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What are the 3 aspects of professional ethics discussed in this presentation?
What are the 3 aspects of professional ethics discussed in this presentation?
Special aspects of professional ethics, Professional code of ethics, Methodology for analyzing ethical aspects
What are some actions not allowed when visiting the PM's home, according to the presentation?
What are some actions not allowed when visiting the PM's home, according to the presentation?
The engineer in the Morton Thiokol/NASA case was eventually fired, but the company was found guilty of violating the False Claims Act.
The engineer in the Morton Thiokol/NASA case was eventually fired, but the company was found guilty of violating the False Claims Act.
True
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded due to a failure of the O-rings.
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded due to a failure of the O-rings.
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What are the two kinds of tests that computer chips for weapons systems needed to pass?
What are the two kinds of tests that computer chips for weapons systems needed to pass?
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What is the main issue addressed in the "Overview of Whistleblowing" section?
What is the main issue addressed in the "Overview of Whistleblowing" section?
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What is the main ethical concern raised in the Hughes Aircraft case?
What is the main ethical concern raised in the Hughes Aircraft case?
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The "False Claims Act" allows a whistleblower to sue on behalf of the government if a person or company is submitting falsified claims.
The "False Claims Act" allows a whistleblower to sue on behalf of the government if a person or company is submitting falsified claims.
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What is the question that needs to be asked to determine if someone has a moral duty to whistle blow, according to Richard DeGeorge?
What is the question that needs to be asked to determine if someone has a moral duty to whistle blow, according to Richard DeGeorge?
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What are the two main arguments against whistleblowing?
What are the two main arguments against whistleblowing?
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What are the main arguments in favor of whistleblowing?
What are the main arguments in favor of whistleblowing?
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What is a formal definition of a profession?
What is a formal definition of a profession?
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The "Paradigm of Professions" states that professionals have a special obligation to ensure their actions benefit those who depend on them.
The "Paradigm of Professions" states that professionals have a special obligation to ensure their actions benefit those who depend on them.
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Jacobus Lentz was a professional who developed a special forged-proof identification card, but later allowed it to be used by the Nazis in their persecution of Jewish people.
Jacobus Lentz was a professional who developed a special forged-proof identification card, but later allowed it to be used by the Nazis in their persecution of Jewish people.
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What are the 8 components of a mature professional infrastructure, as presented?
What are the 8 components of a mature professional infrastructure, as presented?
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What is the major ethical issue discussed in the "What is Professional Ethics?" section?
What is the major ethical issue discussed in the "What is Professional Ethics?" section?
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What was the major ethical concern raised in the "The Therac-25" case?
What was the major ethical concern raised in the "The Therac-25" case?
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What are the ethical considerations that must be made when producing IT systems, according to the presentation? List at least 5 considerations.
What are the ethical considerations that must be made when producing IT systems, according to the presentation? List at least 5 considerations.
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What is the main purpose of a professional code of ethics?
What is the main purpose of a professional code of ethics?
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The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice is available through the ACM/IEEE-CS website.
The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice is available through the ACM/IEEE-CS website.
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The Software Engineering Code of Ethics includes 8 principles for guiding ethical behavior.
The Software Engineering Code of Ethics includes 8 principles for guiding ethical behavior.
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The Software Engineering Code of Ethics is a manual that provides specific solutions to any ethical problem.
The Software Engineering Code of Ethics is a manual that provides specific solutions to any ethical problem.
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An action that is not specifically forbidden by the Software Engineering Code of Ethics is automatically considered morally acceptable.
An action that is not specifically forbidden by the Software Engineering Code of Ethics is automatically considered morally acceptable.
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According to the presentation, what are some key questions to ask when faced with an ethical dilemma?
According to the presentation, what are some key questions to ask when faced with an ethical dilemma?
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Describe the 9 fundamental principles of software engineering ethics, according to the presentation.
Describe the 9 fundamental principles of software engineering ethics, according to the presentation.
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Which of these is NOT a principle of software engineering ethics as outlined in the presentation?
Which of these is NOT a principle of software engineering ethics as outlined in the presentation?
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What is a three-step process that was suggested for evaluating IT-related moral problems?
What is a three-step process that was suggested for evaluating IT-related moral problems?
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What is the general principle for determining if an action is morally acceptable, according to the presentation?
What is the general principle for determining if an action is morally acceptable, according to the presentation?
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In the first scenario (Sam Shaw), Professor Smith's actions can be considered immoral, as she violated the principles of being impartial and disclosing important information.
