michael j. quinn, ethics for the information age, addison
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction Michael J. Quinn, Ethics for the Information Age,
Addison Wesley Chapter 9 – Professional Ethics
Deborah Johnson, Computer Ethics (4th Edition), Pearson Chapter 7 – Professional Ethics in Computing
Donald Gotterbarn, Computer Practitioners: Professionals or Hired Guns ? http://csciwww.etsu.edu/gotterbarn/artlp1.htm
CPD Certification Service, What is CPD ? http://www.cpduk.co.uk/index.php/what-is-cpd
Hong Kong Computer Society http://www.hkcs.org.hk/
Australian Computer Society https://www.acs.org.au/
British Computer Society http://www.bcs.org/
Professions Australia defines a profession as:
A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as, and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge and exercise these skills in the interest of others. It is inherent in the definition of a profession that a code of ethics governs the activities of each profession. Such codes require behaviour and practice beyond the personal moral obligations of an individual. They define and demand high standards of behaviour in respect to the services provided to the public and in dealing with professional colleagues. Further, these codes are enforced by the profession and are acknowledged and accepted by the community.
4
Professions Australia defines a profession as:
A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as, and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge and exercise these skills in the interest of others. It is inherent in the definition of a profession that a code of ethics governs the activities of each profession. Such codes require behaviour and practice beyond the personal moral obligations of an individual. They define and demand high standards of behaviour in respect to the services provided to the public and in dealing with professional colleagues. Further, these codes are enforced by the profession and are acknowledged and accepted by the community.
5
Profession (informal) High level of education and high social status Practical experience Decisions have impact Being a person of above average income
The concept of organization of occupations into professions is a social mechanism for managing expertise and deploying it in ways that benefit society
We have expectations about how “a profession” will behave We expect professionals to act for public good A different approach to time commitments and to their personal lives
Often carry with them special rights and privileges as well as special responsibilities
Some are even so special that they are exceptions to ordinary morality – the phrase “strongly differentiated” was coined to refer these special classes
6
Professions are typically associated with a set of distinct characteristics: Mastery of an esoteric body of knowledge, usually acquired through higher education
Members of professions typically have a good deal of autonomy in their work
Monopolistic practices by the profession, i.e., there is some control in entry to the profession
Served an important social function
Professional societies or formal organizations Promoting welfare of the profession Controls admission to the profession and sets standards Accreditation of educational institutions Licensing procedures (recognized by govt.)
Having a code of ethics and/or professional conduct and/or professional practice
7
The range of those who are called computer professionals is extremely broad In terms of the six characteristics
Computer professionals have mastered an esoteric body of knowledge Do we have a distinct body of knowledge?
Do computer professional have high degrees of autonomy? Computing is not a strongly differentiated profession
No single organization governing the profession of computing No single code of ethics binding all computer professionals Computing is an activity which supports social institutions which in turn are aimed at
fulfilling a variety of social functions
8
If we think of differentiating professions and non-professions on a continuum, computing seems to be somewhere in the middle
Computing does not appear to be a 'profession' in the strictest sense, the way law and medicine are professions
The vast majority of people who hold computer-related jobs do not belong to either of computing’s professional societies
There is no registration/licensing process that links to the ability to practice in the industry
Majority of computer practitioners do not consider themselves as being a part of a profession, or recognize computing as a profession
9
10
Carl Babbage – an experienced systems designer Acme – develops and sells hardware and software, general purpose or custom-made For two years, he worked on general purpose software. A year ago, he was reassigned to work on a military project
design a system that monitor radar signals and launch missiles in response to these signals
A challenging project but Carl initially had some reluctance He knew that if he did not take it, someone else would
11 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Now, close to completion, but Carl feels uncomfortable about the adequacy of the system
Can the system differentiate between a small aircraft and a missile ??
Carl documents his concerns carefully Pinpoints to the design weakness and locates specific modules that could be revised Estimates that it needs extra 6 months for the improvement
Carl reports his worries to project director, but the director dismissed these concerns quickly
Already behind schedule and has exceeded the budget Proposes as “Future Enhancement” in a year later (on the condition that Acme get the
bid for 2nd phase development)
Carl feels that he ought to do something. What should Carl do ??
12
Leikessa Jones has her own consulting business is a CS graduate with extensive working experience
She is designing a DB for the personnel office of a medium-sized company that manufactures toys In the design process, the client is actively involved – CEO, Director of IT, Director of Personnel She has presented several options to the client about the security design
All of Leikessa’s options included several security features, all of which she thinks are necessary in a system that includes sensitive personal information.
