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Overview
Facts Discussion
Provenance Draft

PASS 1: Contextual Framework Facts Section

Case 110: Competence To Perform Foundation Design

R Roles
3
Classes
3
Individuals
S States
3
Classes
3
Individuals
Rs Resources
0
Classes
0
Individuals

Extracted Ontology Entities

12 RDF entities extracted organized by concept type

R Roles

Roles Classes
3
changed
Engineer
rdfs:subClassOf Roles
Linked
Engineer Role
C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A professional engineering role involving engineering practice on a project, governed by the professional code and generating obligations of competent practice and honest reporting of professional concerns.
Inherited from EngineerRole · note
A professional role involving engineering practice and responsibilities. Occupational archetype head for all engineer specializations and extracted engineer-role leaves.
Properties
Text References:
"Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility."
Confidence: 0.95
Role Kind: professional
Distinguishing Features:
  • Practices engineering on a project under the professional code
  • Raises professional concerns about competence to the retaining party
Professional Scope: Engineering practice on the design/build project, including judgment about the qualifications required for the engineering work involved
Typical Qualifications: Professional Engineer license
Associated Virtues:
  • Competence
  • Integrity
  • Candor
[facts] "Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility.
  • roleKind content: professional
  • distinguishingFeatures content: Practices engineering on a project under the professional code; Raises professional concerns about competence to the retaining party
  • professionalScope content: Engineering practice on the design/build project, including judgment about the qualifications required for the engineering work involved
  • typicalQualifications content: Professional Engineer license
  • associatedVirtues content: Competence; Integrity; Candor
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
changed
DesignEngineerRole
rdfs:subClassOf Roles
Linked
Design Engineer Role
C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A professional engineering role responsible for producing a design, here the design of structural footings for an industrial facility, retained by the party commissioning the design work.
Inherited from DesignEngineerRole · note
An engineer responsible for producing a design (plans, calculations, specifications, drawings) for a project. Project and discipline are case context, not separate role kinds.
Properties
Text References:
"the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility"
Confidence: 0.95
Role Category: provider_client
Role Kind: professional
Distinguishing Features:
  • Produces original design work (structural footings) rather than reviewing or advising
  • Retained by a client party for a defined design scope
Professional Scope: Design of structural footings as part of the facility
Typical Qualifications:
  • Professional Engineer license
  • Training or experience in foundation design
Associated Virtues:
  • Competence
  • Integrity
[facts] "the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility
  • roleCategory content: provider_client
  • roleKind content: professional
  • distinguishingFeatures content: Produces original design work (structural footings) rather than reviewing or advising; Retained by a client party for a defined design scope
  • professionalScope content: Design of structural footings as part of the facility
  • typicalQualifications content: Professional Engineer license; Training or experience in foundation design
  • associatedVirtues content: Competence; Integrity
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
changed
ContractorRole
rdfs:subClassOf Roles
Linked
Contractor Role
C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A participant role of the party contracted to carry out construction work, here a construction contractor on a design/build project who retains engineering services and receives reported concerns about engineer competence.
Inherited from ContractorRole · note
The role borne by the party contracted to carry out construction work.
Properties
Text References:
"Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility."
"During the construction of the project, the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B"
Confidence: 0.9
Role Kind: participant
Distinguishing Features:
  • Carries out construction of the industrial facility
  • Retains engineering services and is the recipient of reported competence concerns
[facts] "the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility.; During the construction of the project, the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B
  • roleKind content: participant
  • distinguishingFeatures content: Carries out construction of the industrial facility; Retains engineering services and is the recipient of reported competence concerns
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Roles Individuals
3
Linked
Engineer Role
C110
Text References:
"Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility."
"Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the ..."
Confidence: 0.95
Actor: Engineer A
Role Class: Engineer Role
Role Kind: professional
License: Professional Engineer
Additional Relationships:
  • {'type': 'reports competence concerns to', 'target': 'Construction Contractor', 'quote': 'Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings and reports his concerns to the contractor'}
  • {'type': 'questions competence of', 'target': 'Engineer B', 'quote': 'Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings'}
