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Session 3225

Importance of Ethical and Business Issues in Making Engineering Design Decisions: Teaching through Case Studies

Chetan S. Sankar and P.K. Raju, Auburn University, AL 36849

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the development of a multi-media case study that documents

the events and decisions leading to the January 27th , 1986 teleconference where the

decision on launching the STS 51-L, Challenger Space Shuttle, was made. The

difference between this case study and others is that it focuses on the processes used, the

five design options that were presented to the NASA management during 1977, the

choice made by NASA during 1980, and the final decision instead of focusing on the

disaster alone. Videos, charts, and animations explain the technical material lucidly.

This case study has been tried in engineering classrooms and has received very positive

feedback. Engineering students found the use of the case study methodology that dealt

with a real-world example to be highly motivating and useful in understanding the

importance of ethical and business issues in making engineering design decisions. The

paper summarizes the case study and discusses the students’ and educators’ reactions to

this new approach of teaching engineering design by providing a longitudinal view of the

design decisions. Information on this case study and book could be obtained from

http://litee.auburn.edu.

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Sankar, C., & Raju, P. (2001, June), Importance Of Ethical And Business Issues In Making Engineering Design Decisions: Teaching Through Case Studies Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9360