The client has decided to opt for the least secure method as the system is already cost more than was planned
13 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Leikessa feels that with weak security, those sensitive data could be compromised She has tried to explain that to her client but they are willing to accept little security because the system will cost more than the client expected Leikessa objects and explains to the client that the information that will be stored in the system is extremely sensitive However, the company does not accept her objection and are willing to accept little security What should Leikessa do??
14
Regent is a private consultant Regent is currently working for a small private hospital
upgrading the patient records and accounting systems
Regent is responsible for screening all proposals, makes recommendation on picking a system Regent examined all proposals carefully and concluded that Tri-Star Systems was the best alternative and explained his reasons What Regent failed to mention was that he is a major stockholder in Tri-Star Systems, but he has placed his stock into a trust when he started his consulting firm.
15 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Although he does not have control over the buying and selling of the stocks in the trust, he does know that a considerable portion of his trust consists of Tri-Star stock. Was Regent's behavior unethical?
16
You should find that usually computer professionals function in a highly complex context
Conflicting Loyalties: Carl – the employer-to-employee relationship If a computer professional feels that a project they are working on is unsafe, do they have a
moral responsibility to speak out against it, even if it may jeopardize their employment? System Security:
Leikessa – the client-to-professional relationship If a computer professional contracted to build a low-security system, should they do so even if
they feel the security level is not adequate? Conflict Of Interest:
Regent – the client-to-professional relationship Should a consultant make it clear to clients if they have ties to any software companies they
recommend?
17
When doing ethical analysis, we should take the social context in consideration
Take into the account the context in which each person is acting We must consider what it means to act in a professional or occupational role
Professional ethics The professionals unique understanding of professional situations and how to deal with
them places a set of ethical obligations on them. These obligations are sometimes referred to as professional ethics.
18
For being a profession the fact that a group has its own code of ethics suggests that the group views itself as
constituting a profession and that it wishes to be viewed in this way before the public
A statement from the profession to the public as to what to expect from its members
Embodying the collective wisdom of members of the profession The code expresses both the experience of many members and the consensus of many
members
19
Codes of ethics are primarily aspirational giving the vision, objectives, and mission of the profession
Codes of conduct describe professional attitudes and some professional behavior
Codes of practice Are very specific and tied closely to the best current practice of the profession e.g., Guides to Good Nursing Practice – End-of-life Care, Infection Control, Physical
Restraint, . . .
20
At the simplest level a code of ethics is a statement of the obligations of individual professional in the conduct of their profession
Deterrence and Discipline Members must adhere to the code no matter what their employment context
Contributing To The Profession's Public Image – shows moral commitment Promote public trust
Support, Inspiration and Guidance A professional who finds herself in a tight spot might look to the code to help figure out what
to do
Education and Mutual Understanding Establishes and expresses moral values of the profession and establishes standards for the non-
professional
21
Australian Computer Society – Code of Professional Conduct The Code identifies six core ethical values and the associated requirements for
professional conduct. The six core ethical values are:
1. The Primacy of the Public Interest
2. The Enhancement of Quality of Life
3. Honesty
4. Competence
6. Professionalism
In a situation of conflict between the values, The Primacy of the Public Interest takes precedence over the other values.
22
The Primacy of the Public Interest The public interest takes precedence over personal, private and sectional
interests, and any conflicts should be resolved in favor of the public interest. The public interest is taken to include matters of public health, safety and the environment.
The Enhancement of Quality of Life ICT has had a significant impact (both beneficial and negative effects) on our
society and way of life. An ethical approach to your work will help to recognise and minimise these adverse effects. You should promote equal access to the benefits of ICT by all members of society.
Honesty Do not breach public trust in the profession or the specific trust of your
stakeholders. Observance of utmost honesty and integrity must underlie all your professional decisions and actions.
23
Competence Accept only such work as you believe you are competent to perform, and do not
hesitate to obtain additional expertise from appropriately qualified individuals where advisable. You should always be aware of your own limitations and not knowingly imply that you have competence you do not possess.
Professional Development Keep yourself informed of such new technologies, practices and standards as
are relevant to your work. You should encourage your staff and colleagues to do the same. Others will expect you to provide special skills and advice; and in order to do so, you must keep your knowledge up-to-date.
Professionalism It is imperative that members of the Society maintain professional standards that
improve and enhance the industry's image, especially in the workplace.
