Professional Ethics - Lecture 1

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.

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.