1. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Refuse to participate, as members or advisors, in a private, governmental or professional body concerned with software related issues, in which they, their employers or their clients have undisclosed potential conflicts of interest.
5. Not ask a software engineer to do anything inconsistent with this Code.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
10. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
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. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
4. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
5. 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.
6. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Review the work of others in an objective, candid, and properly-documented way.
1. 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.
2. Support, as members of a profession, other software engineers striving to follow this Code.
3. Principle 7: COLLEAGUESSoftware engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Principle 6: PROFESSIONSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.
7. 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.
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. 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. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
1. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
2. It is not intended that the individual parts of the Code be used in isolation to justify errors of omission or commission.
3. 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.
4. Not ask a software engineer to do anything inconsistent with this Code.
5. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
6. Avoid associations with businesses and organizations which are in conflict with this code.
7. 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.
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 is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
10. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
1. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
2. Ethical tensions can best be addressed by thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles, rather than blind reliance on detailed regulations.
3. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
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. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
6. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
7. 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.
8. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
9. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
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.