24
Usually, codes are restricted to general and vague wording as one cannot foresee the full range of moral problems
Different entries in the code may be interpreted as conflicting
Codes cannot serve as the final moral authority for professional conduct
The proliferation of codes can lead to a feeling amongst the engineering community that none of the codes is particularly "right" and that ethical conduct is really "relative"
25
26
Global competition has never been more intense, clients are more demanding, and technology offers new ways of working
Professionalism relies increasingly on an ability to respond quickly to changes
Such as technological advancement and changing in market conditions, client requirements and government policies
Demand new knowledge, new skills and commitment to lifelong professional learning
Embrace the concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) What is your view about CPD? Ask yourself what do you mean by CPD
27
Continuing Professional Development “The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skill,
and the development of personal qualities necessary for the education of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner's working life.”
CPD covers matters of direct technical relevance as well as broader studies also of importance to the professionals in the furtherance of their careers
CPD is of value to the profession, to the organization, to industry and to society
28
In essence CPD is simply part of good professional practice It ensures practitioners continue to be competent in a profession
Having well-planned CPD is important to a profession as it safeguards the public, the employer, the professional and the professional’s career
It provides reasonable assurance to the society that the service has been carried out professionally – Quality management
Competitiveness – for the employers and companies, this is important for the organization survival
It ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to date, and be more aware of the changing trends and directions in your profession
Standards – Be aware of the latest developments and best practices Enables you to plan and achieve your career goals as well as to enhance your employability
29
Usually requires a minimum amount of CPD hours per year Example: Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Certified Professionals (CP) must complete 30 CPD hours per year; Certified Technologists (CT) must complete and report 20 CPD hours each year.
CPD hours would be recognized or endorsed by the professional association Example: ACS
Certified ACS members must be able to demonstrate their commitment to professional development through written evidence of their CPD activities.
Failure of achieving the minimum amount of CPD hours might be resulted with a downgrade or suspend of the membership, that depends on the professional association’s rules and regulations
Example: ACS Certificants who fail to comply with the ACS Professional Development requirements will have
their CT or CP credential revoked and will no longer be allowed to present themselves as a CT or CP
30
CPD Activities might be organized by the professional association itself or programmes of other associations they recognized
Examples: Formal study – (E-learning) Courses with a formal qualification awarded Learning activities – Undertaking structured trainings / workshops, attending
conferences / seminars Self-directed learning – Reading journals / books/ blogs, reviewing online resources Authorship of technical / research papers Mentoring to school students Service contribution to the community and/or ICT profession
31
Deborah Johnson, Computer Ethics (4th Edition), Pearson Chapter 7 – Professional Ethics in Computing
Donald Gotterbarn, Computer Practitioners: Professionals or Hired Guns ? http://csciwww.etsu.edu/gotterbarn/artlp1.htm
CPD Certification Service, What is CPD ? http://www.cpduk.co.uk/index.php/what-is-cpd
Hong Kong Computer Society http://www.hkcs.org.hk/
Australian Computer Society https://www.acs.org.au/
British Computer Society http://www.bcs.org/
Professions Australia defines a profession as:
A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as, and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge and exercise these skills in the interest of others. It is inherent in the definition of a profession that a code of ethics governs the activities of each profession. Such codes require behaviour and practice beyond the personal moral obligations of an individual. They define and demand high standards of behaviour in respect to the services provided to the public and in dealing with professional colleagues. Further, these codes are enforced by the profession and are acknowledged and accepted by the community.
4
Professions Australia defines a profession as:
A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as, and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge and exercise these skills in the interest of others. It is inherent in the definition of a profession that a code of ethics governs the activities of each profession. Such codes require behaviour and practice beyond the personal moral obligations of an individual. They define and demand high standards of behaviour in respect to the services provided to the public and in dealing with professional colleagues. Further, these codes are enforced by the profession and are acknowledged and accepted by the community.
5
Profession (informal) High level of education and high social status Practical experience Decisions have impact Being a person of above average income
The concept of organization of occupations into professions is a social mechanism for managing expertise and deploying it in ways that benefit society
We have expectations about how “a profession” will behave We expect professionals to act for public good A different approach to time commitments and to their personal lives
Often carry with them special rights and privileges as well as special responsibilities
Some are even so special that they are exceptions to ordinary morality – the phrase “strongly differentiated” was coined to refer these special classes
6
Professions are typically associated with a set of distinct characteristics: Mastery of an esoteric body of knowledge, usually acquired through higher education
Members of professions typically have a good deal of autonomy in their work
Monopolistic practices by the profession, i.e., there is some control in entry to the profession
Served an important social function
Professional societies or formal organizations Promoting welfare of the profession Controls admission to the profession and sets standards Accreditation of educational institutions Licensing procedures (recognized by govt.)
