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Topic 4
Professional Ethics

ITECH 7400 IT SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND

PROFESSIONAL CULTURE

CRICOSCRICOS Provider
Provider No.No. 00103D
00103D
Content of Course ...
Section Topics
Ethics and • Utilitarianism and deontology

Social impact of technology

professionalism • Contract-based and character
based
• Professional ethics
• IT careers
IT Service • Service management
management • Service lifecycle
• Processes and functions
• Measurement, metrics and the
Deming cycle

3
Contents

• The IT profession

• Professional code of ethics

• ACS code of ethics

4
Course Objectives

This topic relates to the following course objectives:

• K1. Undertake a comparative review of various types of
ethical theories and their application in diverse
professional IT contexts.
• K2. Review and interpret the principles of the Australian
Computer Society Code of Ethics within IT professional
practice.
• K3. Describe contemporary approaches to dealing with
the social impact of technology in a changing IT service
environment.
Course Objectives
continued…
• K6. Investigate skills frameworks and develop an
awareness of industry certifications relevant to IT
professionals.
• S1. Evaluate cognitive and practical approaches required
to manage IT professionals in collaborative global work
context.
• S4. Utilise professional presentation and communication
approaches in a range of IT workplace and service
settings.
Course Objectives
continued…
• A1. Demonstrate communication skills to present a clear,
coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and
ideas in dealing with ethical issues in an IT professional
work environment.
• A3. Apply skills frameworks and develop a career plan in
readiness for transition into the IT profession.
Your Reading and Research

Recommended reading:
• Textbook: Tavani, 2015,
Ch 4.
• ACS, 2014.
The IT Profession
The IT Profession

McDermid (2008) who is an IT professional?

• Highly trained
• Experts in their field
• Lifelong learning
• Autonomy
• Responsibility to client and society in general
Characteristics of a Profession

Ford and Biggs (1996) • Registration

and McDermid (2008): • Professional Society
• Core body of knowledge • Code of ethics
• Accreditation • Formal education
• Professional Development • Specialised knowledge
• Certification
• Licensing – legal
 Is IT a profession?
Core body of knowledge
Accreditation
Professional development
Certification
Licensing – x
Registration – x
Professional society
Code of ethics
Formal education
Specialised knowledge
IT Profession

Thompson (2005) Vision of the IT Profession

• Facilitates exploitation of IT resource
• Part of business
• Includes non-technical skills
• Greater responsibility
• Attracts wider participation e.g. women
Professional Codes of Ethics
Professional IT Associations

Australian
• Australian Computer Society (ACS)
http://www.acs.org.au/

American
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
http://www.acm.org/
• Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
http://www.ieee.org
Professional Codes of Ethics

Purpose for professionals

• Inspire – positive stimulus
• Guide in morally complex situations
• Educate about responsibilities
• Discipline – provide grounds for exercising sanctions
• Inform the public
• Enhance the profession
Professional Codes of Ethics
continued …
Purpose for students
• Potential employers look for involvement in profession
• Credibility in the profession
• Free seminars and speakers
• Meet potential employers
• Ongoing professional development
• Certified qualification
 ACS Guest Speaker

Kaltura Video
ACS Guest Speaker Dr Charlynn Miller

18
ACS Code of Ethics
Australian Computer Society (ACS)

History
• (1966) formed in from 5 state entities
• (1969) code of ethics
• (1996) core body of knowledge
• (2000) accepted into Australian Council of Professions
– first IT society in world to achieve this
ACS Ethical Statements

Code of Ethics
• https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/C
ode-of-Ethics.pdf

Code of Professional Conduct

• https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulati
ons/Code-of-Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf
Relevance to Law

The ACS code

• Could provide grounds for an unsatisfied client claiming
professional negligence
• May be quoted by an expert witness giving an
assessment of whether certain conduct was good practice
• If breached could be the basis of a disciplinary charge or
complaint being made against an ACS member
Assistance to Members

Getting Assistance ...

