Professional Ethics - Lecture 1
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Questions and Answers

According to the provided definitions, what is a core component of a 'profession'?

  • An occupation requiring special training or a specific skill. (correct)
  • Work that can be learned through life experiences.
  • A job that provides a source of income.
  • Any activity that contributes to society.

    • Which of the following best describes formal education?

  • Obtaining a degree through attendance at a college or university. (correct)
  • Learning skills through practical experience over time.
  • Acquiring knowledge from a mentor or senior colleague.
  • Gaining skills by working in different positions.

    • What is a key reason why employers generally prefer candidates with formal education?

  • Formal education is always more practical than learning from life experience.
  • Formal education always leads to significantly higher salaries.
  • Formal education is easier to verify and indicates relevant knowledge. (correct)
  • Formal education guarantees practical skills in the workplace.

    • What is informal education best described as?

    <p>The process of learning a trade from someone else.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does life experience relate to informal education, according to the text?

    <p>It can be considered a part of informal education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the course details section, what type of course is 'Professional Ethics'?

    <p>A compulsory course for thesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the weight assigned to the 'Mid Term' component in the assessment criteria?

    <p>20%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the total percentage weight allocated to the 'Research Element', 'Mid Term', and 'Final' assessments combined?

    <p>100%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main purposes of institutions that ensure the quality of education?

    <p>To stimulate innovation in technology education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the focus of 'meta-ethics'?

    <p>Developing general principles for ethical systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary aim of 'moral theory' within the study of ethics?

    <p>To determine what makes actions right or wrong.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of Professional Ethics, which of these is considered when determining ethical conduct?

    <p>The relationships between professionals and their clients.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is awareness of professional ethics increasingly important?

    <p>To simplify complex decision-making in the workplace.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can a computer scientist influence the final software product?

    <p>By directly influencing the product in ways that may not be in the public interest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What could be a consequence of unethical behavior by computer scientists in software development?

    <p>Loss of confidence in software and related organizations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the information provided, which aspect of professional ethics involves applying moral principles to specific situations?

    <p>Practical ethics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is rendered irrelevant if a professional lacks responsibility?

    <p>Ethical constraints and accountability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a professional's approach to their commitments?

    <p>They are dependable and consistently meet commitments and deadlines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of a professional with strong integrity?

    <p>Adhering to ethical standards and acting with honesty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of the computing profession do chartered professional bodies, such as NUST or GIKI, belong to?

    <p>The first tier level of the computing profession.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a computing council in relation to computing institutions?

    <p>It recognizes institutions that meet its educational standards.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes the computing council's position within the computing profession?

    <p>It acts as an umbrella body which represents the collective interests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC)?

    <p>Accrediting computing education and regulating the profession in Pakistan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a true professional?

    <p>Having a negative attitude and pessimism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic of a profession emphasizes the significant potential harm resulting from negligence?

    <p>Great responsibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a core aspect of professional accountability?

    <p>Holding oneself ultimately responsible for the quality of work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes professionals from those outside the profession based on knowledge?

    <p>Specialized knowledge beyond general understanding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'institutional preparation' in the context of professions involve?

    <p>Hands-on experience under senior guidance coupled with ongoing education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily directs the ethical obligations of a professional?

    <p>A specific code of ethics, focusing on the client's best interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the idea of merit, how should a professional achieve success?

    <p>Through the demonstrated ability and worth of their work</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes how a profession views its relationship with clients?

    <p>The client's best interests are the core concern for any professional.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does ongoing education play in the professional journey?

    <p>It's compulsory and is considered essential for a professional's continued development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a responsibility under the principle of producing quality products?

    <p>Ensuring products are fully documented.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is emphasized in the principle of judgement?

    <p>Avoiding conflicts of interest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which action is NOT in alignment with the management principle?

    <p>Punishing individuals for raising ethical concerns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following supports the integrity of the software engineering profession?

    <p>Promoting ethical development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What must software engineers do regarding errors in software?