Case Involvement: Works with the construction contractor on the design/build project, is unable to establish that Engineer B has training in foundation design, has reservations about Engineer B's competence to design the structural footings, and reports his concerns to the contractor.
Relatedto: Construction Contractor
"Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility."
[facts] "Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Engineer A
  • relationships: {'type': 'relatedTo', 'target': 'Construction Contractor', 'quote': 'Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility.'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility.; Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings and reports his concerns to the contractor.
  • roleClass content: Engineer Role
  • roleKind content: professional
  • license content: Professional Engineer
  • additionalRelationships content: {'type': 'reports competence concerns to', 'target': 'Construction Contractor', 'quote': 'Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings and reports his concerns to the contractor'}; {'type': 'questions competence of', 'target': 'Engineer B', 'quote': 'Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings'}
  • caseInvolvement content: Works with the construction contractor on the design/build project, is unable to establish that Engineer B has training in foundation design, has reservations about Engineer B's competence to design the structural footings, and reports his concerns to the contractor.
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
Linked
Design Engineer Role
C110
Text References:
"the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility"
"Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering."
Confidence: 0.95
Actor: Engineer B
Role Class: Design Engineer Role
Role Category: provider_client
Role Kind: professional
License: Professional Engineer
Specialty: Structural footing design (retained scope)
Technical Background: Degree and background in chemical engineering, with no apparent subsequent training in foundation design established
Case Involvement: Retained by the construction contractor to design structural footings for the facility despite a degree and background in chemical engineering, with no apparent subsequent training in foundation design established by Engineer A.
Competence questioned: Engineer A has reservations concerning Engineer B's competence to design the structural footings
Hasclient: Construction Contractor
"the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility"
[facts] "the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Engineer B
  • attributes: {'competence_questioned': "Engineer A has reservations concerning Engineer B's competence to design the structural footings"}
  • relationships: {'type': 'hasClient', 'target': 'Construction Contractor', 'quote': 'the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility; Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering.
  • roleClass content: Design Engineer Role
  • roleCategory content: provider_client
  • roleKind content: professional
  • license content: Professional Engineer
  • specialty content: Structural footing design (retained scope)
  • technicalBackground content: Degree and background in chemical engineering, with no apparent subsequent training in foundation design established
  • caseInvolvement content: Retained by the construction contractor to design structural footings for the facility despite a degree and background in chemical engineering, with no apparent subsequent training in foundation design established by Engineer A.
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
Construction Contractor
Contractor Role
Linked
Contractor Role
C110
Text References:
"Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility."
"During the construction of the project, the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B"
Confidence: 0.9
Actor: Construction Contractor
Role Class: Contractor Role
Role Kind: participant
Additional Relationships:
  • {'type': 'retains services of', 'target': 'Engineer B', 'quote': 'the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility'}
  • {'type': 'receives reported concerns from', 'target': 'Engineer A', 'quote': 'reports his concerns to the contractor'}
Case Involvement: Carries out the design/build construction of the industrial facility, works with Engineer A, separately retains Engineer B to design structural footings, and receives Engineer A's reported concerns about Engineer B's competence.
[facts] "the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Construction Contractor
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a professional engineer works with a construction contractor on a design/build project for the construction of an industrial facility.; During the construction of the project, the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B
  • roleClass content: Contractor Role
  • roleKind content: participant
  • additionalRelationships content: {'type': 'retains services of', 'target': 'Engineer B', 'quote': 'the construction contractor separately retains the services of a Engineer B, a professional engineer to design structural footings as part of the facility'}; {'type': 'receives reported concerns from', 'target': 'Engineer A', 'quote': 'reports his concerns to the contractor'}
  • caseInvolvement content: Carries out the design/build construction of the industrial facility, works with Engineer A, separately retains Engineer B to design structural footings, and receives Engineer A's reported concerns about Engineer B's competence.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9

