1. These Principles should influence software engineers to consider broadly who is affected by their work; to examine if they and their colleagues are treating other human beings with due respect; to consider how the public, if reasonably well informed, would view their decisions; to analyze how the least empowered will be affected by their decisions; and to consider whether their acts would be judged worthy of the ideal professional working as a software engineer.
2. Extend software engineering knowledge by appropriate participation in professional organizations, meetings and publications.
3. Treat all forms of software maintenance with the same professionalism as new development.
4. Attract potential software engineers only by full and accurate description of the conditions of employment.
5. Software engineers are those who contribute by direct participation or by teaching, to the analysis, specification, design, development, certification, maintenance and testing of software systems.
6. These situations require the software engineer to use ethical judgment to act in a manner which is most consistent with the spirit of the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, given the circumstances.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
10. Cooperate in efforts to address matters of grave public concern caused by software, its installation, maintenance, support or documentation.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.
4. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
5. 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.
6. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
7. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
8. These Principles should influence software engineers to consider broadly who is affected by their work; to examine if they and their colleagues are treating other human beings with due respect; to consider how the public, if reasonably well informed, would view their decisions; to analyze how the least empowered will be affected by their decisions; and to consider whether their acts would be judged worthy of the ideal professional working as a software engineer.
9. These Principles should influence software engineers to consider broadly who is affected by their work; to examine if they and their colleagues are treating other human beings with due respect; to consider how the public, if reasonably well informed, would view their decisions; to analyze how the least empowered will be affected by their decisions; and to consider whether their acts would be judged worthy of the ideal professional working as a software engineer.
10. Keep private any confidential information gained in their professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent with the public interest and consistent with the law.
1. PRINCIPLESPrinciple 1: PUBLICSoftware engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.
2. To ensure, as much as possible, that their efforts will be used for good, software engineers must commit themselves to making software engineering a beneficial and respected profession.
3. In particular, software engineers shall continually endeavor to: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.
4. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
5. Principle 7: COLLEAGUESSoftware engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
6. Because of their roles in developing software systems, software engineers have significant opportunities to do good or cause harm, to enable others to do good or cause harm, or to influence others to do good or cause harm.
7. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards before being held to them.
8. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
9. In particular, those managing or leading software engineers shall, as appropriate:Ensure good management for any project on which they work, including effective procedures for promotion of quality and reduction of risk.
10. Principle 4: JUDGMENTSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.
1. In all these judgments concern for the health, safety and welfare of the public is primary; that is, the "Public Interest" is central to this Code.
2. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
3. Report significant violations of this Code to appropriate authorities when it is clear that consultation with people involved in these significant violations is impossible, counter-productive or dangerous.
4. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
5. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
6. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
7. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
8. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
9. However, even in this generality, the Code provides support for software engineers and managers of software engineers who need to take positive action in a specific case by documenting the ethical stance of the profession.
10. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
1. 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 authority of the ethical concern.
2. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
3. 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 authority of the ethical concern.
4. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
5. Ethical tensions can best be addressed by thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles, rather than blind reliance on detailed regulations.
6. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
7. These situations require the software engineer to use ethical judgment to act in a manner which is most consistent with the spirit of the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, given the circumstances.
8. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
9. Principle 8: SELFSoftware engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.
10. As this Code expresses the consensus of the profession on ethical issues, it is a means to educate both the public and aspiring professionals about the ethical obligations of all software engineers.