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. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional 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. Identify, document, and report significant issues of social concern, of which they are aware, in software or related documents, to the employer or the client.
5. 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.
6. Disclose to appropriate persons or authorities any actual or potential danger to the user, the public, or the environment, that they reasonably believe to be associated with software or related documents.
7. 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.
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. 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.
10. Ensure that software engineers are informed of standards before being held to them.
1. Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well documented, satisfy the users’
2. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
7. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
8. Work to develop software and related documents that respect the privacy of those who will be affected by that software.
9. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
10. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.
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. 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.
3. 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.
4. In accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
5. 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.
6. Principle 4: JUDGMENTSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.
7. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
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. 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. Principle 6: PROFESSIONSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.
1. Express concerns to the people involved when significant violations of this Code are detected unless this is impossible, counter-productive, or dangerous.
2. It is not intended that the individual parts of the Code be used in isolation to justify errors of omission or commission.
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. 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.
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. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
9. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
10. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.
4. 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.
5. Ethical tensions can best be addressed by thoughtful consideration of fundamental principles, rather than blind reliance on detailed regulations.
6. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
7. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
8. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
9. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
10. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.