CISB 412 Social and Professional Issues

CISB 412 Social and Professional Issues

Professional Ethics

Reference• Materials used in this presentation are extracted mainly from

the following texts, unless stated otherwise.

Michael J. Quinn “Ethics for the Information Age”, 3rd edition. Pearson 2009

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this lesson you should be able to• Identify and describe the need for professional code

of ethics• Describe whistleblowing from the stance of

organization and moral• Apply the ethical principles based on the IT

professional code of conducts to establish morality of the action

Introduction

• A profession is a vocation that requires a high level of education and practical experience in the field

• In return for the trust they are given, professionals have a special obligation to ensure their actions are for the good of those who depend on them

• Moral choices made by professionals have a strong impact on the society

Professional Associations/Societies

• Professional society is an organization promoting the welfare of the profession

• Professionals need to gain trust from the public on the competence and integrity, an affiliation to a professional society helps– Professional societies establish code of ethics for practice

and also for moral decision makings in relation to the practice

– They support their members and can also ensure that professional standards are up held

Professional Associations/Societies

• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)• Australian Computer Society (ACS)• British Computer Society• Computer Society of India• International Programmers Guild• Singapore Computer Society (SCS)

Professional Associations Codes of Conduct

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)• Some examples:

– Avoid harm to others. – Be fair and take action not to discriminate.– Honor property rights.– Give proper credit for intellectual property. – Respect the privacy of others. – Honor confidentiality.


Australian Computer Society• Some examples:

– Priorities: I must place the interests of the community above those of personal or sectional interests.

– Professional Development: I must enhance my own professional development, and that of my colleagues, employees and students.

– Priorities: I must endeavour to preserve the integrity and security of the information of others

– IT Profession: I must not attempt to enhance my own reputation at the expense of another's reputation.


British Computer Society• Some examples

– In your professional role you shall have regard for the public health, safety and environment.

– If in doubt over the appropriate course of action to take in particular circumstances you should seek the counsel of a peer or colleague.

• Two largest organizations supporting the computing field are the IEEE computer society (IEEE-CS) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

• In 1993, IEEE-CS and ACM set up a joint steering committee to explore the establishment of software engineering as a profession

Software Engineering as a profession

Software engineers are those who contribute by direct participation or by teaching to the analysis, specification, design, development, certification, maintenance and testing of software systems


• Software engineering = a profession• Software engineers have opportunities to do

good or do harm• Software engineers ought to be committed to

doing good• Concern for the public interest is paramount


• In 1999 IEEE-CS and ACM established ‘The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice’

The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice

• The Code contains 8 principles• Related to the behaviour and decisions made

by professionals software engineers including:– Practitioners– Educators– Managers– Supervisors– Policymakers– Trainees/Students


PRINCIPLE 1 – PUBLIC

Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest


PRINCIPLE 2 – CLIENT AND EMPLOYER

Software engineers shall act in a manner that in the best interests of their clients and

employer, consistent with the public interest


PRINCIPLE 3 – PRODUCT

Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the

highest professional standards possible


PRINCIPLE 4 – JUDGEMENT

Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgement


PRINCIPLE 5 – MANAGEMENT

Software engineers shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the

management of software development and maintenance


PRINCIPLE 6 – PROFESSION

Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation consistent with the public

interest


PRINCIPLE 7 – COLLEAGUES

Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues


PRINCIPLE 8 – SELF

Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical

approach to the practice of the profession


Whistle Blowing

• What is whistle blowing?– It is when an employee decides to inform on

illegal and/or unethical practices in the office.– A whistleblower is a person who believes that his

or her organization is engaged in or willfully permits unethical, unlawful or otherwise reprehensible activities.

– Whistleblowers bring attention to the objectionable activity and attempt to effect change.

Whistle Blowing

– Whistleblowers generally report these actions internally and may ultimately resort to reporting the activities to external authorities or interested parties.

– Although some whistleblowers are praised for their actions, many face many forms of direct and organizational retribution.

Morton Thiokol/NASA• Challenger explosion• Roger Boisjoly and Morton Thiokol engineers

documented dangers of low-temperature launches• Morton Thiokol executives and NASA officials

overrode and hid concerns• Boisjoly shared information with Presidential

commission• Morton Thiokol retaliated

– Boisjoly took medical leave for stress, then quit– Found job as a consultant two years later

Hughes Aircraft

• Factory for military-grade hybrid chips• Some defective chips being approved• Ruth Goodearl reported incidents to upper management• Consequences for Goodearl :assed

– Fired– Unemployment– Bankruptcy– Divorce

• Goodearl sued Hughes Aircraft under False Claims Act and won

Motives of Whistleblowers

• People become whistleblowers for different reasons

• Morality of action may depend on motives• Good motive

– Desire to help the public

• Questionable motives– Retaliation– Avoiding punishment

Whistleblowing as Organizational Failure

• Whistleblowing harms organization– Bad publicity– Ruined careers– Erodes team spirit

• Whistleblowing harms whistleblower– Retaliation– Estrangement

• Organizations should improve communication

Whistleblowing as Moral Duty

• Richard DeGeorge’s questions for whistleblowing1. Is serious harm to the public at stake?2. Have you told your manager?3. Have you tried every possible inside channel?4. Do you have persuasive documented evidence?5. Are you sure whistleblowing will work?

• Under what conditions must you blow the whistle?– DeGeorge: If all five conditions are met– Others: If conditions 1-3 are met– Still others: Whistleblowing is never morally required

Whistle Blowing - Situational Factors

Other factors to consider :– Will the reporting result in a corrective action? – The current rank and position of the observer of the

misconduct. – The availability of options in dealing with the

misconduct (getting another job, written anonymous letters etc.)

– The amount of investments that the observer has in the company.

– The legal ramification that the observer has if he/she doesn't report the misconduct.

Questions?

Documents

CISB 412 Social and Professional Issues