reports must be made mandatory before launching any new

project. E.I.A. must include the cost of impact on the environment produced by a

manufacturing project into the sale price of products.

Environmental Ethics

(a) Important Parameters

(i) Environmental Threats : Greenhouse Gases, Depletion of Ozone Layer,

Acidification of Water, Soil Urban Pollution & Noise, Metals-effect. Organic

pollutants-effects, Land and water in appropriate use, Land, water pollution & Noise,

Metals-effects. Organic pollutants-effects, Land and water in appropriate use, Land

water exploitation Housing/industries/infrastructure, Pressure on conservation.


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ii) Greenhouse Effect: Ideal global temperature is average 150C, or else the

world will freeze, the emissions of CO2 cause alarming temperature increase and

polar ice-caps to melt and increased ocean water levels which may submerge many

parts of low lying areas, causing hardships for human residents.

iii) Greenhouse Gases: CO2, Nitrogen Oxides, CFCs, HFCs, Halogens convert

hydrocarbons to Cl2, Br2 and I2 and replace H2.

iv) Ozone: It is in atmosphere and protects life against harmful UV radiation, but at

ground level. It is harmful to life and forms breathing disorders. Its depletion is

causing holes at Poles, from where the UV radiation is leaking in.

v) Whistle Blowing: Whistle blowing is an attempt by an employee to disclose,

what is proclaimed to be wrong doing by an organization, reporting misdemeanor to

some one.

vi) Strategy:

a) Reactive Strategy: Resistance of public or government pressures by legal

means.

b) Defensive Strategy: Defensive Strategy A firm defends its position by less

aggressive means. The firm does the minimum requirement and not more unless

completed to do so.

c) Strategy of Accommodation: More progressive of the strategies, include

acceptance of ideas for social changes, firms resistance is to the extent of what is

not in its best interests. Most companies adopt this strategy.

b) Environment Ethics Case Study

Foreign companies operating in Pune since 1960s, installed Eco friendly

process, had concern for water, air and surrounding environment and quality of life

for its employees and neighbours.

TELCO planted more than ten million trees and filled up blasted craters with lakes of

quality water so also Kirloskar group companies followed this process,

Three Areas of Technology

Technology is the know-how, physical equipment and procedures used to produce

services, and products. Know how is the knowledge and Judgment of how, when

and why to employ equipment and procedures.


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Three Primary Areas of Technology

Operation managers are interested in all three aspects of technology, products

technology, process technology and information technology.

Product technology, development primarily by engineers and researchers, translates

ideas into new services and products. Developing new product technologies requires

close co-operation with marketing, to find out what customers really want, and with

operations, to determine how services or goods can be produced effectively.

Process technology gives the methods by which an organization does things.

Information technology helps in making more effective decisions for acquiring,

processing and transmitting information.

Technology and Developing Nations

Technology- Definition

Technology is defined as a systematic application of scientific or other organized

knowledge to practical tasks.

During the last 2 centuries technology has developed substantially. Science and

technology enabled mankind to conquer distance, control birth rates, save lives,

generate, preserve and distribute.

Technology and Society : Perhaps the most striking influence of technology is

found on society. Practically every area of social life of every individual has been, in

some sense or the other, changed by the development in technology.

Technology has contributed to the emergence of affluent nations. These countries

invest heavily on R & D to produce technology which is used by them for heavy

doses of industrialization. Sophistication in plants and machineries, and superior

quality goods and services.

On the contrary, developing countries like China, India and Bangladesh etc. where

the one-third of the worlds total population live are able to consume less than 40%

of the worlds total income for their living and are unable to devote resources for

Research & Development. These developing countries are always importing

technology from the above advance countries.

Technology Assessment Impact Analysis

The impact of technology is discussed below under three heads :

(a) technological and social changes

(b) economic effects of technology

(c) technology and plant level changes


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Technology

Social implications Economic implication Plant level changes

1. Technology reaches

people through business

2. High expectation of

consumers.3. System complexity

4. Social changes

5. Social system

1. Increased Productivity

2. Need to spend on R & D

3. Jobs become

intellectual

4. Problems of techno

structure

5. Bio professional and

multi professional managers

6. Increased regulation

and stiff opposition

7. Demand for capital

8. Rise and decline of

products and organization

9. Boundaries redefined.

1. Organisation structure

2. Resistance to change

3. Fear of risk

4. TQM

5. Business process Re

Engineering

6. Flexible mfg. system

Defining Technology and Technology Transfer

Technology transfer covers developing and marketing of technology, selection of

technology, mechanism and process, economic, political and legal aspects,

government policies, monitoring effectiveness of transfer viz. design capability,

manufacturing process, quality and productivity levels, etc.

