Professional Ethics & Code of Ethics

Lecture 02
● Law: The system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as
regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of
penalties.

● Moral: the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as

regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of
penalties.

● Ethics: Ethics examines the rational justification for our moral judgments; it studies what
is morally right or wrong, just or unjust. In a broader sense, ethics reflects on human
beings and their interaction with nature and with other humans, on freedom, on
responsibility and on justice.
Code of Ethics

● A code of ethics sets out an organization's ethical guidelines and best practices to follow
for honesty, integrity, and professionalism.
● For members of an organization, violating the code of ethics can result in sanctions
including termination.
● The main types of codes of ethics include a compliance-based code of ethics, a
value-based code of ethics, and a code of ethics among professionals.
● A focus on climate change has become an integral part of companies' codes of ethics,
detailing their commitment to sustainability.
Cont.

● When making individual decisions, it is essential to align them with specific goals. Examples of such
goals in the context of computer science professionals include privacy, professional quality, fairness,
liability, confidentiality, software risk management, conflicts on the internet, and prevention of
unauthorized access to computer systems.
● Privacy Protection
○ Uphold individuals' right to privacy in all technological endeavors.
○ Implement robust measures to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access.
● Professional Quality
○ Strive for excellence in software development, ensuring products meet high standards of
performance, reliability, and usability.
○ Pursue continuous learning and professional development to enhance skills and stay abreast of
industry advancements.
Cont.

● Fairness in Computing
○ Foster an inclusive and unbiased computing environment, avoiding discrimination based on
race, gender, or any other factors.
○ Design and deploy algorithms that prioritize fairness and equity.
● Liability Awareness
○ Acknowledge and take responsibility for the consequences of technological solutions.
○ Communicate transparently about potential risks and work to mitigate them proactively.
● Confidentiality Commitment
○ Safeguard confidential information and respect the confidentiality agreements associated with
technological projects.
○ Prioritize the trust and confidentiality of users and stakeholders.
Cont.

● Software Risk Management

○ Identify and assess potential risks associated with software development and deployment.
○ Implement robust risk management strategies to minimize the impact of unforeseen issues.
● Addressing Conflicts on the Internet
○ Promote constructive and ethical behavior in online spaces.
○ Mitigate conflicts on the internet by encouraging respectful communication and understanding
diverse perspectives.
● Preventing Unauthorized Access
○ Develop and implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to computer systems.
○ Stay vigilant against potential cyber threats, adopting best practices in cybersecurity.
Difference between in Code of ethics & code of
conduct
Code of Ethics: Code of Conduct:

● Guiding Principles: Code of ethics outlines the ● Behavioral Expectations: Code of conduct
fundamental beliefs and values that specifies the expected behavior and actions of
individuals or professionals within a specific individuals within a particular organization or
field should uphold. profession.
● Morality and Values: Focuses on the moral ● Rules and Regulations: Focuses on specific
principles and values that guide rules, regulations, and standards of behavior
decision-making and behavior within a that individuals must adhere to in their
profession or organization. day-to-day activities.
● Broad and General: Generally broader and ● Specific and Detailed: Often more specific and
more overarching, providing a framework for detailed, providing clear guidelines for
ethical decision-making in various situations. acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
● Long-Term Guidance: Typically serves as a ● Immediate Application: Immediate and
long-term guide for professionals, practical application in governing daily
emphasizing the overall moral compass of the activities and interactions within the
profession. organization or profession.
IEEE Code of Ethics
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a globally recognized professional organization
dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
One essential aspect of IEEE's commitment to responsible and ethical technology development is
encapsulated in its Code of Ethics. This Code serves as a set of principles to guide IEEE members in their
professional conduct, ensuring that their work aligns with the highest ethical standards.
● Actions:
In terms of actions, ethical considerations manifest in two dimensions: one concerning the public, and
the other involving clients and employers.
● Public: Software Engineers are obligated to conduct themselves in a manner that serves the public
interest.
● Client and Employer: Software Engineers are expected to perform their duties in a way that
ensures satisfaction for both clients and employers.
Cont.

