Ethics and IT

 

Ethics and IT

In the last post, I need to write about one of the online codes of ethics for IT. I chose to write about ITP mandatory code of ethics. Well, mostly just copy-paste the official info.

The Institute of IT Professionals New Zealand Incorporated (ITP), a non-profit association of IT professionals in New Zealand. In order to obtain membership status, one must agree to the company's code of ethics. 

The full Code of Ethics is made up of three components:

1. The code itself, made up of the 8 Tenets

2. Guidelines and Interpretation, to assist in interpretation of the Code

3. Breaches and Disciplinary Process, defined within the IITP Bylaws

The 8 Tenets:

1. Good faith - Members shall treat people with dignity, good faith and equality, without discrimination;

2. Integrity - Members shall act in the execution of their profession with integrity, dignity and honors to merit the trust of the community and the profession, and apply honesty, skill, judgement and initiative to contribute positively to the well-being of society;

3. Community-focus - Members' responsibility for the welfare and rights of the community shall come before their responsibility to their profession, sectional or private interests or to other members;

4. Skills - Members shall apply their skills and knowledge in the interests of their clients or employers for whom they will act without compromising any other of these Tenets;

5. Continuous Development - Members shall develop their knowledge, skills and expertise continuously through their careers, contribute to the collective wisdom of the profession, and actively encourage their associates to do likewise;

6. Informed Consent - Members shall take reasonable steps to inform themselves, their clients or employers of the economic, social, environmental or legal consequences which may arise from their actions;

7. Managed Conflicts of Interest - Members shall inform their clients or employers of any interest which may be, or may be perceived as being, in conflict with the interests of their clients or employers, or which may affect the quality of service or impartial judgement;

8. Competence - Members shall follow recognized professional practice, and provide services and advice carefully and diligently only within their areas of competence.

Other 2 components are more juridical than ethical.

Some of these tenets are pretty obvious, some of them (in my opinion) not exactly ethical, some of them very similar that can be combine in one and almost all of them not exactly about IT. But still it is a very good Code of Ethics. And if everyone follows it the IT-industry will be a much better place. And this code can be followed even not only by IT-company.

And this is the last article in my blog. It was a good experience. If not ISPEA I doubt that I ever do it. I thank everyone who reads this blog-parody ( actually almost nobody, cause I have mostly 0 views everywhere). Maybe someday I will write my own blog, where I will decide what to write about. Maybe someday...