    <p>Take responsibility for detecting and addressing them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of support for colleagues is highlighted in the principles?

    <p>Being fair and supportive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is NOT part of ensuring the quality of a software product?

    <p>Skipping documentation for faster delivery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle is directly concerned with promoting ethical behavior in project management?

    <p>Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary concern of computer science professionals according to ethical guidelines?

    <p>Health, safety, and welfare of affected individuals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organization is responsible for establishing a code of conduct for software engineers?

    <p>ACM and IEEE Computer Society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle requires software engineers to take responsibility for the safety of their work?

    <p>Public</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What must software engineers disclose according to the Public principle?

    <p>Potential dangers in the software</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT included in the obligations to the Client?

    <p>Leaking sensitive project details</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of the professional code of conduct for software engineers?

    <p>Ensuring products meet the highest standards</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle focuses on the engineer's responsibility towards retaining the client's interest?

    <p>Client</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not one of the eight principles outlined in the Software Engineering Code of Ethics?

    <p>Environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Professional Ethics - Lecture 1

    • The course is titled "Professional Ethics"
    • It is a 2 credit hour, compulsory course for theses
    • The semester is Fall 2024
    • Any semester is preferred
    • The assessment criteria includes a Research Element (40%), Mid-Term (20%), and Final Exam (40%)

    Coursera Course

    • A Coursera course titled "Ethics in the Age of AI Specialization" is referenced
    • Link to the course is provided

    Contents

    • The course covers Profession, fundamental characteristics of a profession, structure of the computing profession, ethics, professional ethics, ethical issues of computer science, and professional codes of conduct

    Profession

    • According to Oxford Dictionary, a profession is "a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification"
    • According to Cambridge Dictionary, a profession is "any type of work that needs special training or a particular skill, often one that is respected because it involves a high level of education"
    • Formal education refers to obtaining a degree by attending college or university
    • Informal education includes learning a trade from someone else
    • Employers generally prefer formal education
    • Employers prioritize formal education for its verification, enabling the hiring company to receive a qualified candidate.

    Fundamental Characteristics of a Profession

    • Great responsibility: Professionals deal with vital client matters, carrying significant responsibilities
    • Accountability: Professionals are ultimately accountable for the quality of their work
    • Specialized, theoretical knowledge: Skills and services are based on theory, knowledge, and expertise. This specialization may include access to tools or technologies utilized by the specific profession
    • Institutional preparation: Professions often require a significant period of hands-on practical experience. This is followed by ongoing education to advance professional development
    • Ethical constraints: Professions have codes of conduct or ethics specific to the profession and follow a general body of core values centered on client benefit and best interest
    • Merit-based: Employment and success are based on merit, not corrupted practices like social pressure, mandatory support, or coercion

    10 Things that Define a True Professional

    • Competence: Possessing necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise to perform duties effectively
    • Reliability: Dependable and consistently meeting commitments and deadlines
    • Integrity: Acting with honesty and integrity, adhering to ethical standards
    • Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and accepting consequences of decisions
    • Respectfulness: Treating others with respect, regardless of position or status
    • Adaptability: Being able to adjust to changes in the workplace or industry
    • Good communication: Effectively communicating with others and clearly conveying ideas
    • Continuous learning: Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
    • Attention to detail: Paying attention to details and ensuring work accuracy
    • Positive attitude: Maintaining a positive attitude and optimism even in challenging situations

    Structure of the Computing Profession

    • A two-tiered structure exists
    • The first tier includes institutions, like NUST, GIKI, COMSATS, RIPHAH, etc. that are chartered professional bodies managing a specific or a group of closely related computing disciplines.
    • The computing council, a chartered body, is the second tier. This body recognizes particular computing institutions as nominated bodies, signifying that associated institutions are meeting required education standards.
    • Acts as an umbrella body for the computing profession and represents its interests.
    • Serves as a federal institution.