Technology transfer, being an expensive and time consuming process, has to be

carefully planned and monitored by agencies like Corporate Planners, Engineers and

Quality Assurance Engineers to improve the effectiveness of transfer.

Mechanisms of Technology Transfer

Technology is transferred from one country to another through a wide variety of

mechanisms.

a) Non-commercial means: These are as follows:


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i) Flow of books, journals, and other published information

ii) Exchange of information through persons attending international seminars and

conferences

iii) Education and training at foreign universities

iv) Exchange of information or personnel through technical co-operational

programmes of international organization.

b) International Commercial Transaction are normally as follows:

i) Direct investment by foreign companies/multinationals

ii) Licensing agreements

iii) Management Contract, Technical services. Consultancy and Collaboration

agreements

iv) Export of parts.

These mechanisms of transfer exist in a great variety of contractual forms and are

frequently used in some combination. Each of these mechanism has its own

advantage and disadvantages. Foreign direct investments may be more effective but

dependence on the foreign company will be unlimited.

Technology Transfer Process

Technology transfer is a difficult process. There are special problems and issues

associated with each aspect of the technology transfer process.

The first stage is selection of technology and transfer. These need basically technical

expertises to evaluate and determine the suitability of technology and consideration

of social and cultural background and present status of technology.

The second phase of transfer process is Absorption when direct investments

mechanism is in operation, all the problem that crop up are solved by the transfer.

But in case of less active mechanisms, greater effort is required from the recipient

organisation.

Quality needs to be built at every stage of technology transfer process and it must

consider by the concerned with planning, engineering, marketing etc, the quality

must be given be proper important right from the easily stages of technology

transfer.

Problem of Technology Transfers

Technology transfer is the process of taking new technology from laboratory to the

market place. This transfer takes larger time as organisations grow in size.


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A company may also decide to make or buy R & D although in house R & D has

been traditionally an important source of technology knowledge for companies, firms

can also tap the R & D from a technology supplier company through contractual

agreements, such as licensing, R & D agreements and joint ventures.

The 2nd factor in technology transfer is time. The time between innovation and

commercialisation is less for larger companies and is more for smaller companies.

The third thing is that as new technology comes in, the old technology needs to be

abandoned. The process of old replaced by new called technology discontinuity.

Human operator in Engineering Projects and industries

If we look at the worker as a resource, comparable to all other resources but for the

fact that it is human, we have to find out how best to utilise him in the same way.

This is an Engineering approach.

The human being has one set of qualities possessed by no other resources i.e., it

has the ability to coordinate to integrate, to judge and to imageine.

Emphasis on human approach focuses on man as a moral and social being. The

qualities of the person are specific and unique. The human being, unlike any other

resources, has absolute control over whether he works at all. The human resources

must always be motivated to work.

It has been studied by several experts and found that attitudes of human operators

are very important for enhancing productivity and that machines and techniques

have little contributions in this aspects. Similarly good morale of the worker greatly

contributes to improve productivity.

A manager must create a positive motivation in engineering projects and industries

for the human operators to contribute their best.

The problem of man machine interaction arise due to.

1. Inadequate training received by the operator

2. Both attitude and moral of the worker are at poor levels.

3. Poor upkeep of the machine

4. Poor industrial relations.

5. Poor supervisory control

6. Absence of incentives for higher productivity etc.

7. Physical and mental fitness of the worker also influence the man-machine

interaction.

8. Attitude and morale greatly influence the man-machine interaction.


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9. Poor working conditions such a improper ventilation and insufficient light also

effect man-machine interaction.

