Professional Ethics - A review

The concept of Professional Ethics is partly comprised of what a professional should or should not do in the work
place. It also encompasses a much greater part of the professionals life. If a professional is to have ethics then that
person needs to adopt that conduct in all of his dealings. Computer Societies around the world such as the IEEE and
national bodies in ustralia! Singapore! the "# and other countries have on their websites professional codes of
ethics to consider and adopt in the way professionals conduct themselves in and out of the work place. Things that
are included are concepts like$ professional respect! avoidance of dishonest or fraudulent activity such as plagiarism
and the professional development of the individual. nother aspect of this is the enhancement of the profession and
the industry within which the professional works. This concerns a professional%s conduct and behaviour while carrying
out their professional work. This then! is work for the good of the community and mankind.
Things to Do
&. Do return value to your customer 'internal and e(ternal) in all business decisions
*. Do return value to your community locally and globally
+. Do deliver ,uality in a timely fashion
-. Do be honest in your work by telling the client! customer! or boss that the task or pro.ect you are working
on will not meet the target date.
/. Do ask for help in order to meet the pro.ect or task deadline. professional will not feel slighted if he or
she acknowledges that he or she needs help.
0. 1hen you accept an assignment! Do start using words like we! us and ours. professional never works
at cross2purpose with the employer.
3. If the employer wants respect from employees! he4she should treat all employees as professionals in
their own right. 5emember! if you treat someone as a professional! they will 'hopefully) treat you like one
too.
6. Promote your profession i.e. Information Technology
7. 8o things for the good of yourself! the customer and the profession. 9ou are not a true professional if
you don%t deliver outcomes that satisfy all three of these areas.
&:. 8o provide respect to others. This means truly thinking of their beliefs and desires! and the contribution
they make to the organi;ation! however small.
Things to Not Do
&. Do not tell the client! customer! or boss that you can do something when you cannot.
*. 1hen you accept an assignment! Do not use words like me! mine! you and yours.
+. 8o not steal from your employer.
-. 8o not underestimate your capabilities
Online Behavior
Companies are increasingly writing guidelines for professional ethics online. <uidelines that are specific to blogging!
wikis! forums and virtual worlds. 1hile behavior online should be guided by Things to 8o and Things =ot to 8o there
are ways to act unprofessionally online through a lack of e(perience or understanding of the media being used.
E(amples of professional ethics for online behavior$
&. I>? @irtual 1orlds <uidelines
http$44domino.research.ibm.com4comm4researchApro.ects.nsf4pages4virtualworlds.I>?@irtual1orld<uidel
ines.html
*. Sun policy on public discourse
http$44www.tbray.org4ongoing41hen4*::(4*::-4:/4:*4Policy