It is important to develop the moral skills needed to respond well to ethical problems. There is rarely an absolutely correct solution or response to a problem. Even if there is no absolutely correct answer, some answers are better than others. There may be several solutions to one problem. In these cases, judgment and experience must come into play. "As with law and medicine, engineering is a learned profession. As a profession, engineering constantly involves the expert judgment and discretion in the performance of services. Engineers are expected to use their education, training, and experience in a manner that comports with the public health and safety" (Schwartz 1). Being a learned profession, engineering ethics are taught in the classroom to prepare students who lack practical experience to handle situations in the industrial world where ethical decisions have real consequences (Stephan 3). .
Judgment is usually a significant part of the engineer's decision-making process. "The engineering effort is in knowing what to calculate, and how to model the real world, so that the solution, the real structure, actually performs the way the engineer wants it to. Even the best calculations only substantiate, but do not substitute for the judgment of the structural engineer" (Kardon 5). Codes of ethics set down by regulatory agencies provide for basic rules of conduct that an engineer must follow. They provide guidelines that assist engineers in various situations. "Except in the most basic circumstances, codes of ethics do not provide answers or solutions to ethical dilemmas faced by engineers" (Schwartz 2). .
Ethical engineering skills are developed from instances of "cases" which occurred over time. Different liability cases and their ultimate outcome have been the basis for educating engineers. Because engineering requires good and reliable judgment, experience is the best educator.