● Product: Software Engineers must guarantee that their products adhere to professional and
elevated quality standards.

● Hierarchy: The hierarchy within software development is determined by two factors—judgment

and management.

● Judgment: When performing their tasks, software engineers should exercise unbiased
judgment, free from the influence or pressure of any external parties, including political entities,
ensuring the best decisions are made based on merit alone.

● Management: Those responsible for the management of software engineering teams must
adopt an ethical approach in overseeing the development and maintenance processes,
emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in all aspects of software development.
Cont.

● Peers: Interactions with peers should be grounded in professionalism and collaboration.

Software Engineers are obligated to treat their colleagues and clients with fairness, ensuring
consistency in values both within the professional community and in dealings with the public. The
profession's conduct must reflect fairness and consistency in all interactions with clients.
● Self: Software Engineers commit to executing professional tasks while concurrently engaging in
ongoing learning and practice. This continuous commitment aims to cultivate an ethical approach
within the profession, promoting personal and collective growth.
Principles of IEEE Code of Ethics

● Act in public
● Act in interest of client and employer
● Produce quality product
● Maintain independent judgement
● Manage ethically
● Protect integrity of profession
● Support colleges
● Pursue lifelong learning
ACM Code of Ethics

General moral imperatives: “As an ACM member i will..”

● Contribute to society and human well being

● Avoid harm to others
● Be honest and trustworthy
● Be fair and take action not to discriminate
● Honor property rights including copyrights and patents
● Give proper credit for intellectual property
● Respect privacy of other
● Honor confidentiality
Cont.

Specific professional responsibilities: “As an ACM computing professional I will..”

● Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity in both the process and products of
professional work
● Acquire and maintain professional competence
● Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work
● Accept and provide appropriate professional review
● Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer system and their impacts, including
analysis of possible risks.
● Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities.
● Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences
● Access computing and communicating resources only when authorized to do.
Cont.
Organization leadership imperatives: “As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will…”

● Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational unit and encourage full

acceptance of those responsibilities.
● Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems that enhance the quality
of working life.
● Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization’s computing and
communication resources.
● Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a design have their needs clearly articulated
during assessment and design of requirements.
● Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and other affected by computing
systems.
Ethical Decision
- Ali is a database programmer working on a big
statistical project for his company. The company

Making: encourages sharing work, but Ali is stuck on a tough

problem. His manager, not realizing how complex the
issue is, insists on a quick solution within a few days.
- Remembering that a colleague shared their work's

Case 01 source listings and having an early version of

commercial software from another company, Ali
looks into them. After studying these programs, he
finds two sections of code that could be directly
used in his own project.
- He uses segments of code both from his coworker
and from commercial software.He does not tell
anyone or mention in documentation. How does
code of ethics help us to understand this case?
 ● Ayesha’s company hsa been hired by a client
to build a security system. Beacuse of cost
overruns, client has decided to opt for less
secure system.
Case 02 ● Ayesha belives information they will store is
extremely sensitive. With weak security
system, Employees on work station could
figure out how to access thisdata.
● Ayesha feels strongly that system should be
much more secure. She tries to explain the
risk.
● What should ayesha do? Should she refuse
to build system as they request?
 ● A contractor is determining requirements for
an employmeny agency. Client describes
what is needed when displaying applications
whose qualifications appear to match those
Case 03 for particular job.
● Client further states that names of white
applicants should be displayed ahead of
nonwhites. And name of male applicants
shold be displayed ahead of female
applicants.
 ● Software developnent company has just
produced a new software package. It
incorporates new tax, laws, and prepare both
individual and small business tax returns.
● The president of company knows that the
Case 04 program has a number of bugs. He also believes
the first firm to put this kind of software on the
market is likely to capture the largest market
share. Company widely advertises package.
● When program is shipped, it includes a
disclaimer of responsibility for erors resulting
from the use of program.
● Company expects it will receive a number of
complaints, queries andsuggestions for
modification. President says this is general
industry policy. But users filed incorrect tax
returns and were penalized.