Chapter 8- Professional Chapter 8- Professional EthicsEthics

Ethics for the Information AgeEthics for the Information Age

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Chapter OverviewChapter Overview

IntroductionIntroduction Is software engineering a profession?Is software engineering a profession?Software engineering code of ethicsSoftware engineering code of ethicsAnalysis of the codeAnalysis of the codeCase studiesCase studiesWhistleblowingWhistleblowing

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8.1 Introduction8.1 Introduction

Informally, profession a vocation requiring…Informally, profession a vocation requiring… High level of educationHigh level of education Practical experiencePractical experience

We pay professionals wellWe pay professionals well DoctorsDoctors LawyersLawyers

We trust professionals to…We trust professionals to… Correctly ascertain and treat problemsCorrectly ascertain and treat problems Take actions for the good of their clientsTake actions for the good of their clients

8.2 Are Computer Experts 8.2 Are Computer Experts Professionals?Professionals?

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Characteristics of a ProfessionCharacteristics of a Profession

Initial professional educationInitial professional education AccreditationAccreditation Skills developmentSkills development CertificationCertification LicensingLicensing Professional developmentProfessional development Code of ethicsCode of ethics Professional societyProfessional society

Attributes of a Mature Attributes of a Mature ProfessionProfession

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Certified Public AccountantsCertified Public AccountantsBachelor’s degreeBachelor’s degree

150+150+ semester hours semester hours24+24+ hours of accounting-related classes hours of accounting-related classes

Two years’ experience working under Two years’ experience working under supervision of a CPAsupervision of a CPA

CPA examCPA examTo retain certificationTo retain certification

Continuing educationContinuing educationFollow code of ethicsFollow code of ethics

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Computer-Related CareersComputer-Related Careers Certification and licensing not requiredCertification and licensing not required College degree not requiredCollege degree not required Apprenticeship not requiredApprenticeship not required Membership in professional society optionalMembership in professional society optional No specific requirements for continuing No specific requirements for continuing

educationeducation Most computer programmers, system Most computer programmers, system

analysts, etc. are part of teamsanalysts, etc. are part of teams Ability to harm public can be similar to Ability to harm public can be similar to

members of mature professionsmembers of mature professions

8.3 Software Engineering Code of 8.3 Software Engineering Code of EthicsEthics

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Preamble of CodePreamble of Code Software engineers Software engineers have opportunities to do have opportunities to do

good or do harmgood or do harm Software engineers Software engineers ought to be committed to ought to be committed to

doing gooddoing good Eight principlesEight principles identify key ethical identify key ethical

relationships and obligations within these relationships and obligations within these relationshiprelationship

Code should be seen as a whole, not a Code should be seen as a whole, not a collection of partscollection of parts

Concern for the public interest is paramountConcern for the public interest is paramount

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Eight Principles Identify Morally Eight Principles Identify Morally Responsible RelationshipsResponsible Relationships

PublicPublic Client and employerClient and employer ProductProduct JudgmentJudgment ManagementManagement ProfessionProfession ColleaguesColleagues SelfSelf

Act Consistently with Public Act Consistently with Public InterestInterest

1.011.01 “ “Accept full responsibility for own workAccept full responsibility for own work””

1.021.02 Balance competing interests Balance competing interests

1.031.03 Approve Approve software only if it is safesoftware only if it is safe

1.041.04 Disclose actual/potential dangers Disclose actual/potential dangers

1.051.05 “ “Cooperate in efforts to addressCooperate in efforts to address” public concerns” public concerns

1.061.06 “ “Be fair and avoid deceptionBe fair and avoid deception in all statements” in all statements”

1.071.07 Consider factors that diminish access to software Consider factors that diminish access to software

1.081.08 “Volunteer professional skills to good causes” “Volunteer professional skills to good causes”

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Clause 1.03Clause 1.03Approve Software Only If It Is Approve Software Only If It Is

SafeSafe

Act in Best Interest of Client, Act in Best Interest of Client, EmployerEmployer

2.012.01 Act within areas of competence Act within areas of competence

2.022.02 Don’t use software obtained illegallyDon’t use software obtained illegally

2.032.03 Only use property in authorized waysOnly use property in authorized ways

2.042.04 Ensure documents are approved Ensure documents are approved

2.052.05 Respect confidentialityRespect confidentiality

2.062.06 Promptly report problems with project Promptly report problems with project

2.072.07 Report issues of social concern Report issues of social concern

2.082.08 Refuse outside work detrimental to job Refuse outside work detrimental to job

2.092.09 Put employer’s/client’s interests first, unless overriding Put employer’s/client’s interests first, unless overriding moral concernmoral concern

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Clause 2.02Clause 2.02Don’t Use Software Obtained Don’t Use Software Obtained

IllegallyIllegally

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Ensure Products Meet Highest Ensure Products Meet Highest StandardsStandards

3.013.01 Aim for “ Aim for “high quality, acceptable cost and a reasonable high quality, acceptable cost and a reasonable scheduleschedule,” making trade-offs clear,” making trade-offs clear

