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. 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.
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. Work to develop software and related documents that respect the privacy of those who will be affected by that software.
5. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
6. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
7. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
8. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
9. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
10. 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.
1. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
2. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
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. 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.
5. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
6. 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.
7. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and reporting errors in software and associated documents on which they work.
8. Assign work only after taking into account appropriate contributions of education and experience tempered with a desire to further that education and experience.
9. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
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. 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.
2. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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. Principle 7: COLLEAGUESSoftware engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
8. 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.
9. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
10. 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.
1. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
2. 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.
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. 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. Ensure that clients, employers, and supervisors know of the software engineer's commitment to this Code of ethics, and the subsequent ramifications of such commitment.
6. Support, as members of a profession, other software engineers striving to follow this Code.
7. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
8. The Code prescribes these as obligations of anyone claiming to be or aspiring to be a software engineer.
9. 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.
10. 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.
1. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
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. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
5. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
6. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
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. 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.
9. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
10. 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.