CISB 412 Social and Professional Issues

1. CISB 412Social and Professional Issues Professional Ethics

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. Professional Associations Codes of Conduct 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.

9. Professional Associations Codes of Conduct 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.

10. Software Engineering as a profession • 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

11. 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

12. Software Engineering as a profession • 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

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

14. 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

15. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 1 – PUBLIC Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest

16. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice 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

17. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 3 – PRODUCT Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible

18. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 4 – JUDGEMENT Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgement

19. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 5 – MANAGEMENT Software engineers shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance

20. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 6 – PROFESSION Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation consistent with the public interest

21. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice PRINCIPLE 7 – COLLEAGUES Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues

22. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice 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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Whistleblowing as Organizational Failure • Whistleblowing harms organization • Bad publicity • Ruined careers • Erodes team spirit • Whistleblowing harms whistleblower • Retaliation • Estrangement • Organizations should improve communication

29. Whistleblowing as Moral Duty • Richard DeGeorge’s questions for whistleblowing • Is serious harm to the public at stake? • Have you told your manager? • Have you tried every possible inside channel? • Do you have persuasive documented evidence? • 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

30. 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.

31. Questions?