Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Duties Towards Subordinates

The purpose of this Guideline is to amplify and explain clause viii of the Code of Professional Conduct of the Institute which requires each member "to recognise his or her responsibility for the professional guidance of subordinates under his or her immediate control". Some part of these responsibilities may be laid down in management procedures of the particular organisation. The ethical points listed below qualify such procedures.

In general the member should encourage the development of independence of judgment in subordinates in their professional and scientific careers.

The member should be responsible for the induction of new members of staff, and ensure that they gain a sense of participation, and are encouraged to express professional opinions freely to their immediate colleagues.

One should ensure that subordinates understand the tasks which they have been allotted and the limits of their responsibility within the overall objective of the work. They should then be encouraged to suggest and, where appropriate, make use of their own ideas and ways of doing things. It is particularly important to acquaint them with the outcome of their work, any contribution it has made and, where it cannot be rapidly used, the reasons for this.

The member should also interpret for subordinates the objectives of the organisation and guide the work so that it contributes to those objectives.

No member should ever require of a subordinate any action contrary to professional ethics as outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct.

It follows that the duties of members to subordinates should be to:-

1. Accept responsibility for their work. This can only be done if proper communication has been established by adequate training, definition of duties and clarification of objectives.

2. Ensure that they are given adequate recognition for their work, and advocate and encourage appropriate publication when possible.

3. Aid them to appreciate their own professional development, e.g. by furthering their education, widening their experience, and obtaining further qualifications and professional status, and encourage and advise them on their progress as appropriate.

4. Encourage relevant external contacts, by enabling them to attend scientific meetings and to meet other scientists and technologists.

5. Ensure that they are at all times aware of the limits of confidentiality concerning information about

their work.

6. Encourage them to practise the precepts of this guideline towards their subordinates.

NDC/HGW/SEC 77-78

Ref. No. 1007