Having a code of ethics and/or professional conduct and/or professional practice
7
The range of those who are called computer professionals is extremely broad In terms of the six characteristics
Computer professionals have mastered an esoteric body of knowledge Do we have a distinct body of knowledge?
Do computer professional have high degrees of autonomy? Computing is not a strongly differentiated profession
No single organization governing the profession of computing No single code of ethics binding all computer professionals Computing is an activity which supports social institutions which in turn are aimed at
fulfilling a variety of social functions
8
If we think of differentiating professions and non-professions on a continuum, computing seems to be somewhere in the middle
Computing does not appear to be a 'profession' in the strictest sense, the way law and medicine are professions
The vast majority of people who hold computer-related jobs do not belong to either of computing’s professional societies
There is no registration/licensing process that links to the ability to practice in the industry
Majority of computer practitioners do not consider themselves as being a part of a profession, or recognize computing as a profession
9
10
Carl Babbage – an experienced systems designer Acme – develops and sells hardware and software, general purpose or custom-made For two years, he worked on general purpose software. A year ago, he was reassigned to work on a military project
design a system that monitor radar signals and launch missiles in response to these signals
A challenging project but Carl initially had some reluctance He knew that if he did not take it, someone else would
11 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Now, close to completion, but Carl feels uncomfortable about the adequacy of the system
Can the system differentiate between a small aircraft and a missile ??
Carl documents his concerns carefully Pinpoints to the design weakness and locates specific modules that could be revised Estimates that it needs extra 6 months for the improvement
Carl reports his worries to project director, but the director dismissed these concerns quickly
Already behind schedule and has exceeded the budget Proposes as “Future Enhancement” in a year later (on the condition that Acme get the
bid for 2nd phase development)
Carl feels that he ought to do something. What should Carl do ??
12
Leikessa Jones has her own consulting business is a CS graduate with extensive working experience
She is designing a DB for the personnel office of a medium-sized company that manufactures toys In the design process, the client is actively involved – CEO, Director of IT, Director of Personnel She has presented several options to the client about the security design
All of Leikessa’s options included several security features, all of which she thinks are necessary in a system that includes sensitive personal information.
The client has decided to opt for the least secure method as the system is already cost more than was planned
13 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Leikessa feels that with weak security, those sensitive data could be compromised She has tried to explain that to her client but they are willing to accept little security because the system will cost more than the client expected Leikessa objects and explains to the client that the information that will be stored in the system is extremely sensitive However, the company does not accept her objection and are willing to accept little security What should Leikessa do??
14
Regent is a private consultant Regent is currently working for a small private hospital
upgrading the patient records and accounting systems
Regent is responsible for screening all proposals, makes recommendation on picking a system Regent examined all proposals carefully and concluded that Tri-Star Systems was the best alternative and explained his reasons What Regent failed to mention was that he is a major stockholder in Tri-Star Systems, but he has placed his stock into a trust when he started his consulting firm.
15 Source: Computer Ethics 4th Edition by Deborah G. Johnson
Although he does not have control over the buying and selling of the stocks in the trust, he does know that a considerable portion of his trust consists of Tri-Star stock. Was Regent's behavior unethical?
16
You should find that usually computer professionals function in a highly complex context
Conflicting Loyalties: Carl – the employer-to-employee relationship If a computer professional feels that a project they are working on is unsafe, do they have a
moral responsibility to speak out against it, even if it may jeopardize their employment? System Security:
Leikessa – the client-to-professional relationship If a computer professional contracted to build a low-security system, should they do so even if
they feel the security level is not adequate? Conflict Of Interest:
Regent – the client-to-professional relationship Should a consultant make it clear to clients if they have ties to any software companies they
recommend?
17
When doing ethical analysis, we should take the social context in consideration
Take into the account the context in which each person is acting We must consider what it means to act in a professional or occupational role
Professional ethics The professionals unique understanding of professional situations and how to deal with
them places a set of ethical obligations on them. These obligations are sometimes referred to as professional ethics.
18
For being a profession the fact that a group has its own code of ethics suggests that the group views itself as
constituting a profession and that it wishes to be viewed in this way before the public
A statement from the profession to the public as to what to expect from its members
Embodying the collective wisdom of members of the profession The code expresses both the experience of many members and the consensus of many
members
19
Codes of ethics are primarily aspirational giving the vision, objectives, and mission of the profession
Codes of conduct describe professional attitudes and some professional behavior
Codes of practice Are very specific and tied closely to the best current practice of the profession e.g., Guides to Good Nursing Practice – End-of-life Care, Infection Control, Physical
Restraint, . . .
