Transcript COMPUTING & ETHICS BSYS 3067

Professional Context
of ICT
INFO3020
The need for professionalism
Lecture 2
Introduction
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Why professional ethics
Characteristics of professions
Professional profiles
Is computing a profession?
Professional relationships
Conclusion
Why Professional Ethics
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The terms profession and professional are often
used to refer to strongly differentiated professions.
The role of computer professional is not strongly
differentiated.
You acquire powers and responsibilities by virtue
of being an employee of an organisation, not by
virtue of being a computer professional.
The efficacy of individual acting in employment
role is another factor have to be taken into account
in ethical analysis.
Characteristics of
Professions
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Mastery of an Esoteric body of knowledge
Autonomy
Formal organisation that controls admission to the
profession and sets standards for practice
Code of ethics
Fulfil important social function or are committed
to a social good
Is Computing a Profession?
Are Computer Professionals
“Professional”?
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Most computer professionals must master an
esoteric body of knowledge to do what they do.
Computer professional are not allowed to do or
required to do any thing that an ordinary person
cannot do.
There is no single organisation to which all
members of the profession must belong
ACM and BCS as well as others have codes
Computing supports a variety of social functions
but is not itself a social function.
Should software engineers
be licensed? What are the
advantages? The
drawbacks?
Professionalism
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Power of the Software Engineer
Work influences many lives
Responsibility to all society, organisation,
profession
Personal credibility
Avoid problems (lawsuits)
Enhance & promote knowledge
Self-interest (financial gain)
Professional relationships
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Employer – employee
– Contractual relationship fulfils the requirements
of the categorical imperative
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Client – professional
– Contractual
– Disparity of knowledge/expertise
Professional relationships
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Client – professional
– Agency – do what is requested
– Paternalism – all decision transferred to the
professional
– Fiduciary – client makes decisions on the basis
of information provided by the professional
Professional relationships
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Society – professional
– To a certain extent governed by law and a
“social contract”
– Right to practice on the basis that such practice
will serve society or as a minimum not harm it
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Professional – professional
– Adherence to standards
Professionalism
Professionalism is not just about
adhering to codes of practice,
rules and laws but also having
your individual ethical and moral
beliefs consistent with societal
expectations