CS133 Professional Skills Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a profession?

A vocation/career, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.

What are the three defining features of a profession?

Body of people, self-governing, entry to the profession is controlled.

Name an engineering profession (body of people).

Engineering Council.

Name some scientific professional qualifications.

CSci, CSciTeach, RSci, RSciTeach. Signup and view all the answers

Name some engineering UK professional qualifications.

ICE, CEng, IEng, EngTech. Signup and view all the answers

What does IEng stand for?

Incorporated Engineer. Signup and view all the answers

Name an engineering professional qualification which is valid throughout Europe.

EUR ING. Signup and view all the answers

Name a science profession (body of people).

Science Council. Signup and view all the answers

Name a computing profession (body of people).

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. Signup and view all the answers

Name a UK computing professional qualification.

CITP. Signup and view all the answers

What does CITP stand for?

Chartered IT Professional. Signup and view all the answers

Name the four duties of the BCS code of conduct.

Public interest, Duty to relevant authority, Professional competence and integrity, Duty to the profession. Signup and view all the answers

Name two ways in which a profession can be regulated.

Reservation of title (e.g. engineer) and reservation of function (restriction of activity, e.g. surgery). Signup and view all the answers

Name the two houses of parliament.

House of Lords and House of Commons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

Commons is elected lower house, Lords is appointed upper house. Signup and view all the answers

Explain briefly how laws are applied in different areas of the UK.

There is no written constitution, so there are separate assemblies, each with limited powers. Signup and view all the answers

How is a law made in Parliament?

Bill presented to one House (first reading), Second Reading in that House, Committee stage, Report stage, Third Reading, Repeat above in other House, Repeat process till both houses agree, Royal Assent, Bill becomes Law. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the first reading, when a Bill is presented to one of the Houses of Parliament?

It is a formality - no debate. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the Second Reading of a Bill?

General debate, plus vote. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the Committee Stage of a Bill?

Detailed scrutiny, and amendments. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the Report Stage of a Bill?

Further amendments. Signup and view all the answers

What power do Lords have over a Bill?

They can DELAY, but not block a Bill. Signup and view all the answers

What is the piece of legislation saying that Lords can delay but not block a bill?

1911 Parliament Act. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what exactly makes the European Union.

Elected Parliament and Council of ministers. Signup and view all the answers

What is an EU regulation?

A self-executing piece of legislation, which takes immediate effect across the EU. Signup and view all the answers

What is an EU directive?

A legislative act which sets out a goal that all EU countries must achieve. Must be enacted by individual countries. Signup and view all the answers

Are UK laws adversarial or inquisitorial?

Adversarial (one party vs another). Signup and view all the answers

Who are the parties in a Criminal Law case?

The State and the defendant. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the parties in a Civil Law case?

It is about relationships between individuals. Signup and view all the answers

Give the order, in a rising hierarchy, of the courts.

Magistrates, County Court, Crown Court, High Court, Supreme Court, European Court of Justice. Signup and view all the answers

Which court are civil cases tried in?

County Court (no jury). Signup and view all the answers

Which Court are criminal cases tried in?

Crown Court. Signup and view all the answers

Who prosecutes in a Criminal Law case?

The Crown Prosecution Service. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of the jury in a Criminal Court case.

They decide guilt or innocence. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of a judge in a Criminal case.

They decide the penalties. Signup and view all the answers

What can you appeal for in a Criminal case?

Quash conviction, order new trial, increase penalty. Signup and view all the answers

What is the deciding factor in a Civil Law case?

It is about 'balance of probabilities'. Signup and view all the answers

Name some things that could result in a Civil Law case.

Contracts, libel, family law. Signup and view all the answers

What does CPD stand for?

Continuing Professional Development. Signup and view all the answers

How do you practice CPD?

Recording your career/qualifications, reflecting on them, identifying needs for training, updating knowledge/skills, etc. Signup and view all the answers

Name the six varieties of legal entities.

Partnerships, Individuals, Government Department, Schools, Companies, Charities. Signup and view all the answers

What legislation involves the creation of partnerships?

Partnership Act 1890. Signup and view all the answers

Name three things which govern the creation of an Incorporation.

Royal Charter, Act of Parliament, Companies Act. Signup and view all the answers

Which is a vital piece of legislation for companies?

