Ch. 10 1

Epilogue

Ch. 10 2

Outline

• What will be the future of the field?• What is the impact of SE on

society?• What ethical issues are raised by

SE?

Ch. 10 3

Ground principles

• SE requires the application of engineering principles guided by informed management

• Principles must be rooted in sound theory

• Rigorous approaches must be combined with experimentation, intuition, and common sense

• No “silver bullets”

Ch. 10 4

Progress expected

• Increased specialization– specialization is a sign of maturity of a

discipline

• Component-based development• Standard domain-specific

architectures• Increased reuse• Distributed virtual teams

Ch. 10 5

Social responsibility• Software defects may cost lives or tremendous

business losses– we should try to prevent them– we should study them when they occur, to avoid

failures in the future

• Software creates new opportunities for increasing productivity and services, but also opportunities for criminal fraud and sabotage (e.g., viruses)

• Building reliable software is not only a technical goal; it has ethical and social implications for the serious professional

Ch. 10 6

Code of ethics

• The ACM and IEEE Computer Society have developed a “Software engineering code of ethics and professional practices”

• The “public interest” is central to the code, which emphasizes the professional’s obligation to the public at large – primary concern for the health,

safety, and welfare of the public

Ch. 10 7

Code of ethics principles1. Public

Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest

2. Client and EmployerSoftware engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest

3. ProductSoftware engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible

4. JudgmentSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment

Ch. 10 8

Code of ethics principles (cont.)

5. ManagementSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance

6. ProfessionSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession, consistent with the public interest

7. ColleaguesSoftware engineers shall be fair to, and supportive of, their colleagues

8. SelfSoftware engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession