Approach from an Engineer Ethics Perspective

• Hiroshi Yamauchi ("Do things no other company would do")

  • Ethical Consideration: Innovation should not come at the cost of safety or societal well-being. Engineers must balance risk-taking with accountability.

  • Application: Engineers should ensure that new products adhere to safety standards and are responsibly tested, even when pursuing disruptive ideas.

• Konosuke Matsushita ("A company is a public entity") [1]

  • Ethical Consideration: Engineers must recognize their broader responsibility to society, ensuring their work contributes positively to the community.

  • Application: Develop products with accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity in mind.

• Tsunekazu Ishihara ("Enable people to experience memories and excitement") [2]

  • Ethical Consideration: Engineers must prioritize user-centric design and avoid manipulative practices, such as creating addictive interfaces or exploiting vulnerabilities.

  • Application: Focus on transparency in data use and privacy, ensuring ethical engagement with users.

• Eiichi Shibusawa ("True business success requires integrating ethical considerations")

  • Ethical Consideration: Engineers must consider the ethical implications of their technology, including potential misuse or unintended consequences.

  • Application: Conduct thorough ethical reviews of projects, considering how technologies could impact various stakeholders.

As discussed above, quotes can hold different meaning depending on the scope it is approached by.

1. Are we conducting sufficient tests to ensure our products are safe for all users? (mainly for biotech startups)

2. How do we balance innovation and responsibility?

3. If our product does harm, who is accountable? What can we do to prevent such harm?

4. How do we stay transparent with our customers on the data being extracted and how we use the data?

5. Are engineering decisions being made by non-engineers as well to better diversify the decision making?

6. Are we prioritizing projects that align with our ethical views?

7. Is there consideration on how this impacts marginalized communities?

8. How will the questions above be true for a global audience as well? What are the differences between the Japanese and global audience?

Citations:

K. Matsushita, Practical Management Philosophy. PHP Institute, 1978. T. Ishihara, "The Pokémon Company President's Message," The Pokémon Company, 1998.