3.023.02 “ “Ensure proper and achievable goalsEnsure proper and achievable goals””

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

3.043.04 Ensure you are qualified for proposed work Ensure you are qualified for proposed work

3.053.05 Use appropriate project methodologies Use appropriate project methodologies

3.063.06 Follow the most appropriate professional standards Follow the most appropriate professional standards

3.073.07 “ “Strive to fully understand the specificationsStrive to fully understand the specifications””

3.083.08 Ensure the specifications are correct and approved Ensure the specifications are correct and approved

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Clause 3.02Clause 3.02“Ensure Proper and Achievable “Ensure Proper and Achievable

Goals”Goals”

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Ensure Products Meet Highest Ensure Products Meet Highest StandardsStandards

3.09 3.09 ““Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, scheduling, personnel, quality and outcomesscheduling, personnel, quality and outcomes””

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

3.113.11 “ “Ensure adequate documentationEnsure adequate documentation””

3.123.12 Develop software and documents that respect privacy Develop software and documents that respect privacy of those affected by softwareof those affected by software

3.133.13 Use only accurate data appropriately acquired Use only accurate data appropriately acquired

3.143.14 Maintain data integrity Maintain data integrity

3.153.15 Use same standards for software maintenance as Use same standards for software maintenance as software developmentsoftware development

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Maintain Integrity in Maintain Integrity in Professional JudgmentProfessional Judgment

4.014.01 “Temper all technical judgments by the need to support “Temper all technical judgments by the need to support and maintain human values”and maintain human values”

4.024.02 Understand and agree with documents before Understand and agree with documents before endorsing themendorsing them

4.034.03 Remain objective when evaluating software or related Remain objective when evaluating software or related documentsdocuments

4.044.04 Do not engage in deceptive financial practicesDo not engage in deceptive financial practices

4.054.05 Disclose conflicts of interestDisclose conflicts of interest

4.064.06 Do not participate in decisions in which you, your Do not participate in decisions in which you, your employer, or your client has a potential conflict of interestemployer, or your client has a potential conflict of interest

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Promote Effective Project Promote Effective Project ManagementManagement

5.015.01 Ensure Ensure good project management proceduresgood project management procedures

5.025.02 Ensure Ensure software engineers know standardssoftware engineers know standards

5.035.03 Ensure Ensure software engineers know policies and software engineers know policies and procedures for protecting confidential informationprocedures for protecting confidential information

5.045.04 Take employees’ abilities into account before assigning Take employees’ abilities into account before assigning workwork

5.055.05 Ensure reasonable estimates are made Ensure reasonable estimates are made

5.065.06 Give full and accurate information to potential Give full and accurate information to potential employeesemployees

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Promote Effective Project Promote Effective Project ManagementManagement

5.075.07 Pay employees fairlyPay employees fairly

5.085.08 Do not Do not unjustly preventunjustly prevent a qualified person from taking a qualified person from taking a joba job

5.095.09 Work out fair intellectual property agreements Work out fair intellectual property agreements

5.105.10 Provide employees charged with misconduct due Provide employees charged with misconduct due processprocess

5.115.11 Do not ask someone to do anything violating the CodeDo not ask someone to do anything violating the Code

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

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Advance the ProfessionAdvance the Profession6.016.01 Help create an environment supporting Help create an environment supporting ethical conductethical conduct

6.026.02 “ “Promote public knowledgePromote public knowledge of software engineering” of software engineering”

6.036.03 Participate in professional activitiesParticipate in professional activities

6.046.04 Support others who are trying to follow this Code Support others who are trying to follow this Code

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

6.066.06 Obey all laws unless there is an overriding public Obey all laws unless there is an overriding public interestinterest

6.076.07 Do not deceive others regarding the characteristics of Do not deceive others regarding the characteristics of softwaresoftware

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Clause 6.01 Help Create An Clause 6.01 Help Create An Environment Supporting Ethical Environment Supporting Ethical

ConductConduct

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The Team is Responsible for the outcome.

Advance the ProfessionAdvance the Profession6.086.08 Take responsibility for finding, correcting, and reporting Take responsibility for finding, correcting, and reporting

errors in software and documentationerrors in software and documentation

6.096.09 Ensure others know you are committed to the Code and Ensure others know you are committed to the Code and what that meanswhat that means

6.10 6.10 Do not associate with businesses and organizations that Do not associate with businesses and organizations that are in conflict with Codeare in conflict with Code

6.116.11 Understand violating the Code is inconsistent with being Understand violating the Code is inconsistent with being a professionala professional

6.126.12 Share concerns about Code violations with the people Share concerns about Code violations with the people involvedinvolved

6.136.13 “Blow the whistle” when no alternative to reporting “Blow the whistle” when no alternative to reporting significant Code violationssignificant Code violations

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Be Fair to and Supportive of ColleaguesBe Fair to and Supportive of Colleagues

7.017.01 “Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code” “Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code”

7.027.02 “Assist colleagues “Assist colleagues in professional developmentin professional development””

7.037.03 Give others the creditGive others the credit they deserve they deserve

7.047.04 Be objective when reviewing the work of others Be objective when reviewing the work of others

7.057.05 Give colleagues a fair hearing Give colleagues a fair hearing

7.067.06 Help colleagues remain aware of work practices Help colleagues remain aware of work practices

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

7.087.08 Bring in experts for situations outside your own area of Bring in experts for situations outside your own area of competence.competence.