S States

States Classes
3
changed
Competence Gap State
rdfs:subClassOf States
Linked
Competence Gap State
C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A condition in which an engineer apparently lacks the training or expertise required for the specific work retained, here an engineer with a degree and background in chemical engineering retained to design structural footings with no apparent subsequent training in foundation design.
Inherited from CompetenceGapState · note
A condition in which an agent lacks, has insufficient, or has not exercised the competence required for the work at hand, undercutting the obligations that attach to it.
Properties
Text References:
"Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering."
"Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design"
Confidence: 0.9
State Category: competence
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: An engineer is retained for work outside his apparent field of training and expertise
Termination Conditions: The engineer's competence for the specific work is established or the engineer is replaced by a qualified engineer
Obligation Activation: Obligation to perform services only in areas of competence
Action Constraints: Competence boundary constraint on undertaking the footing design
Principle Transformation: The competence principle becomes a concrete question of whether this engineer may design the structural footings given his apparent lack of foundation design training.
[facts] "Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering. Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering.; Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design
  • stateCategory content: competence
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The competence principle becomes a concrete question of whether this engineer may design the structural footings given his apparent lack of foundation design training.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: An engineer is retained for work outside his apparent field of training and expertise
  • terminationConditions: The engineer's competence for the specific work is established or the engineer is replaced by a qualified engineer
  • obligationActivation: Obligation to perform services only in areas of competence
  • actionConstraints: Competence boundary constraint on undertaking the footing design
changed
CompetenceGapState
rdfs:subClassOf States
New C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
An epistemic condition in which a professional holds reservations concerning the competence of another professional to perform specific retained work, after being unable to establish that the other professional has the training the work requires.
Properties
Text References:
"Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings"
Confidence: 0.88
State Category: epistemic
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: A professional is unable to establish that another professional has the training required for the retained work
Termination Conditions: The other professional's competence for the work is established or refuted
Obligation Activation: Obligation to report concerns about competence to the retaining party
Principle Transformation: The public safety and competence principles become a concrete duty of this professional to act on his reservations by raising them with the retaining contractor.
[facts] "Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the ..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings
  • stateCategory content: epistemic
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The public safety and competence principles become a concrete duty of this professional to act on his reservations by raising them with the retaining contractor.
  • confidence assessment: 0.88
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: A professional is unable to establish that another professional has the training required for the retained work
  • terminationConditions: The other professional's competence for the work is established or refuted
  • obligationActivation: Obligation to report concerns about competence to the retaining party
changed
SelectiveReportingState
rdfs:subClassOf States
New C110
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A disclosure condition in which a professional's concerns about another professional's competence to perform specific work have been reported to the retaining party, so the concern is now disclosed rather than withheld, here Engineer A reporting his concerns about Engineer B to the contractor.
Properties
Text References:
"reports his concerns to the contractor"
Confidence: 0.85
State Category: disclosure
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: A professional reports his competence concerns about another professional to the retaining party
Termination Conditions: The retaining party resolves or acts upon the reported concern
Principle Transformation: The disclosure principle is discharged in part by placing the competence concern before the contractor, the party who retained the engineer in question.
[facts] "Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings and reports his concerns to the contractor."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: reports his concerns to the contractor
  • stateCategory content: disclosure
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The disclosure principle is discharged in part by placing the competence concern before the contractor, the party who retained the engineer in question.
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: A professional reports his competence concerns about another professional to the retaining party
  • terminationConditions: The retaining party resolves or acts upon the reported concern
States Individuals
3
changed
Linked
Competence Gap State
C110
Text References:
"Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering."
"Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design"
Confidence: 0.88
State Class: Competence Gap State
Subject: Engineer B
Active Period: From Engineer B's retention to design the structural footings, ongoing during construction
Triggering Event: The construction contractor separately retains Engineer B to design structural footings as part of the facility
Terminated By: Not stated in the case, would end if Engineer B's competence in foundation design were established or the footing design were reassigned
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer B
  • Construction contractor
  • Engineer A
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering. Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design"
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer B's degree and background is in chemical engineering.; Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design
  • stateClass content: Competence Gap State
  • subject content: Engineer B
  • activePeriod content: From Engineer B's retention to design the structural footings, ongoing during construction
  • triggeringEvent content: The construction contractor separately retains Engineer B to design structural footings as part of the facility
  • terminatedBy content: Not stated in the case, would end if Engineer B's competence in foundation design were established or the footing design were reassigned
  • affectedParties content: Engineer B; Construction contractor; Engineer A
  • confidence assessment: 0.88
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high
changed
New C110
Text References:
"Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings"
Confidence: 0.9
State Class: Competence Doubt State
Subject: Engineer A
Active Period: From Engineer A's inability to establish Engineer B's training, continuing while the doubt is unresolved
Triggering Event: Engineer A is unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design
Terminated By: Not stated in the case, would end if Engineer B's qualifications in foundation design were established or refuted
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • Engineer B
  • Construction contractor
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Engineer A has been unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design and Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the ..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings
  • stateClass content: Competence Doubt State
  • subject content: Engineer A
  • activePeriod content: From Engineer A's inability to establish Engineer B's training, continuing while the doubt is unresolved
  • triggeringEvent content: Engineer A is unable to establish that Engineer B has any apparent subsequent training in foundation design
  • terminatedBy content: Not stated in the case, would end if Engineer B's qualifications in foundation design were established or refuted
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; Engineer B; Construction contractor
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high
changed
Concerns Reported To Contractor
SelectiveReportingState
New C110
Text References:
"reports his concerns to the contractor"
Confidence: 0.9
State Class: Concern Reported State
Subject: Engineer A
Active Period: From Engineer A's report of his concerns to the contractor onward
Triggering Event: Engineer A reports his concerns about Engineer B's competence to the contractor
Terminated By: Not stated in the case, would end when the contractor resolves or acts upon the reported concern
Affected Parties:
  • Construction contractor
  • Engineer B
  • Engineer A
Urgency Level: medium
[facts] "Engineer A has reservations concerning the competence of Engineer B to design the structural footings and reports his concerns to the contractor."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: reports his concerns to the contractor
  • stateClass content: Concern Reported State
  • subject content: Engineer A
  • activePeriod content: From Engineer A's report of his concerns to the contractor onward
  • triggeringEvent content: Engineer A reports his concerns about Engineer B's competence to the contractor
  • terminatedBy content: Not stated in the case, would end when the contractor resolves or acts upon the reported concern
  • affectedParties content: Construction contractor; Engineer B; Engineer A
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
  • urgencyLevel assessment: medium

