1. 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.
2. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
3. These obligations are founded in the software engineer’
4. Moderate the interests of the software engineer, the employer, the client and the users with the public good.
5. Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (Full Version)PREAMBLEComputers have a central and growing role in commerce, industry, government, medicine, education, entertainment and society at large.
6. 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.
7. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and reporting errors in software and associated documents on which they work.
8. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards before being held to them.
9. Cooperate in efforts to address matters of grave public concern caused by software, its installation, maintenance, support or documentation.
10. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
5. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
6. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
7. s humanity, in special care owed to people affected by the work of software engineers, and the unique elements of the practice of software engineering.
8. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
9. 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.
10. Improve their knowledge of relevant standards and the law governing the software and related documents on which they work.
1. Principle 7: COLLEAGUESSoftware engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
2. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Provide service in their areas of competence, being honest and forthright about any limitations of their experience and education.
3. s humanity, in special care owed to people affected by the work of software engineers, and the unique elements of the practice of software engineering.
4. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
9. 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.
10. Support, as members of a profession, other software engineers striving to follow this Code.
1. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
2. Express concerns to the people involved when significant violations of this Code are detected unless this is impossible, counter-productive, or dangerous.
3. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
4. The Code contains eight Principles related to the behavior of and decisions made by professional software engineers, including practitioners, educators, managers, supervisors and policy makers, as well as trainees and students of the profession.
5. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
6. 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.
7. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
8. 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.
9. Avoid associations with businesses and organizations which are in conflict with this code.
10. The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function.
1. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
2. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
3. 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.
4. Ethical tensions can best be addressed by thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles, rather than blind reliance on detailed regulations.
5. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
6. 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.
7. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.