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Participate in Lifelong LearningParticipate in Lifelong Learning

8.018.01 Stay currentStay current with developments in field with developments in field

8.028.02 Improve ability to Improve ability to create high quality softwarecreate high quality software

8.038.03 Improve ability to produce Improve ability to produce high quality documentationhigh quality documentation

8.048.04 Improve understanding of software and documentation Improve understanding of software and documentation used in workused in work

8.058.05 Improve knowledge of relevant standards Improve knowledge of relevant standards

8.068.06 Improve knowledge of this Code and its application Improve knowledge of this Code and its application

8.078.07 Do not treat others unfairly because of prejudicesDo not treat others unfairly because of prejudices

8.088.08 Do not influence others to break the CodeDo not influence others to break the Code

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

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Clause 8.02 Improve Ability to Clause 8.02 Improve Ability to Create High Quality SoftwareCreate High Quality Software

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8.6 Whistleblowing8.6 Whistleblowing

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Overview of WhistleblowingOverview of Whistleblowing WhistleblowerWhistleblower

Tries to report harmful situation through authorized Tries to report harmful situation through authorized channelschannels

Rebuffed by organizationRebuffed by organization Makes disclosure through unauthorized channelsMakes disclosure through unauthorized channels

Whistleblowers punished for their actionsWhistleblowers punished for their actions Lose job or all chances of advancementLose job or all chances of advancement Financial and emotional hardshipFinancial and emotional hardship

False Claims ActFalse Claims Act Whistleblower Protection ActWhistleblower Protection Act

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Motives of WhistleblowersMotives of Whistleblowers

People become whistleblowers for People become whistleblowers for different reasonsdifferent reasons

Morality of action may depend on motivesMorality of action may depend on motivesGood motiveGood motive

Desire to help the publicDesire to help the publicQuestionable motivesQuestionable motives

RetaliationRetaliationAvoiding punishmentAvoiding punishment

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Corporate Response to Corporate Response to WhistleblowingWhistleblowing

Whistleblowers are disloyalWhistleblowers are disloyalWhistleblowing has many harmsWhistleblowing has many harms

Bad publicityBad publicityDisruption of organization’s social fabricDisruption of organization’s social fabricMakes it hard for people to work as teamMakes it hard for people to work as team

If company causes harm, public can use If company causes harm, public can use legal remedies to seek damageslegal remedies to seek damages

Critique: Overly legalistic view of public Critique: Overly legalistic view of public harm?harm?

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Whistleblowing as Organizational Whistleblowing as Organizational FailureFailure

Whistleblowing harms organizationWhistleblowing harms organization Bad publicityBad publicity Ruined careersRuined careers Erodes team spiritErodes team spirit

Whistleblowing harms whistleblowerWhistleblowing harms whistleblower RetaliationRetaliation EstrangementEstrangement

Organizations should improve communicationOrganizations should improve communication CritiqueCritique

Is this realistic?Is this realistic? Robert Spitzer: Organizations should return to using Robert Spitzer: Organizations should return to using

principle-based ethics in decision makingprinciple-based ethics in decision making

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© The New Yorker Collection 2003 Leo Cullum from cartoonbank.com. All rights reserved.

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Whistleblowing as Moral DutyWhistleblowing as Moral DutyRichard DeGeorge’s questions for whistleblowingRichard DeGeorge’s questions for whistleblowing

1.1. Is serious harm to the public at stake?Is serious harm to the public at stake?

2.2. Have you told your manager?Have you told your manager?

3.3. Have you tried every possible inside channel?Have you tried every possible inside channel?

4.4. Do you have persuasive documented evidence?Do you have persuasive documented evidence?

5.5. Are you sure whistleblowing will work?Are you sure whistleblowing will work?

Under what conditions must you blow the whistle?Under what conditions must you blow the whistle? DeGeorge: If all five conditions are metDeGeorge: If all five conditions are met Others: If conditions 1-3 are metOthers: If conditions 1-3 are met Still others: Whistleblowing is Still others: Whistleblowing is nevernever morally morally

requiredrequired

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Moral ResponsibilityMoral Responsibility Exclusive ResponsibilitiesExclusive Responsibilities

Role responsibilityRole responsibility Causal responsibilityCausal responsibility Legal responsibilityLegal responsibility

Moral responsibilityMoral responsibility Must be borne by peopleMust be borne by people Is not exclusiveIs not exclusive

Michael McFarland: A team should be held to Michael McFarland: A team should be held to a higher level of moral responsibility than any a higher level of moral responsibility than any of its membersof its members