Civil Engineering March 2021 | Vol 29 No 2

10 March 2021 Civil Engineering E th i cs A seminal essay by Michael Davis (1991), titled Thinking like an engineer , brings home the challenge of decision-making within a time of crisis. The essay explores the complex layers of decision-making involved in the January 1986 launch of the Challenger space shuttle and tracks the decisions of key role-players relative to their area of responsibility. Decisions taken during this event resulted in the death of seven astronauts. In his essay, Davis positioned his argument in terms of ethical options available to individuals with responsibility to act under pressure. He highlights the role of codes of conduct in defining how individual engineers should conduct themselves, in assessing that conduct retrospectively, and in understanding engineering as a profession. The analysis juxtaposes engineering responsibility with political and commercial interest in a way that resonates across the years. ‘Safety first’ was a key principle under- lying the decisions taken by the technical engineers for the Challenger launch and was behind their recommendation not to launch on the morning of 27 January 1986. The primary factor behind this was that the predicted external air tempera- ture fell below the level where effective operation of the space shuttle could be guaranteed. Despite this recommendation to abort the flight, and despite their good safety records, the decision not to launch was questioned and overruled. Political interests and imperatives were seen to require the continuation of the launch, driven in part by a State of the Union message scheduled for the following day. Davis’ analysis identifies the moment the chief engineer is challenged in the role he identifies himself as playing, as pivotal to decision-making. He is directed to change his rationale for decision-making from that of engineer to that of manager. The decision that seemed incorrect as engineer became possible and even preferable as manager. Under these new parameters, the chief engineer changed his decision and agreed to support the launch. What has taken place here? Differences of perception regarding identity have highlighted differences in the justification of choice for actors in a situation. These differences of identity face professionals at times where decisions are required in complex circumstances. Alison Gwynne-Evans Lecturer: Professional Communication Studies University of Cape Town alison.gwynne-evans@uct.ac.za Thinking like an ethical engineer in challenging times The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the parameters of efficiency and risk across all sectors of the economy. The established norms of economic interest are shown to be insufficient to validate the range of decisions required at different levels. Professionals are challenged to re-engage with rationales for decision-making and to connect critically with the foundations on which ethical action is justified at a professional and personal level.