1. 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.
2. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
6. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
7. 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.
8. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards before being held to them.
9. Attract potential software engineers only by full and accurate description of the conditions of employment.
10. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
1. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
2. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
3. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
4. 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. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
6. 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.
7. Keep private any confidential information gained in their professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent with the public interest and consistent with the law.
8. Ensure that they are qualified for any project on which they work or propose to work by an appropriate combination of education and training, and experience.
9. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
10. The ultimate effect of the work should be to the public good.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. PRINCIPLESPrinciple 1: PUBLICSoftware engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.
6. 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.
7. Principle 6: PROFESSIONSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.
8. Principle 2: CLIENT AND EMPLOYERSoftware engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest.
9. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
10. Principle 3: PRODUCTSoftware engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Support, as members of a profession, other software engineers striving to follow this Code.
4. 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.
5. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
6. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
7. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
8. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
9. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
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.
1. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
2. Ethical tensions can best be addressed by thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles, rather than blind reliance on detailed regulations.
3. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
4. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
5. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
6. 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.
7. 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.
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. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
10. 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.