1. 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.
2. Improve their understanding of the software and related documents on which they work and of the environment in which they will be used.
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. Not knowingly use software that is obtained or retained either illegally or unethically.
5. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
6. Moderate the interests of the software engineer, the employer, the client and the users with the public good.
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. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and reporting errors in software and associated documents on which they work.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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. 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. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and reporting errors in software and associated documents on which they work.
4. The ultimate effect of the work should be to the public good.
5. 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.
6. Assign work only after taking into account appropriate contributions of education and experience tempered with a desire to further that education and experience.
7. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
8. Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related documents on which they work.
9. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
10. Accept no outside work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer.
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 accordance with that commitment, software engineers shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
3. Principle 6: PROFESSIONSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.
4. Principle 4: JUDGMENTSoftware engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.
5. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Accept full responsibility for their own work.
9. 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.
10. 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.
1. 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.
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. Avoid associations with businesses and organizations which are in conflict with this code.
4. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
5. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
6. The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function.
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 influence others to undertake any action that involves a breach of this Code.
9. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
10. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
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. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
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. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
5. 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.
6. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
7. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
8. 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.
9. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
10. Not punish anyone for expressing ethical concerns about a project.