1. 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.
2. Improve their knowledge of relevant standards and the law governing the software and related documents on which they work.
3. Not ask a software engineer to do anything inconsistent with this Code.
4. Not knowingly use software that is obtained or retained either illegally or unethically.
5. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
10. 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.
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. Assign work only after taking into account appropriate contributions of education and experience tempered with a desire to further that education and experience.
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. 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. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
6. Improve their knowledge of relevant standards and the law governing the software and related documents on which they work.
7. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
8. 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.
9. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
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. 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.
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. 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.
4. 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.
5. PRINCIPLESPrinciple 1: PUBLICSoftware engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.
6. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Temper all technical judgments by the need to support and maintain human values.
7. 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.
8. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards before being held to them.
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. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
1. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
2. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
3. 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.
4. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
5. The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function.
6. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
7. Avoid associations with businesses and organizations which are in conflict with this code.
8. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
9. 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.
10. Express concerns to the people involved when significant violations of this Code are detected unless this is impossible, counter-productive, or dangerous.
1. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
2. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
6. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
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. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
9. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
10. 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.