• Members should, if in doubt as to the propriety of
any course of action:
• Attempt to resolve the doubt by reference to the ACS
Code
• Seek the guidance of the Chief Executive Officer of the
Society
How ethical are you in the
workplace?
How do your values compare with
the ACS Code of Ethics?
 Personal Values
life compassion freedom dedication

creativity accountability work religion

humour cooperation trustworthiness advancement
loyalty wealth security recognition
beauty professionalism morality patience
spirituality success responsibility power
respect honesty empathy integrity
justice health love faith
helpfulness knowledge wisdom independence

(icarevalues.org, 2005)
ACS Code of Ethics

ACS Code
• The primacy of public interest
• The enhancement of quality of life
• Honesty
• Competence
• Professional development
• Professionalism (ACS, 2014)
The Primacy of the Public Interest
You will place the interests of the public above
those of personal, business or sectional
interests

You will:
• Identify those impacted
• Conflict of interest
• Transversive discipline
• Preserve integrity, security, continuity and utility
• Intellectual property
• Confidentiality and privacy
The Enhancement of Quality of Life
You will strive to enhance the quality of life of
those affected by your work

You will:
• Enhance life of others (particularly the disadvantaged or those
with disabilities)
• Health and safety
• Understand others views
• Improve feelings of others
Honesty
You will be honest in your representation of
skills, knowledge, services and products

You will: • Provide realistic estimates

• Reject bribery • Qualify advice

• Not mislead • Credit appropriately

• Distinguish between • Not improve your

professional and personal reputation at the expense
advice of others
Competence
You will work competently and diligently for your
stakeholders

You will: • Respect stakeholder

interests
• Meet needs of
• Provide contrary advice
stakeholders
• Not misrepresent skills • Accept responsibility
and knowledge • Seek advice of colleagues
• Standards and legislation
Professional Development
You will enhance your own professional
development, and that of your staff

You will:
• Upgrade knowledge and skills
• Be aware of issues
• Encourage others
• Support education, training and professional development
Professionalism
You will enhance the integrity of the ACS and
the respect of its members for
each other

You will: • Ensure corporate

compliance
• Be calm and objective
• Not influence others to
• Action against breach code
inappropriate behaviour
• Maintain professional
• Ensure diversity image
• Extend public knowledge
Which of the four ethical theories
is most closely related to the ACS
Code of Ethics? Why?
Jane is a student who needs a copy of a
particular textbook to help her with her
coursework. The university library has a
single copy of the book, which is already on
loan ...
The book is available in the local bookstore
for $30 but her friend tells her of a file
sharing site ... download a PDF version for
free. Jane knows that downloading the
PDF version is in violation of the author’s
copyright – on the other hand ...
35
 What should Jane do?
... How might the ACS Code of Ethics
guide Jane?

36
 Application to IT Projects
Should the programmer blow the
whistle? How might the ACS Code
of Ethics help?
Consider a computer professional's role in
designing, developing, and maintaining computer
hardware and software systems. Suppose a
programmer discovers a software product is about
to be released, even though it is unreliable
because it contains buggy software.
 Thinking of joining the ACS?

https://www.acs.org.au/membership-application.html?q=1

38
Summary

A profession requires special knowledge, and skills obtained

through formal education. A professional provides services
for payment in accordance with protocols, licensing, ethics,
procedures, standards and training.
Professional code of ethics useful for professionals and
students e.g. inspiration, guidance, education, discipline,
certification etc.
Professional organisations include ACS, ACM & IEEE.
ACS code of ethics includes; primacy of public interest,
enhancement of quality of life, honesty, competence, PD &
professionalism.
39
References
Australian Council of Professions. (2018). What is a profession? Retrieved
August 13, 2019, from
http://www.professions.com.au/about-us/what-is-a-professional
Australian Computer Society. (2015). Our past. Retrieved August 11, 2019, from
https://50years.acs.org.au/past.html
Australian Computer Society. (2014). Code of professional conduct and practice.
Retrieved August 11, 2019, from
https://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/4901/Code-of-Professional
-Conduct_v2.1.pdf
icarevalues.org. (2005). Values. Retrieved August 11, 2019, from
http://www.icarevalues.org
Mc Dermid, D. (Ed.). (2008). Ethics in ICT: An Australian perspective. Frenchs
Forest, NSW: Pearson.
Thompson, C. (2005). What is an IT professional? ITNOW, 47(3), 8-9.

40