Rs Resources

No new resources were extracted for this section.

The extraction did not find any resources to add. This typically means the case text doesn't contain relevant resources for this section, or extraction hasn't been run yet.

Pass 1: Contextual Framework - Facts
Review extracted entities, then continue to the next step
Continue to Discussion Review
Case texts: National Society of Professional Engineers, Board of Ethical Review.

NOTE: The NSPE Board of Ethical Review considers ethical cases involving either real or hypothetical matters submitted to it from NSPE members, other engineers, public officials, and members of the public. The BER reviews each case in the context of the NSPE Code of Ethics and earlier BER opinions. The facts contained in each case do not necessarily represent all of the pertinent facts submitted to or reviewed by the BER and shall not be considered a direct evaluation of any real matter that may have been submitted.

Each opinion is intended as guidance to individual practicing engineers, students, and the public. In regard to the question of application of the NSPE Code of Ethics to engineering organizations (e.g., corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, government agencies, and university engineering departments), the specific business form or type should not negate nor detract from the conformance of individuals to the Code. The NSPE Code deals with professional services, which must be performed by real persons. Real persons in turn establish and implement policies within business structures.

This opinion is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It may be reprinted without further permission, provided that this statement is included before or after the text of the case and appropriate attribution is provided to the National Society of Professional Engineers' Board of Ethical Review.

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