PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES IN
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

CODE OF CONDUCT

1 Uzma Mahar
Spring 2025
National University of Computer & Emerging
Sciences-FAST, Islamabad Campus
NEED
 Software company writing the first stage of a
more efficient accounting system that will be
used by the government, which will save
taxpayers a considerable amount of money
every year.
 Work divided
 developing the reports
 internal processing
 user interface
 Manager agrees with the final system.
 However, once it is installed, UI is too hard for
the staff.
 Upper-level management does not want to
invest any more in it.
 Old, original, more expensive system is used.
2
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
 Codes of Ethics – Common Objectives:
 Different domains and groups of people formulate different
codes of ethics, but they all have among them the
following objectives:
 Disciplinary:
 By instilling discipline, the group or profession ensures
professionalism and integrity of its members.
 Advisory:
 The codes are usually a good source of tips to members and offer
advice and guidance in areas where there are fuzzy moral issues.
 Educational:
 Ethical codes are good educational tools for members of the
domain, especially the new ones who have to learn the do’s and
don’ts of the new profession. These codes are also a good source of
renewal for the older members needing to refresh and polish their
possibly waning morals.
 Inspirational:
 The codes should also carry subliminal messages to those using
them to inspire them to be “good.”
 Publicity:
3
 One way for professions to create a good clientele is to show that
they have a strong code of ethics and, therefore, their members are
committed to basic values and are responsible.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
 The Making of an Ethical Professional:
 Formal Education
 Licensing Authorities
 Formal or Legal Permission
 Testing the competence and set of rules to be followed
 Sanctioning / Re-calling the license and Validity and Renewal
 Professional Codes of Conduct
 Primary purpose – promote public image of the profession
 Areas addressed:
 Moral and legal standards, Professional–client relationship,

Client advocacy, Professional–public relationship, Sanction

mechanics
 Confidentiality, Assessment, Compliance, Competence
 Certified professional credentials for those professions that

use certification
 Applying Codes of Conduct: Enforcement, Reporting
of Grievances, Hearing Procedures, Sanctions, Appeals

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 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING CODE OF
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
(VERSION 5.2)

 Recommended by the IEEE-CS/ACM Joint Task

Force on Software Engineering Ethics and
Professional Practices.

 Jointly approved by the ACM and the IEEE-CS as

the standard for teaching and practicing
software engineering.

5
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
 Commitment:
 Software Engineers shall commit
themselves to making the analysis,
specification, design, development, testing
and maintenance of software a beneficial
and respected profession.
 In accordance with their commitment to
the health, safety and welfare of the
public, software engineers shall adhere to
the Eight Principles.
 “Public Interest” is central to the SE Code.
6
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
 Eight Principles:
1. PUBLIC:
 Software engineers shall act consistently with the
public interest.
2. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER:
 Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the
best interests of their client and employer, consistent
with the public interest.
3. PRODUCT:
 Software engineers shall ensure that their products
and related modifications meet the highest
professional standards possible.
4. JUDGMENT:
 Software engineers shall maintain integrity and
independence in their professional judgment.
7
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
 Eight Principles:
5. MANAGEMENT:
 Software engineering managers and leaders shall
subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to
the management of software development and
maintenance.
6. PROFESSION:
 Software engineers shall advance the integrity and
reputation of the profession consistent with the
public interest.
7. COLLEAGUES:
 Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of
their colleagues.
8. SELF:
 Software engineers shall participate in lifelong
learning regarding the practice of their profession
and shall promote an ethical approach to the
practice of the profession. 8
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. Public:
Software engineers shall act consistently with
the public interest.
In particular, software engineers shall, as
appropriate:
1.01. Accept full responsibility for their own work.

1.02. Moderate the interests of the software engineer, the

employer, the client and the users with the public
good.

1.03. Approve software only if they have a well-founded

belief that it is safe, meets specifications, passes
appropriate tests, and does not diminish quality of life,
diminish privacy or harm the environment. The
ultimate effect of the work should be to the public 9
good.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. Public:
1.04. Disclose to appropriate persons or authorities any actual or
potential danger to the user, the public, or the environment, that
they reasonably believe to be associated with software or related
documents.

1.05. Cooperate in efforts to address matters of grave public

concern caused by software, its installation, maintenance, support
or documentation.

1.06. Be fair and avoid deception in all statements, particularly

public ones, concerning software or related documents, methods
and tools.

1.07. Consider issues of physical disabilities, allocation of

resources, economic disadvantage and other factors that can
diminish access to the benefits of software.

1.08. Be encouraged to volunteer professional skills to good 10

causes and to contribute to public education concerning the
discipline.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
2. Client and Employer:
Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the
best interests of their client and employer, consistent
with the public interest.
In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:
2.01. Provide service in their areas of competence, being honest and
forthright about any limitations of their experience and
education.

2.02. Not knowingly use software that is obtained or retained either

illegally or unethically.