    Ethics

    • Ethics is the study of right and wrong in relation to human actions
    • Includes Meta-ethics (a study of general principles for ethical systems), Moral theory (identifying what makes actions right/wrong, things with moral value, and moral decisions), and Practical ethics (giving guidance to individuals and organizations in dilemmas in areas like medicine, business, politics and social issues)

    What is Professional Ethics?

    • Professional conduct, including behavior and practices like consulting, research, and teaching
    • Principles and standards that guide members of a profession.

    Professional Ethics Considerations

    • Professional ethics must consider relationships between professionals and clients, the profession and society, professionals among themselves, and employer-employee relationships.

    Why Professional Ethics?

    • Ethics are increasing in importance
    • Decision-making within the workplace can be complex
    • Ethics assist in simplifying the complexities of decision making

    Ethical Issues in Computer Science

    • Software's impact on daily life highlights human and ethical considerations
    • Computer scientists participating in software development can affect the final product (often inadvertently)
    • This can lead to loss of trust and confidence in software and challenge the credibility of the computer science profession.
    • Primarily concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of those affected by software.

    Professional Code of Conduct

    • Professional bodies establish codes to govern members' behavior
    • The ACM and IEEE Computer Society jointly developed the "Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice"
    • Outlines eight core principles: Public, Client, Product, Judgment, Management, Profession, Colleagues, Self, and Resources

    Principle 1 - Public

    • Software engineers should act consistently with public interest.
      • This includes:
        • Responsibility for work
        • Ensuring software safety and reliability
        • Disclosing potential dangers
        • Being honest towards the public

    Principle 2 - Client

    • Software engineers should act in a manner that upholds the best interests of clients and employers (consistent with public interest)
      • This includes:
        • Being honest regarding skills
        • Not using unauthorized software
        • Keeping information confidential, consistent with public interest and the law
        • Keeping the client updated with potential issues
        • Manage conflicts of interest when considering outside work.

    Principle 3 - Product

    • Software engineers must ensure their products meet highest professional standards.
      • This includes:
        • Creating quality products within constraints
        • Ensuring product goals are achievable
        • Identifying and addressing legal, ethical, or cultural issues in products
        • Following professional standards in development and ensuring proper qualification and experience -Ensuring products are tested, debugged, documented, and maintain data security and privacy.

    Principle 4 - Judgement

    • Software engineers must maintain integrity and independence in professional judgments.
      • This includes:
        • Maintaining objectivity
        • Avoiding conflicts of interest.
        • Only endorsing work with personal oversight
        • Avoiding inappropriate financial activities (e.g., bribery).

    Principle 5 - Management

    • Software engineering managers and leaders must promote ethical practices and implement appropriate standards.
      • This involves: -Ensuring good project management for software -Ensuring engineers know applicable standards and procedures -Accurate estimates of software costs and timelines - Assigning projects consistent with engineer capabilities -Fair conditions - Avoidance of punishment for expressing ethical concerns.

    Principle 6 - Profession

    • Software engineers must advance the integrity and reputation of the profession (consistent with public interest)
      • Includes: -Promoting ethical development in their field -Promoting awareness of computer science -Supporting fellow colleagues -Adhering to all applicable local and international laws -Taking responsibility for identifying and handling errors and faults -Maintaining honesty when discussing capabilities of software and systems. -Reporting unethical conduct where necessary

    Principle 7 - Colleagues

    • Software engineers should treat colleagues fairly and supportively.
      • This includes: -Ensuring colleague adherence to code -Helping colleagues develop professionally -Crediting colleagues for their contributions -Giving objective reviews of colleagues' work -Responding to colleagues' concerns and complaints -Asking for assistance when necessary.

    Principle 8 - Self

    • Software engineers continue their professional development.
      • This includes: -Continuing professional development and lifelong learning. -Continuing to upskill and improve their technical abilities. -Avoiding unfair treatment or prejudice in their professional dealings.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the foundational aspects of professional ethics as part of the course on Professional Ethics. Topics include the characteristics of a profession, ethical issues in computer science, and codes of conduct. Ideal for students preparing for assessments in Fall 2024.

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