Sece code of ethics

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ECS 3361: Social Issues and Ethics in ECS

Lecture 3a Professional Ethics

Chapter 9 Part 1

Credits:

Dr. Michael J. Quinn, Author of “Ethics for the information age

The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org

YouTube

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Today’s Learning Objectives

Characteristics of a professional

Professional Ethics

Conflict of interest

Definition

How to handle it

Software Engineering Code of Ethics

Eight principles

Several clauses under each principle

Warm up

Take few minutes to discuss these questions with the people around you

What do we mean by professional ethics?

What is conflict of interest?

What is the highest priority principle in professional ethics?

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What is a professional?

We trust professionals to

Correctly diagnose and treat problems

Take actions for the best mutual interest

Informally, a profession is a vocation requiring:

Education (special knowledge)

Practical experience

Full time occupation that pays well

Doctors

Lawyers

Engineers

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Characteristics of a Professional

Initial professional education

Accredited school/program

Skills development (experience)

Certification (Teacher, PMP, CPA)

Licensing (Lawyer, Medical doctor, PE)

Professional development

Keep up with technical knowledge in your field

Professional society

Code of ethics

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Certified Public Accountants

Bachelor’s degree

150+ semester hours

24+ hours of accounting-related classes

Skills development: Two years’ experience under supervision of a CPA

Certification: CPA Exam

Professional development

Continuing education

Follow Code of ethics

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Even if an occupation does not require

Certification and licensing

University degree

Membership in professional society

Specific continuing education

Ability to harm the public can be similar to members of mature professions.

Expected to follow a set of standards of behavior.

Professional Ethics

Professional Ethics refers to codes of ethics that every professional should follow.

Professionals have autonomy in the workplace.

They use their independent judgment in carrying out their professional responsibilities.

They must maintain a high level of technical competence

However, technical expertise without adherence to ethical guidelines is as much a threat to public welfare as is professional incompetence.

Engineers as professionals

Must perform under a standard of professional conduct described in codes of ethics.

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Conflict of interest

A Conflict Of Interest occurs when an individual or organization ought to be loyal to multiple individuals or organizations and an action can be in favor of one at the expense of the other.

Examples:

You own a drug company and you are a member of an FDA committee that approves drugs for public use.

Work for a company and do consulting for a supplier of that company

Conflict of interest (~3 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BgPoPllefg

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How to handle a potential conflict of interest?

Know your employer’s “conflict of interest policy”

Avoid the conflict, if possible

Recusal (not participate in decisions where there is a conflict of interest)

Disclose any potential conflict of interest and get consent of affected parties.

History of Codes of Ethics

1803 First code of professional ethics

(medical ethics by Thomas Percival)

1852 ASCE (Civil Engineering)

1880 ASME (Mechanical Engineering)

1884 AIEE (Electrical Engineering)

AIEE + IRE became IEEE in 1963.

Most Professional organizations have Codes of Ethics (SECE, PMI, IEEE, BMES, NSPE, …)

Who develops these codes of ethics?

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Software Engineering Code of Ethics (SECE)

Preamble of Code (purpose, intent)

Software engineers have opportunities to do good or do harm. Ought to be committed to doing good.

Eight principles identifying key constituents and obligations to them.

Code should be seen as guidelines for “accepted” professional conduct.

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Eight key constituents

The goal of a professional code of ethics is to ensure that the profession serves the goals of its constituents.

Following slides list some clauses under a higher level principle related to each constituent below.

Public

Client and employer

Product

Judgment

Management

Profession

Colleagues

Self

Principles and clauses may be applied to other than software

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Act Consistently with Public Interest

1.01 “Accept full responsibility for own work”(K)

1.02 Balance competing interests (U)

1.03 Approve software only if it is safe (U)

1.04 Disclose actual/potential dangers (K)

1.05 “Cooperate in efforts to address” public concerns

1.06 “Be fair and avoid deception in all statements” (K)

Public statements, advertising

1.08 “Volunteer professional skills to good causes”

Magic Jack wireless claim and contrast ratio example under documentation/advertising and deception.

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Act in Best Interest of Client, Employer

2.01 Act within areas of competence (K)

2.02 Don’t use software obtained illegally (K, RU,SC)

2.03 Only use property in authorized ways (K, SC)

2.04 Ensure documents are approved

2.05 Respect confidentiality

2.07 Report issues of social concern

2.09 Put employer’s/client’s interests first, unless

overriding moral concern

Internal vs. strictly private data

KS pixel example of self interest.

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Ensure Products Meet Highest Standards

3.01 Aim for “high quality, acceptable cost and a reasonable schedule,” making trade-offs clear (U)

3.03 Face up to “ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental” issues

3.06 Follow the most appropriate professional standards

3.08 Ensure the specifications are correct and approved

3.10 “Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents”

3.15 Use same standards for software maintenance as software development

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Maintain Integrity in Professional Judgment

4.01 “Temper all technical judgments by the need to support and maintain human values” (U, V)

4.03 Remain objective when evaluating software or related documents (K)

4.04 Do not engage in deceptive financial practices (bribery, kickback, double billing)

4.05 Disclose conflicts of interest (K)

disclosure example

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Promote Effective Project Management

5.01 Ensure good project management procedures

5.04 Take employees’ abilities into account before assigning work

5.06 Give full and accurate information to potential employees (K)

5.07 Pay employees fairly (K)

5.10 Provide employees charged with misconduct due process

5.12 “Do not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project”

Firing due process.

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Advance the Profession

6.01 Help create an environment supporting ethical conduct

6.03 Participate in professional activities

6.05 Do not promote self-interest at expense of profession, client, or employer

6.06 Obey all laws unless there is an overriding public interest (in and out of the workplace)

6.08 Take responsibility for finding, correcting, and reporting errors in software and documentation

6.12 Share concerns about Code violations with the people involved. “Blow the whistle” if needed.

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Be Fair to and Supportive of Colleagues

7.01 “Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code”

7.03 Give others the credit they deserve

7.05 Give colleagues a fair hearing

7.06 Help colleagues remain aware of work practices

7.07 Do not unfairly interfere with another’s career, but protect the public interest

7.08 Bring in experts for situations outside your own area of competence

(help and seek help).

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Participate in Lifelong Learning

8.01 Stay current with developments in field

8.04 Improve understanding of software and documentation used in work

8.05 Improve knowledge of relevant standards

8.06 Improve knowledge of this Code and its application

8.07 Do not treat others unfairly because of prejudices

8.08 Do not influence others to break the Code

8.09 “Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer”

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Analysis of Preamble

Code reflects principles drawn from multiple ethical theories

Should not take an overly legalistic view of the Code

It is not an algorithm, but guidelines of expected behavior

If Code doesn’t forbid something, that doesn’t mean it is ethical.

Judgment is required: Use ethical theories and codes of ethics

Creative problem solving may be needed.

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Top 5 SECE Fundamental Principles

Act Consistently with Public Interest

Act in Best Interest of Client, Employer

Be Fair to and Supportive of Colleagues

Maintain Integrity in Professional Judgment

Participate in Lifelong Learning

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Questions?

No lecture homework this week!