2.03. Use the property of a client or employer only in ways properly

authorized, and with the client's or employer's knowledge and
consent.

2.04. Ensure that any document upon which they rely has been 11
approved, when required, by someone authorized to approve it.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
2. Client and Employer:
2.05. Keep private any confidential information gained in their
professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent
with the public interest and consistent with the law.

2.06. Identify, document, collect evidence and report to the

client or the employer promptly if, in their opinion, a
project is likely to fail, to prove too expensive, to violate
intellectual property law, or otherwise to be problematic.

2.07. Identify, document, and report significant issues of social

concern, of which they are aware, in software or related
documents, to the employer or the client.

2.08. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they

perform for their primary employer.

2.09. Promote no interest adverse to their employer or client,

unless a higher ethical concern is being compromised; in
that case, inform the employer or another appropriate 12
authority of the ethical concern.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
3. Product:
Software engineers shall ensure that their products
and related modifications meet the highest
professional standards possible.
In particular, software engineers shall, as
appropriate:
3.01. Strive for high quality, acceptable cost, and a reasonable
schedule, ensuring significant tradeoffs are clear to and
accepted by the employer and the client, and are available
for consideration by the user and the public.
3.02. Ensure proper and achievable goals and objectives for
any project on which they work or propose.
3.03. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural,
legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
3.04. Ensure that they are qualified for any project on which 13
they work or propose to work, by an appropriate
combination of education, training, and experience.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
3. Product:
3.05. Ensure that an appropriate method is used for any project on
which they work or propose to work.

3.06. Work to follow professional standards, when available, that are

most appropriate for the task at hand, departing from these
only when ethically or technically justified.

3.07. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on

which they work.

3.08. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work

have been well documented, satisfy the users' requirements
and have the appropriate approvals.

3.09. Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, scheduling,

personnel, quality and outcomes on any project on which they
work or propose to work and provide an uncertainty 14
assessment of these estimates.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
3. Product:
3.10. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software
and related documents on which they work.
3.11. Ensure adequate documentation, including significant
problems discovered and solutions adopted, for any project on
which they work.
3.12. Work to develop software and related documents that respect
the privacy of those who will be affected by that software.
3.13. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and
lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
3.14. Maintain the integrity of data, being sensitive to outdated or
flawed occurrences.
3.15 Treat all forms of software maintenance with the same
professionalism as new development.
15
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
4. Judgment:
Software engineers shall maintain integrity and
independence in their professional judgment.
In particular, software engineers shall, as
appropriate:
4.01. Temper all technical judgments by the need to support
and maintain human values.

4.02 Only endorse documents either prepared under their

supervision or within their areas of competence and with
which they are in agreement.

4.03. Maintain professional objectivity with respect to any

software or related documents they are asked to evaluate.
16
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
4. Judgment:
4.04. Not engage in deceptive financial practices such as bribery,
double billing, or other improper financial practices.

4.05. Disclose to all concerned parties those conflicts of interest

that cannot reasonably be avoided or escaped.

4.06. Refuse to participate, as members or advisors, in a private,

governmental or professional body concerned with software related
issues, in which they, their employers or their clients have
undisclosed potential conflicts of interest.

17
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
5. Management:
Software engineering managers and leaders shall
subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to
the management of software development and
maintenance.
In particular, those managing or leading software
engineers shall, as appropriate:
5.01 Ensure good management for any project on which they
work, including effective procedures for promotion of quality
and reduction of risk.
5.02. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards
before being held to them.
5.03. Ensure that software engineers know the employer's
policies and procedures for protecting passwords, files and
information that is confidential to the employer or
confidential to others. 18
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
5. Management:
5.04. Assign work only after taking into account appropriate contributions
of education and experience tempered with a desire to further that
education and experience.
5.05. Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, scheduling,
personnel, quality and outcomes on any project on which they work
or propose to work, and provide an uncertainty assessment of these
estimates.
5.06. Attract potential software engineers only by full and accurate
description of the conditions of employment.
5.07. Offer fair and just remuneration.
5.08. Not unjustly prevent someone from taking a position for which that
person is suitably qualified.
5.09. Ensure that there is a fair agreement concerning ownership of any
software, processes, research, writing, or other intellectual property
to which a software engineer has contributed.
5.10. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an
employer's policy or of this Code.
5.11. Not ask a software engineer to do anything inconsistent with this 19
Code.
5.12. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
6. Profession:
Software engineers shall advance the integrity and
reputation of the profession consistent with
the public interest.
In particular, software engineers shall, as
appropriate:
6.01. Help develop an organizational environment favorable
to acting ethically.
6.02. Promote public knowledge of software engineering.
6.03. Extend software engineering knowledge by
appropriate participation in professional organizations,
meetings and publications.
6.04. Support, as members of a profession, other software
engineers striving to follow this Code.
6.05. Not promote their own interest at the expense of the
profession, client or employer. 20
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
6. Profession:
6.06. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional
circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the
public interest.

