Ethics For IT Professionals and IT Users

Ethics for IT Professionals and IT Users
Objectives
1. Identify the key characteristics that distinguish a professional from other kinds of
workers.
2. Understand various professional relationships and associated key ethical issues.
3. Discuss how codes of ethics, professional organizations, and certifications and licensing
affect the ethical behavior of IT professionals.
4. Describe career opportunities available in various segments of the computer industry.
5. Identify the key principles of codes of ethics that provide guidance for IT professionals.
6. Identify the common ethical issues that face IT users.
7. Discuss approaches for supporting the ethical practices of IT users.
IT Professionals
 Profession is a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long intensive academic
preparation.
 Some code regulations defines a professional as someone who meets one of these
criteria:
– Duties require advanced studies in a recognized field.
– One’s instruction, study, or work is original and creative.
– Job requires consistent exercise of discretion and judgment.
– Job is predominately intellectual and varied in character.
Information Technology Professionals

• Many workers in the IT industry are considered to be professionals. A partial list includes:
– Programmers/Analysts
– Software engineers
– Database administrators
– Network administrators
– Computer Operators
– Computer Salesperson
– Computer Scientist
– Computer Technician
– Technical Writer
– Graphic Designer/Illustrator
– Web Developer
– Consultant
– Computer Trainer /Educator
– Computer Security Specialist
– Computer Forensic Specialist
Computer Discipline Fields
What is computer information systems (CIS)?

 Programs that emphasize technical knowledge and skills
 Sometimes called management information systems (MIS) or management
information technology
What is computer science (CS)?
 Programs that stress theoretical side of programming and operating systems
 Also called software engineering
What is computer engineering (CE)?
 Teaches students how to design and develop the electrical components found in
computers and peripheral devices
 Required courses include application and systems programming, data and file
structures, networks, and operating systems
Professional Relationships
•IT professionals become involved in many different types of relationships.
– Professional-employer
– Professional-client
– Professional-supplier
– Professional-professional
– Professional-IT user
– Professional-society
1. IT Professional-Employers
• IT professionals must set the example and enforce the policies that promote
ethical use of IT resources.
• Software piracy is the act of illegally making copies of software.
• Trade secret is a piece of information that is generally not known to the public
that is held confidential.
• Whistle-blowing is an effort by an employee of a company to attract the
attention of others to a negligent, illegal, unethical, abusive, or dangerous act by
the company that threatens the public.
• The relationship between a professional and an employer requires ongoing
efforts by both parties to keep it strong.
• Professionals and employers discuss many job aspects before employment
begins.
2. IT Professional-Client
 In this relationship, the professional and client each agree to provide something of
value to each other.
 The IT professional usually provides a hardware or software product and the client
provides compensation.
3. IT Professional-Supplier
 IT professionals may have many different relationships with many software,
hardware, and service providers.
 The IT professional must be on guard to keep the relationships honest and business
related.
IT Professional-Professional
 Professionals feel a degree of loyalty to other members in the profession.
 Professionals help support each other publicly.
 Professionals owe one another an adherence to the profession’s code of conduct.
IT Professional-IT User
 An IT user is a person for whom the hardware or software is designed.
 Professionals have a duty to understand the needs and capabilities of users.
 Professionals have a responsibility to deliver their product or service on time and within
budget.
IT Professional-Society
 IT professionals develop and support systems that interact with the world around them.
 The public expects that the members of the IT profession will practice the profession in
a way that will not bring harm to society.
Codes of Ethics
 A professional code of ethics state the principles and core values essential to the work
of a particular occupational group.
 Code of conduct has two main parts:

1. Aspirations of the organization
2. Rules and/or principles
Benefits of a Code of Ethics

 Improves ethical decision-making.
 Promotes high standards of practice and ethical behavior.
 Enhances trust and respect from the general public.
 Provides an evaluation benchmark.
Codes of Conduct
 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
 Association of Information Technology
 Professionals (AITP)
 Computer Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-CS)
Certification & Licensing
 Certification is a process administered by a profession or organization that one

undertakes voluntarily to prove competency in a set of skills.
 Licensing is a process generally administered by the state that professionals must
undertake to prove that they can practice their profession in a way that is ethical and
safe to the public.
Issues Associated with Licensing IT Professionals

 No universally accepted core body of knowledge.
 It is unclear who should manage the content and administration of licensing exams.
 No body to do accreditation of professional education programs.
 No body to assess and assure competence of individual professionals.
Legal Overview
 Negligence is the omission to do something which a reasonable person would do, or
something which a prudent and reasonable person would not do.
 Duty of care refers to the obligation that we not cause any unreasonable harm to
others.
 Professional malpractice is when a professional breaches duty of care - commonly
referred to as liability.
IT Users
Common IT user ethical issues:
– Software piracy.
– Inappropriate use of computing resources.
– Inappropriate sharing of information.
Supporting Ethical Practices of IT Users

 Define and limit the appropriate use of IT resources.
 Establish guidelines for the use of company software.
 Structure information systems to protect data and information.
 Install and maintain a corporate firewall.
Summary
• A professional is someone:
– who requires advanced training and experience.
– who exercises discretion and judgment during work.
– whose work cannot be standardized.
• IT professionals have many different relationships that have different ethical issues.
• A professional code of ethics states the principles and core values essential to the work
of a particular occupational group.
Licensing and certification of IT

professionals would increase the reliability and effectiveness of information systems.
•IT users encounter many ethical

issues, including:
• Software piracy.
• Inappropriate use of IT resources.
• Inappropriate sharing of private and secret data.
• An IT usage policy helps users understand how to appropriately use IT resources.
Discussions
1. What are some of the benefits of joining a professional organization? What might be
some disadvantages?
2. What points can you present in favor of licensing of IT professionals? What points can
you present that argue against licensing?
3. Should all IT professionals either be licensed or certified? Why or why not?

Ethics For IT Professionals and IT Users

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics For IT Professionals and IT Users

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics For IT Professionals and IT Users

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics for IT Professionals and IT Users

Information Technology Professionals

What is computer information systems (CIS)?

What is computer engineering (CE)?

 Code of conduct has two main parts:

Benefits of a Code of Ethics

Certification & Licensing

 Certification is a process administered by a profession or organization that one

Issues Associated with Licensing IT Professionals

Supporting Ethical Practices of IT Users

Licensing and certification of IT

•IT users encounter many ethical

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.