10. Improper Work-load also effect the man-machine interaction.

Impact of Assembly Line and Automations

Assembly lines are generally of two types:

i) Sub-assembly line and (ii) Final Assembly Line

i) Sub Assembly line: A product may have two or more sub assemblies. Each

sub-assembly consists of several components or parts.

Subassembly items are assembled separately in shop and are brought to the

final product.

ii) Final Assembly line: Here all sub-assemblies are joined to give rise to the final

product. Automobile assembly line is a perfect Engineering of human work and

exhibits the proper man machine interaction.

The modern technology does make possible the output of more goods with same

number of people. Automation derives its efficiency and productivity mainly from the

substitution of highly trained, high grade human work for poorly trained or semi-

skilled human work.

The occurrence of redundancy of human operators due to increased automation will

significantly affect the attitudes to workers. In such a situation, the organisation any

provide adequate training and relocate the workers in the other units or arrange the

voluntary retirement with suitable monetary incentives.

Human Centred Technology

The human resources of all economic resources is the one least efficiently used, and

that the greatest opportunity for improved economic performance lies in the

improvement of the effectiveness of people in their work.

The management of workers and work is therefore one of the basic function of

management.

The skilled worker has moved from the workshop into the plant remaining a skilled

worker or becoming a supervisor or a technician.

This situation has created four new group i.e. clerical staff, workers, professional

specialists and managers.

Still the work will always have to be done by people. There may be no people on the

factory floor in a fully automatic plant. Operations requiring repeatative occurrence

will be made automatic more and more, eliminating involvement of human operator.


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Whistle Blowing and Beyond

Whistle blowing is an attempt by a member or former member of an organisation to

disclose wrong doing in or by the organisation.

Whistle blowing can be internal or external. If the wrong doing is reported only to

those higher in the organisation, it is internal whistle blowing. When the wrong doing

is reported to external individuals or bodies such as government agencies, news

papers or public internal groups, the whistle blowing is said to be external.

But blowing the whistle is often a brave act of conscience that can carry heavy

personal costs. It has been seen that normally the whistle blower is a loyal and

conscientious employee of the organisation having strong belief in universal moral

principles.

In most of the cases, the whistle blowers have been harassed by the higher

authorities in the organtsatton and/or have been isolated and subjected to feelings or

depression and powerlessness.

It is sometimes argued that external whistle blowing is always wrong because

employees have a contractual duty to be loyal to their employer and to keep all

aspects of the business confidential.

Thus, external whistle blowing is justified if it is necessary to prevent a wrong that

one has moral right or duty to prevent, or if it will yield a benefit that one has a moral

right or duty to provide.

For example, when a company is involved in activities that can result in substantial

injuries to the working personnel, who have a right to be protected from such injuries,

and no one else in the company is willing to bring these activities to a halt, then a

morally conscientious employee has an obligation to prevent the wrong even if has

means resorting to Whistle blowing.

a) The main factors for Whistle Blowing are:

i) Whistle blower has moral motives or he is ethical.

ii) Whistle blower acts in accordance with his responsibilities for avoiding/exposing

moral violations.

iii) He is loyal to organisation or customers.

PROFESSION & HUMAN VALUE

Value Crisis in Contemporary Society


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A healthy society is built on good values. Indian society is based on democratic

principles and secular belief.

The values of a good society in India, took a strong blow during Babri

Masjid/Ayodhya and Godhra/Ahmedabad episodes in the early nineties and during

the Gujarat incidence, when the secular fabric was torn apart.

The community depends upon a common set of values. It is even enshrined in our

constitution that we are a secular nation and the right include religious freedom and

right to worship, among others.

Similarly, during the emergency enforcement period by late Prime Minister Mrs Indra

Gandhi in the late seventies, the democratic values were ignored.

Further examples of decline in the value system in the individual levels may be given

as follows:

1. The adoption of dubious standards of judgment for the rich and poor by the

ethics class and beurocrats.

2. Not being conscious about ones duty and responsibility the doctors and nurses

are ignoring the interests of patients and teachers are ignoring the students

necessities.

3. The elected members of assemblies and parliament hardly look after the welfare

of the people who have elected them.

Nature of Values

We need values to become ethical. Values can be individual, social and of corporate.

Values governs behavioural choice. Core values can not be dictated and are difficult

to change.