The Companies Act 2006. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Director in a company?

They run the company - they are either paid (executive) or unpaid. Signup and view all the answers

What does a Memorandum of Association contain?

Name, registered office, country, specification of company activities, liability clause, declaration of association, share capital. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Memorandum of Association in a sentence.

A legal statement, signed by all initial shareholders, agreeing to form the company. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Articles of Association in a sentence.

Written rules about running the company, agreed by shareholders, directors, and the company secretary. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Table A' of the Companies Act 1948?

The name for a format of Articles of Association. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Articles of Association contain?

Board meetings, rules on how business should be conducted, memberships of the board of directors, sales of shares, directors' terms of office, directors' powers, dividends. Signup and view all the answers

What replaced 'Table A', and when?

The Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008. Signup and view all the answers

Name 3 sources of finance for starting a company.

Equity capital, Government grants, Loans (bank or government). Signup and view all the answers

Name the three main sections of a Balance Sheet.

Assets, Liabilities, Net worth. Signup and view all the answers

What will be in the Assets section of a Balance Sheet?

What a company owns, current vs fixed, depreciation, debtors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between current and fixed assets?

Current assets = can be converted into cash in less than one year; Fixed assets = long-term assets used by a company to produce goods and services. Signup and view all the answers

What will be found in the Liabilities section of a balance sheet?

What a company owes, creditors. Signup and view all the answers

Outline the standard format of the Net worth section of a Balance Sheet.

Assets minus liabilities. Negative values denoted with parentheses. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main sections of a Profit and Loss account?

Income and Expenditure. Signup and view all the answers

What does a Profit and Loss account measure?

The net worth (income - expenditure) of a particular account. Signup and view all the answers

What does a Cash Flow Statement show?

The movement of cash. Signup and view all the answers

Name some things included in a Cash Flow Statement.

Capital expenditure, tax, disposals, interest payments, dividends to shareholders. Signup and view all the answers

What are intangible assets?

Non-physical things, like IPs. Signup and view all the answers

What is double entry bookkeeping?

Every single bookkeeping entry appears twice. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between accounts and budgets?

Accounts tell you what HAS happened; budgets tell you what you EXPECT TO happen. Signup and view all the answers

What are direct costs?

Financial costs associated with things like labour and raw materials. Signup and view all the answers

What are indirect costs?

Costs associated with the overhead of running a business. Signup and view all the answers

What does an employer pay an employee who is off work ill?

Statutory Sick Pay. Signup and view all the answers

Name the things involved with labour costs.

Salaries, National Insurance contributions, Pension contributions, Statutory Sick Pay, Annual holidays. Signup and view all the answers

What does DCF stand for?

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCF). Signup and view all the answers

What tells you if a project is financially viable?

Its rate of return. Signup and view all the answers

What does DCF tell you?

The return on investment you can expect. Signup and view all the answers

Name some problems with forecasting (in terms of investment).

Market conditions, competitors, credit availability, interest rates. Signup and view all the answers

What are the statutory requirements on annual returns and accounts, for all companies?

They must be filed with Companies House; and sent to HMRC. Signup and view all the answers

What are the statutory requirements for annual returns and accounts, for larger companies?

Accounts must be audited; they must contain a balance sheet, profit and loss account, and a directors' report. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Company Register?

A list of directors, secretaries, and shareholders. Signup and view all the answers

Where must the Company Register be held?

At the registered office. Signup and view all the answers

What is a contract?

A legal agreement, based on common law, between two parties. Signup and view all the answers

What are the requirements of the parties for them to enter into a contract?

Competent, intend to make the contract, receive/provide a consideration (something of value). Signup and view all the answers

What is a contract 'consideration'?

Something of value (to the two parties). Signup and view all the answers

What is a licence (e.g. a software license)?

Legal permission to use it (not a contract!). Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a license and a contract?

Contracts involve money. Signup and view all the answers

What piece of legislation can be applied to contracts with defective software?

Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. Signup and view all the answers

What do Human Resources deal with?

Appraisals, Recruitment, Redundancies, dismissal and grievances, Remuneration, Staff support and development. Signup and view all the answers

What two pieces of legislation are important to HR?

Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Acts 2006, 2010. Signup and view all the answers

What was the first major legislation to do with workplace health and safety?

