Making Principles Personal
by John R. Speed, P.E. , Executive Director
Texas State Board
Winter 1998 Newsletter

As professional engineers, we are expected to conduct ourselves and our business in an ethical, professional manner. The fundamental principles of the Texas engineering rules of professional conduct are designed to remind engineers of our obligation to do the "right thing." When facing issues in the practice of engineering, we can seek answers within the Board's rules of professional conduct: Board Rules 131.151 through 131.155.

It is critically important that we make these principles personal. I found it rewarding to draft my own personal statement of principles for engineering practice, print it out and carry it with me as a reminder of my obligations. A personal statement might go something like this:

"I am a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas. In the practice of my profession I have principles to uphold that translate into personal obligations. I am to protect the health, safety, property and welfare of those around me. I am to be objective and honest, providing engineering that withholds nothing and conveys the most complete picture possible. I am to protect the confidentiality of my clients. I am required to assess my own skills and competencies, recognize that which I do not know, and practice squarely within the areas of engineering that I do know. I am to be committed to the integrity of my profession, avoiding those situations in business or personal life where I might contribute to the wrongdoing of others or find myself viewed as a contributor to wrongdoing. I am to continuously add to my engineering education through diligent study and training. I am to aid other engineers in their careers and to celebrate their successes, even as they pass me by. I am to serve as a role model. I am a professional engineer."

Notice how the statement above parallels the principles found in the first few sentences of Board Rules 131.151 through 131.155. As you read the statement, you probably thought of other things that you can include to make the fundamental principles more effective and personal. I encourage each of you to read the rules of professional conduct and find a way to make those principles real in your engineering practice.