Many reputed companies are against the employment of child labours in their

organisation, thus it is one of their core value.

Many Indian companies have set examples of good corporate governance and have

facilitated the process of transparency and accountability.

Value Spectrum of a Good Life

A good life is lived in a society with existence of peace, harmony, well-being, and

fellow feeling. Material values associated with a good life are comforts, convenience,

relaxation and recreation etc.


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Values related to aesthetic nature of a good life like enjoyment of beauty,

appreciation of art, music culture and literature are terms as aesthetic values.

A person is said to possess ethical value when he or she is able to distinguish

between good or bad, right or wrong and justice versus injustice etc.

Good human values are expressed with humanness, goodness, wisdom, sensitivity

for human suffering and pain and showing respect or love for others.

Spiritual values associated with a good life are practice of religion and faith in God

etc.

Thus, the spectrum of light contains seven distinct colours expressed in VIBGYOR.

In a similar way, the value of good life is the integration of seven core values like

material values, societal values, aesthetic value, psychological value, ethical values,

human values and spiritual values.

Psychological Values, Integrated Personality, Mental Health

Value system is a frame work of personal philosophy which governs and influences

the individual reaction and responses to any situation. Personal values shape

influence and behavior.

The psychological value system indicates the extent to which a manager accepts or

resists organizational pressures and goals. Different people placed in similar

situation react in different styles.

When the mental health is in bad state, the person exhibits restlessness by irregular

movements and behaviours. Psychological reactions such as anger, anxiety,

depression, nervousness, irritability, tension, and boredom are normally exhibited in

ones behaviour.

In his theory of motivation, Abraham Maslow has given a set of human needs

arranged in hierarchical order. A human being after fulfilling the basic physiological

needs desires to obtain psychological needs containing safety and security,

belongingness and love and the self-esteem needs.

Self-esteem are largely fulfilled by acquiring skill, competence and expertise in the

field of knowledge and profession.

The aesthetic needs and self-actualisation needs follows the fulfillment of

psychological needs described above.

Mental Health: A good mental health helps a person to possess positive capacity

for living and enjoying a good life. The various types of mental health are as follows:

1. Efficient perception of reality


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2. Self knowledge

3. Ability to exercise control over ones behaviour

4. Self esteem and acceptance relationships

5. Ability to form affectionate relationships

6. Productivity i.e., utilizing time and energy for useful and productive activities and

this is the criteria of a mentally healthy person.

The modern search for a good society, justice, democracy secularism, rule of law are

societal values in India Constitution.

Indian Constitution & Social Values

Democracy, Secularism, rule of law and justice, equality etc. are the societal values

enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Democracy, Sovereignty, Secularism and Socialism are the basic principles of our

constitution

i) Sovereignty : This is the main feature of the Indian constitution. Indians are

complete independent and run their own government.

ii) Democracy : Democracy means a government which is run by representatives

who are elected on the basic of adult franchise.

iii) Secularism : The state gives equal treatment to all religions. It does not favour

any particular religion.

iv) Socialism : The achievements of socialism, based on economic and social

equality, is the chief goal of our constitution. It provides equal opportunities in

education, employment, justice etc. to all.

v) Rule of societal values in the Indian Constitution: Indian constitution gives

equal treatment to all citizens. The state can not discriminate on the religion,

caste, creed, sex, language, place of birth et.

a) Indian constitution emphasizes societal values in part IV, which deals with the

Directive principles of state policy.

i) The state shall strive to promote the welfare of the people.

ii) The state shall in particular, strive to minimize the inequalities in income, status

etc.

iii) The state shall ensure that the ownership and control of material resources of

the community are so distributed as best to sub serve the common good.

b) Indian constitution advances ideas on societal values in Articles 51A, part IV of

Fundamental Duties.


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It shall be the duty of every citizen of India

i) To abide by the constitution

ii) To cherish and follow the noble ideals

iii) To upload and protect the sovereignty, unity integrity of India

iv) To defend the country

v) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood, etc.

The Modern Search for a Society

As described earlier, a good society is such a society which should provide means

and conditions for the material growth and encourage and inspire all its members to

achieve their full human potential in all dimensions including moral and spiritual.

