1. Improve their ability to create safe, reliable, and useful quality software at reasonable cost and within a reasonable time.
2. 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.
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. 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.
5. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
6. 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.
7. Not knowingly use software that is obtained or retained either illegally or unethically.
8. Improve their knowledge of relevant standards and the law governing the software and related documents on which they work.
9. Work to develop software and related documents that respect the privacy of those who will be affected by that software.
10. Consider issues of physical disabilities, allocation of resources, economic disadvantage and other factors that can diminish access to the benefits of software.
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. Keep private any confidential information gained in their professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent with the public interest and consistent with the law.
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. 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. Ensure proper and achievable goals and objectives for any project on which they work or propose.
6. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
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. 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.
9. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
10. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
1. Principle 4: JUDGMENTSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.
2. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Strive for high quality, acceptable cost and a reasonable schedule, ensuring significant tradeoffs are clear to and accepted by the employer and the client, and are available for consideration by the user and the public.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
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. 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 particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
1. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
2. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
3. 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.
4. The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function.
5. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
6. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
7. 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.
8. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
9. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
10. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
1. 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.
2. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
3. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
4. Principle 5: MANAGEMENTSoftware engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance .
5. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
6. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
7. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
8. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
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. 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.