Factories Act 1961. Signup and view all the answers

What replaced the Factories Act 1961?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Robens Report). Signup and view all the answers

What is the UK government body responsible for enforcing health and safety at work legislation?

HSE - Health and Safety Executive. Signup and view all the answers

What powers does HSE have?

They can investigate and enforce. Signup and view all the answers

What piece of legislation specifies which work accidents are reportable?

RIDDOR, The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Signup and view all the answers

Name some 'reportable' accidents under RIDDOR.

Death and major injuries, near misses, work-related diseases, 'off work for 3 days' injuries. Signup and view all the answers

What are Employers' Duties for health and safety in the workplace?

Provision and maintenance of safe plant, safe systems of work, safe use of articles and substances, safe condition of workplace, provision of information, instruction, training, supervision. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Factories Act?

The Health and Safety at Work Act talks about general duties, rather than specific requirements. Signup and view all the answers

What must an Employer do, with regards to Health and Safety, when they have more than 5 employees?

They must have a consultation with safety reps, and create a safety committee. Signup and view all the answers

How far must the employer go in terms of putting in practices for health and safety?

'So far as is REASONABLY PRACTICABLE'. Signup and view all the answers

What is copyright?

The right to copy/adapt something (e.g. book, software, song). Signup and view all the answers

What two pieces of legislation are important for copyright?

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; The Copyright and Rights in Performances (Quotation and Parody) Regulations 2014. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Berne Convention 1886, how long does copyright last?

Life + 50 years. Signup and view all the answers

In the UK and the USA, how long does copyright last?

Life + 79 years. Signup and view all the answers

How long does copyright last for databases?

15 years. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary infringement of copyright?

MAKING a copy. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of a Profession

A profession signifies a vocation or career requiring extended training and formal qualifications.
Represents a collective of individuals engaged in a specific occupation.

Features of a Profession

Comprises a body of people.
Self-governing structure.
Controlled entry into the profession.

Engineering Professions

Example: Engineering Council represents the body of engineers.
Recognized qualifications include IEng (Incorporated Engineer) and EUR ING (valid in Europe).

Scientific Qualifications

Recognized qualifications include CSci, CSciTeach, RSci, and RSciTeach.

Computing Professions

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, denotes the body of computing professionals.
Recognized qualification: CITP (Chartered IT Professional).

Legislative Framework

UK Parliament consists of two houses: House of Commons (elected) and House of Lords (appointed).
Laws are created through a defined process involving multiple readings, committee stages, and royal assent.

Judicial System Overview

Criminal cases are prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service, tried in Crown Courts.
Civil cases ordinarily handled in County Courts, focused on relationships between individuals.
Two key standards: criminal law operates on evidence "beyond a reasonable doubt" while civil law operates on the "balance of probabilities."

Business Structure and Finance

Legal entities include partnerships, individuals, government departments, schools, companies, and charities.
Companies governed by the Companies Act 2006; directors run companies and can hold executive or non-executive roles.
Finance sources for companies encompass equity capital, government grants, and loans.

Financial Documents

Key sections of Balance Sheets include Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
Profit and Loss accounts consist of Income and Expenditure sections.
Cash Flow Statements reflect cash movement and include capital expenditures, taxes, and dividends.

Contractual Agreements

A contract is defined as a legal agreement requiring competent parties intending to provide and receive consideration (value).
Differences exist between contracts and licenses; licenses provide legal permissions without monetary exchange.

Human Resource Management

HR involves appraisals, recruitment, redundancies, remuneration, and staff development.
Important legislations include the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Acts.

Health and Safety Regulations

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 replaced the Factories Act 1961 and is enforced by HSE (Health and Safety Executive).
Employers are obligated to maintain safe work environments and practices.
RIDDOR outlines reportable accidents, which include major injuries and work-related diseases.

Intellectual Property

Copyright protects the right to copy or adapt creative works, lasting a specific period determined by various legislations.
Berne Convention specifies copyright duration as life plus 50 years, while in the UK and USA, it extends to life plus 79 years.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

CPD involves recording qualifications, reflecting on experiences, and identifying training needs to update knowledge and skills.

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Description

Test your knowledge of professional skills with these flashcards from CS133. Learn the key definitions and characteristics of professions, including the body of people engaged in specific occupations. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of professional competencies.