In the first scenario (Sam Shaw), Professor Smith's actions can be considered immoral, as she violated the principles of being impartial and disclosing important information.
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Joe Green, the system administrator in the second scenario, discovered the existence of child pornography on Chuck Dennis's computer. Which of these is the suggested course of action, using the principle of "Promote no interest adverse to their employer or client"?
Joe Green, the system administrator in the second scenario, discovered the existence of child pornography on Chuck Dennis's computer. Which of these is the suggested course of action, using the principle of "Promote no interest adverse to their employer or client"?
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What did Tim Smart do in the third scenario?
What did Tim Smart do in the third scenario?
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What is the major ethical concern raised in the third scenario (Tim Smart)?
What is the major ethical concern raised in the third scenario (Tim Smart)?
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In the third scenario, Tim Smart acted immorally, and his decision to release the antiworm violated multiple principles of Software Engineering Ethics.
In the third scenario, Tim Smart acted immorally, and his decision to release the antiworm violated multiple principles of Software Engineering Ethics.
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In the fourth scenario, what position did Jean hold at Acme Corporation?
In the fourth scenario, what position did Jean hold at Acme Corporation?
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Jean's decision to accept an outside consulting job, without informing Acme, violated multiple clauses within the Software Engineering Code of Ethics.
Jean's decision to accept an outside consulting job, without informing Acme, violated multiple clauses within the Software Engineering Code of Ethics.
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What are the three clauses that Jean violated in the fourth scenario?
What are the three clauses that Jean violated in the fourth scenario?
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Study Notes
Topic 9: Professional Ethics
- This topic covers professional ethics, including various scenarios and ethical dilemmas.
- It includes the importance of professional codes of ethics and methodologies for analyzing ethical aspects.
- The slides illustrate real-world examples from different professional contexts, such as NASA, Hughes Aircraft, and software engineering.
Professional Ethics Scenarios
-
Morton Thiokol/NASA (1986):
- The Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff due to faulty O-rings.
- Engineers had evidence of previous O-ring failures but NASA management prioritized the launch despite concerns.
-
Hughes Aircraft (1980s):
- This case involves the production of military-grade computer chips.
- Defective seals in the chips were discovered by employees, but management suppressed concerns and cover-ups.
- This led to a formal investigation and a settlement against the company for falsifying records.
Overview of Whistleblowing
- A whistleblower attempts to report harmful situations through authorized channels.
- Rebuffed by organizations, some whistleblowers resort to unauthorized channels for disclosure.
- Often, whistleblowers face consequences, such as losing their jobs or facing financial and emotional hardship.
Whistle-blowing as Moral Duty
- By referring to a set of ethical codes(SE Code of Ethics), individuals have a moral obligation to blow the whistle.
- Individuals should consider ethical questions in cases of potential harm and apply proper evaluation processes before taking action.
Professional Codes of Ethics for Software Engineering
- Codes of ethics provide guidance for new or young members of professions that are uncertain with expected behaviors.
- Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, provided by organizations like ACM/IEEE-CS, offers specific standards and principles.
- Separate code of ethics for software engineers are found in other sources(e.g. Malaysian National Computer Confederation).
- Guidelines focus on ethical aspects like producing good systems(including user considerations, thorough project planning, etc.), safety(prioritising and documenting safety concerns), and dealing with defaults, communication, responsibilities, etc
Analysis of the Code and Questions to Ask in Ethical Dilemmas
- A mechanical process for determining correct actions is not feasible in moral problems.
- Codes of ethics are guidelines, not absolute rules; conflicts may arise and require additional analysis.
- When facing ethical dilemmas, crucial questions include:
- Who is affected?
- Am I respecting other human beings ethically?
- Will the decision withstand scrutiny?
- What are the consequences for the least empowered?
- Is my action aligned with the ideal of the profession (e.g., honesty, impartiality, respect for others).
Alternative List of Fundamental Principles
- There are specific fundamental principles(e.g. be impartial, disclose information, respect other, etc), which have been grouped and listed as guidelines.
- Several principles are listed, and each has supporting clauses from the cited codes of ethics document.
Evaluate IT-related Moral Problems: Steps
- Consult the list of ethical principles and identify relevant ones
- Examine corresponding clauses
- Determine whether contemplated actions align with or contradict ethical standards; analyze whether an action is moral or immoral
Scenarios
- Multiple scenarios are presented (e.g., scenarios involving software engineering, computer systems, and other).
- Each scenario is analyzed, determining potentially relevant ethical principles and clauses.
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