Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
Engineering
Code of Ethics
and Professional
Practice
Software Engineering Code of Ethics
and Professional Practice
Version 5.2 as recommended by the ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Task Force on
Software Engineering Ethics and Professional Practices and jointly approved
by the ACM and the IEEE-CS as the standard for teaching and practicing
software engineering.
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 following Eight Principles :
The need...
Software Engineering Code of
Ethics and Professional Practice
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.
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.
Asma Sajid, Department of Computer Science, GCUF 4
Principle 1: Public
1.01 Disclose any software-related dangers
1.02 Approve only safe, well tested software
1.03 Only sign documents in area of competence
1.04 Cooperate on matters of public concern
1.05 Produce software that respects diversity
1.06 Be fair and truthful in all matters
1.07 Always put the public’s interests first
1.08 Donate professional skills to good causes
1.10 Accept responsibility for your own work
Principle 2: Products
Don Gotterbarn, Keith Miller, and Simon Rogerson. 1997. Software engineering code of
ethics. Commun. ACM 40, 11 (November 1997), 110-118. DOI: 10.1145/265684.265699