6.07. Be accurate in stating the characteristics of software on

which they work, avoiding not only false claims but also
claims that might reasonably be supposed to be
speculative, vacuous, deceptive, misleading, or doubtful.

6.08. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and

reporting errors in software and associated documents on
which they work.

6.09. Ensure that clients, employers, and supervisors know of

the software engineer's commitment to this Code of
ethics, and the subsequent ramifications of such
commitment. 21
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
6. Profession:
6.10. Avoid associations with businesses and
organizations which are in conflict with this code.

6.11. Recognize that violations of this Code are

inconsistent with being a professional software
engineer.

6.12. Express concerns to the people involved when

significant violations of this Code are detected unless
this is impossible, counter-productive, or dangerous.

6.13. Report significant violations of this Code to

appropriate authorities when it is clear that
consultation with people involved in these significant 22
violations is impossible, counter-productive or
dangerous.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
7. Colleagues:
Software engineers shall be fair to and
supportive of their colleagues.
In particular, software engineers shall, as
appropriate:
7.01. Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
7.02. Assist colleagues in professional development.
7.03. Credit fully the work of others and refrain from
taking undue credit.
7.04. Review the work of others in an objective, candid,
and properly-documented way.

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 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
7. Colleagues:
7.05. Give a fair hearing to the opinions, concerns, or
complaints of a colleague.
7.06. Assist colleagues in being fully aware of current
standard work practices including policies and
procedures for protecting passwords, files and other
confidential information, and security measures in
general.
7.07. Not unfairly intervene in the career of any
colleague; however, concern for the employer, the
client or public interest may compel software
engineers, in good faith, to question the
competence of a colleague.
24
7.08. In situations outside of their own areas of
competence, call upon the opinions of other
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
8. Self:
Software engineers shall participate in lifelong
learning regarding the practice of their
profession and shall promote an ethical
approach to the practice of the profession.
In particular, software engineers shall continually
endeavor to:
8.01. Further their knowledge of developments in the
analysis, specification, design, development,
maintenance and testing of software and related
documents, together with the management of the
development process.
8.02. Improve their ability to create safe, reliable, and
useful quality software at reasonable cost and 25
within a reasonable time.
 SE CODE OF ETHICS
& PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
8. Self:
8.03. Improve their ability to produce accurate, informative, and well-written
documentation.

8.04. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on

which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.

8.05. Improve their knowledge of relevant standards and the law governing
the software and related documents on which they work.

8.06 Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its
application to their work.

8.07 Not give unfair treatment to anyone because of any irrelevant

prejudices.

8.08. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of
this Code.
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8.09. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with
being a professional software engineer.
 ACM CODE OF ETHICS AND
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
27

Developed by the Task Force for the Revision

of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct.
 ACM CODE OF ETHICS &
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

 Contents / Coverage:
1. General Moral Imperatives
2. More Specific Professional Responsibilities
3. Organizational Leadership Imperatives
4. Compliance with the Code

28
 ACM CODE OF ETHICS &
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
1. General Moral Imperatives:
As an ACM member I will...
1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being.

1.2 Avoid harm to others.

1.3 Be honest and trustworthy.

1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate.

1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent.

1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property.

1.7 Respect the privacy of others.

1.8 Honor confidentiality. 29

 ACM CODE OF ETHICS &
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
2. More Specific Professional
Responsibilities:
As an ACM member I will...
2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity
in both the process and products of professional work.
2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence.
2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional
work.
2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review.
2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer
systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks.
2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities.
2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its
consequences.
2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when 30
authorized to do so.
 ACM CODE OF ETHICS &
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
3. Organizational Leadership Imperatives:
As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will...
3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational unit and
encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities.

3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems that
enhance the quality of working life.

3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization's

computing and communication resources.

3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have their needs
clearly articulated during the assessment and design of requirements; later the
system must be validated to meet requirements.

3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and others
affected by a computing system.
31
3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the principles and
limitations of computer systems.
 ACM Code of Ethics &
Professional Conduct
4. Compliance with the Code:
As an ACM member I will...

4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this

Code.

4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent

with membership in the ACM.

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CASE STUDY-FAIRNESS &
DISCRIMINATION
In determining requirements for an information
system to be used in an employment agency,
the client explains that, when displaying
applicants whose qualifications appear to
match those required for a particular job, the
names of white applicants are to be displayed
ahead of those of non-white applicants, and
names of male applicants are to be displayed
ahead of female applicants.

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Case Study-Fairness &
Discrimination
1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being.
1.2 Avoid harm to others.
1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to
professional work.
2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional
review.
2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of
computer systems and their impacts, including
analysis of possible risks.
4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this Code.

34
REFERENCES
 Chapter 9
 Ethical
for the Information age
 Michaeal J Quinn
 ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND VALUE
 3.4,
 Chapter 3
 Social and ethical issues in the Information Age-
Kizza

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