A good society should accept certain human values of love, kindness and brother-

hood and such a society should be caring, sharing and co-operative to all its

members.

The good search for a good Indian society be meaningful if the society is not merely

law governed; but is governed by higher level ethical, moral and spiritual values.

Work culture is the involvement of a workman with his work or assignment towards

contribution of productivity and quality of final products.

Good work cultural means a workman is fully involved with in work to exhibit good

morale and to contribute highest possible productivity and high cost of production.

The following factors are responsible for poor work cultural in an organisation :

Lack of discipline

Lack of commitment

High absenteeism

Lack of concern

Many holidays and strikes

Poor labour management relations

Poor working conditions

Lot of outside political interference

Large nos of accidents

Multiplicity of trade unions

The role of trade unions has to be re-oriented from confrontation to co-operation and

participation with the triangle of government, business-labour working in the truespirit of partnership.


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An employee is required to exhibit certain attitude, apply certain skills to the desired

levels of excellence. He needs to translate certain desirable habits such as regularly,

punctuality, discipline, promptness, initiative etc which all together constitute an

ethical value system in an organisation.

Work cultural is also concerned with an employees loyalty towards the organization.

View points of workers for poor work cultural

Some times workers when questioned about poor work cultural give the following

answer:

Pressure from trade union.

Poor working conditions.

Poor conditions of machines.

View points of manager for poor work cultural.

Multiplicity of trade union.

Interference from outside political parties.

Decline in general moral standards in the society at large.

VALUES : PROFESSION & HUMAN

Introduction

Values relate to the aims of human life. For the achievement of the aims humanbeing frame certain notions and these notions are called values.

The following principles are propounded for the determination of values:

i) Hedonistic view of life: The value of a thing is due to the fact that the thing has

power to satisfy our wants.

ii) Perfection theory: Any thing has values if it relates to the perfection of life for

which a man endeavors in his life.

iii) Utility theory: Anything which has utility is valuable.

iv) Order theory: Anything which is helpful in organising society is called value.

v) Existence theory: Value is helpful in existence.

vi) Experimental theory: Values are experiments in present and past as well.

(vii) Part and whole theory: Values are felt sometime partly and sometimes wholly

viii) Objective and subjective theory: Values are determined by the notions of

individuals and also by the circumstances in which he lives.


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ix) Emotive theory: Mans emotions are expressed by his nature.

These emotions change according to the circumstances Thus by

virtue of his emotion man determines his values.

Religion, Morality rd Moral Value

The practice of religion I as:ilis in following advantages

1) Moral d Development: Religion is the foundation of moral develoment and

character.

2) Refinement of human values: Religion shows are difference between material

and gives divine touch to human values.

(3) Socialisation: Social service is recommended in every religion. in the (ita peo;lc

are dd\ sed to act with a view, not to personal gain, but to add to the prosperity of

humanity.

(4) Development of democratic values: Religious feeling related men on one side

with God and on the other with human beings, and by showing that the same

God exists in every human being it encourages the development of the

democratic qualities of liberty, fraternity and equality.

(5) Cultural development Religion: is on important part of culture and the cultural

progress of a group is measured by its religious development.

Mans greatest characteristic is character. Swami Vivekananda has defined

character as the sum total of an individuals instincts, the inclination of his mind.

Good thoughts lead a sound determination and this in turn puts the man on the path

to good life.

Moral development is possible through proper conduct, feeling and development of

proper habits of thought and feeling of action.

Cultural and Socialisation

a) Culture

Cultural is composed of integrated customs, traditions and current behaviour

pattern of human group.

The main features of the contribution of cultural in mans life are the following:

1) Adaptation to the natural environment: Every where, man lives in a definite

natural environment to which he must necessarily adapt himself.

2) Adaptation to the social environment: Cultural also includes customs,

traditions and the pattern of current behaviour.


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3) Development of Personality: The personality of an manifested through his

pattern of behaviour. The behaviour is always profoundly influenced by the

cultural of his group.

In childhood, the infant acquires his cultural through imitation. In the second stage,

the child imitates different individuals in society in their play. Play of his kind

introduces many different kinds qualities in the childs personality.

The third stage of acquiring cultural is the stage of games where the individuals

learns to control his behavious.