20
At the simplest level a code of ethics is a statement of the obligations of individual professional in the conduct of their profession
Deterrence and Discipline Members must adhere to the code no matter what their employment context
Contributing To The Profession's Public Image – shows moral commitment Promote public trust
Support, Inspiration and Guidance A professional who finds herself in a tight spot might look to the code to help figure out what
to do
Education and Mutual Understanding Establishes and expresses moral values of the profession and establishes standards for the non-
professional
21
Australian Computer Society – Code of Professional Conduct The Code identifies six core ethical values and the associated requirements for
professional conduct. The six core ethical values are:
1. The Primacy of the Public Interest
2. The Enhancement of Quality of Life
3. Honesty
4. Competence
6. Professionalism
In a situation of conflict between the values, The Primacy of the Public Interest takes precedence over the other values.
22
The Primacy of the Public Interest The public interest takes precedence over personal, private and sectional
interests, and any conflicts should be resolved in favor of the public interest. The public interest is taken to include matters of public health, safety and the environment.
The Enhancement of Quality of Life ICT has had a significant impact (both beneficial and negative effects) on our
society and way of life. An ethical approach to your work will help to recognise and minimise these adverse effects. You should promote equal access to the benefits of ICT by all members of society.
Honesty Do not breach public trust in the profession or the specific trust of your
stakeholders. Observance of utmost honesty and integrity must underlie all your professional decisions and actions.
23
Competence Accept only such work as you believe you are competent to perform, and do not
hesitate to obtain additional expertise from appropriately qualified individuals where advisable. You should always be aware of your own limitations and not knowingly imply that you have competence you do not possess.
Professional Development Keep yourself informed of such new technologies, practices and standards as
are relevant to your work. You should encourage your staff and colleagues to do the same. Others will expect you to provide special skills and advice; and in order to do so, you must keep your knowledge up-to-date.
Professionalism It is imperative that members of the Society maintain professional standards that
improve and enhance the industry's image, especially in the workplace.
24
Usually, codes are restricted to general and vague wording as one cannot foresee the full range of moral problems
Different entries in the code may be interpreted as conflicting
Codes cannot serve as the final moral authority for professional conduct
The proliferation of codes can lead to a feeling amongst the engineering community that none of the codes is particularly "right" and that ethical conduct is really "relative"
25
26
Global competition has never been more intense, clients are more demanding, and technology offers new ways of working
Professionalism relies increasingly on an ability to respond quickly to changes
Such as technological advancement and changing in market conditions, client requirements and government policies
Demand new knowledge, new skills and commitment to lifelong professional learning
Embrace the concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) What is your view about CPD? Ask yourself what do you mean by CPD
27
Continuing Professional Development “The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skill,
and the development of personal qualities necessary for the education of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner's working life.”
CPD covers matters of direct technical relevance as well as broader studies also of importance to the professionals in the furtherance of their careers
CPD is of value to the profession, to the organization, to industry and to society
28
In essence CPD is simply part of good professional practice It ensures practitioners continue to be competent in a profession
Having well-planned CPD is important to a profession as it safeguards the public, the employer, the professional and the professional’s career
It provides reasonable assurance to the society that the service has been carried out professionally – Quality management
Competitiveness – for the employers and companies, this is important for the organization survival
It ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to date, and be more aware of the changing trends and directions in your profession
Standards – Be aware of the latest developments and best practices Enables you to plan and achieve your career goals as well as to enhance your employability
29
Usually requires a minimum amount of CPD hours per year Example: Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Certified Professionals (CP) must complete 30 CPD hours per year; Certified Technologists (CT) must complete and report 20 CPD hours each year.
CPD hours would be recognized or endorsed by the professional association Example: ACS
Certified ACS members must be able to demonstrate their commitment to professional development through written evidence of their CPD activities.
Failure of achieving the minimum amount of CPD hours might be resulted with a downgrade or suspend of the membership, that depends on the professional association’s rules and regulations
Example: ACS Certificants who fail to comply with the ACS Professional Development requirements will have
their CT or CP credential revoked and will no longer be allowed to present themselves as a CT or CP
30
CPD Activities might be organized by the professional association itself or programmes of other associations they recognized
Examples: Formal study – (E-learning) Courses with a formal qualification awarded Learning activities – Undertaking structured trainings / workshops, attending
conferences / seminars Self-directed learning – Reading journals / books/ blogs, reviewing online resources Authorship of technical / research papers Mentoring to school students Service contribution to the community and/or ICT profession
31