1. Ensure that there is a fair agreement concerning ownership of any software, processes, research, writing, or other intellectual property to which a software engineer has contributed.
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. These obligations are founded in the software engineer’
4. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
5. 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.
6. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
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. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
9. 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.
10. 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.
1. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
2. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.
3. Work to develop software and related documents that respect the privacy of those who will be affected by that software.
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. 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. 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.
8. Keep private any confidential information gained in their professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent with the public interest and consistent with the law.
9. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
10. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
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 particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
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. 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.
5. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
6. Principle 3: PRODUCTSoftware engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.
7. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
8. Principle 4: JUDGMENTSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.
9. 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.
10. 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.
1. 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.
2. The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function.
3. Support, as members of a profession, other software engineers striving to follow this Code.
4. Not influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
5. Recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.
6. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
7. Express concerns to the people involved when significant violations of this Code are detected unless this is impossible, counter-productive, or dangerous.
8. 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.
9. The Code prescribes these as obligations of anyone claiming to be or aspiring to be a software engineer.
10. It is not intended that the individual parts of the Code be used in isolation to justify errors of omission or commission.
1. 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.
2. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
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. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
5. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
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. 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. 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.
9. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
10. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.