Cultural influences the physical, mental, social, emotional, moral and aesthetic

aspects of the individuals.

Aesthetic Values, Perception and Enjoyment of Beauty, Simplicity, Clarity

Aesthetic value of a person is indicated when he or she shows admiration for

goodness of any thing e.g. beauty of a garden, beauty of a flower, beauty of a

woman or loveliness of a child.

A marketer utilises the aesthetic value of a product for enhancing its value which in

turn may crate more demands.

Perception, being an intellectual and psychological process, becomes a subjective

process and different people may perceive the same environment differently etc.

perception is determined by both physiological and psychological characteristics of

environment and the sensation exhibits enjoyment of beauty, simplicity and clarity.

To appreciate the nature of aesthetic experience, and the values involved in it

according to Indian cultural tradition, the depiction may be made in the following

manner:

1. A beautiful object attracts.

2. Mind becomes pleasant.

3. The beautiful objects is lovable and likable.

4. It products a feeling of happiness.

5. The beautiful object leads to perfect bliss.

Aesthetic considerations have become important in practical fields like engineering

product development, industrial design, town planning and interior decoration.

While adopting cost reduction and value engineering techniques care is taken to

ensure that aesthetic value of the product in not diminished.

Nature of Moral Judgements

Two theories are pertinent when one talks about the nature of ethics.


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The theory of moral unity essentially advocates the principle that business actions

should be judged by the general ethical standards of society. There exists only one

ethical standard which applies to every one in the society.

Opposed to the theory of moral unity is the theory of morality, which argues that

business can be amoral and the actions of businessmen need not be guided by

general ethical standards. Capitalism provides moral justification for the persuit of

profit through behaviour which is not purposefully ethical.

The ethics of virtue and ethics of duty may be exhibited up by the following activities.

1. To carry out such activities which are beneficial to the national interest of the

country.

2. To be a good citizen and to actively assist in the improvement of the quality of

life in the society.

3. To generally observe the accepted norms of public decency.

4. To be truthful and honest and to show mutual trust and co-operation in all

deeds of publicinterest.

5. One may be religious, but he or she should respect for others religions.

6. A duty-full citizen should

(i) not be cruel to animal

(ii) show kindness to the poor and helpless.

(iii) Voice criticism against unjust, the descent and un-lawful activities of

the others in the society.

Ethics of Responsibility

Managers are members of a leadership group, it occupies a position of visibility, of

prominence and authority and confers duties. Leadership is confined to few

individuals. He has to stand demand of professional ethics and demands of ethics of

responsibility.

The terms right, proper, fair, judgment about behaviour, virtue, value, worth principle,

integrity, praiseworthiness, rightousness all pin down to which is intrinsically moral.

There is very little to distinguish between moral and ethics. Moral is perceived as

personal and ethics as institutional.

Some times ethics is considered as a scientific study of moral behaviour.

However, we can distinguish between morals and manners certain unpleasant

behaviours like dressing shabbily, taking in loud may be treated as bad manners but

certainly do not quality as immoral.


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Ill mannered people can be moral and even the reverse is possible.

The dictators of last century were very polished and well mannered, but by their

immoral acts, they brought immense amounts of destruction in societies.

The world faces plenty of decisions that put our conscience. Almost all of us, at

some point of time, encounter cheating on taxes, jumping traffic signals, lying under

oath, inflating expense accounts, overstating damage to ones vehicle for insurance

claims, all these are widely understood to be unethical.

Aesthetic Values Case Study

Steve Waugh, the former Australian Test captain love for kids have promted the

cricketer to build and support Udayan a home for 300 children of leprosy sufferers

at Barrackpore, near Kolkata. The cricketer find time to visit the home often and

spend his time with the children with full enjoyment.

Competition and Fair Practices

According. P. F. Drucker competition challenges four important premises of the

marketing concept.

i) It is assumed that consumers know their need.

ii) It is assumed that business really cares about those needs and knows exactly

how to find about them.

iii) It is assumed that business does provide useful information that precisely

matches products to needs.

iv) It is presumed that products and services really fulfil customer expectation as

well as business promises.

Consumerism is a protest of consumers against unfair business practices and

business injustices.

effects of technological growth

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