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A. Code of Professional Conduct
A.1 The Public Interest
Safeguard the interests of your clients provided that they do
not conflict with the duties and loyalties owed to the community,
its laws and social and political institutions.
In performing work for a client your priority should be to satisfy
that client's needs and to meet the specifications to which you
are committed. If, however, in meeting these requirements you are
forced to breach law or inflict damage upon a third party, then
you are professionally responsible to make the client aware of these
consequences and agree an alternative course of action.
A.2 Integrity
Do not breach public trust in the profession or the specific trust
of your clients and employers.
Observance of utmost honesty and integrity must underlie all your
professional decisions and actions. Circumstances will undoubtedly
arise during the course of your professional career where it may
appear to be beneficial for you to deceive your client in some way.
The resultant short term gains from this type of behaviour is not
acceptable professional practice, nor is it worth eroding the confidence
and trust that is built up over the longer term.
A.3 Confidentiality
You must not disclose information acquired in the course of your
professional work except where consent has been obtained from the
rightful legal owner or where there is a legal or professional duty
to disclose.
This is applicable to most professions, but it is particularly
applicable to you as an Information Technology professional as you
are likely to have access to clients' information due to the nature
of your work. You should be aware that information is the property
of the client, and must not be distributed freely or used for your
personal advantage or that of a third party without the client's
consent.
A.4 Objectivity and
Independence
Be objective, impartial and free of conflicts of interest in the
performance of your professional duties.
In each professional assignment undertaken, you must be seen to
be free of any interest which is incompatible with objectivity.
Always make sure you are aware of your client's objectives and the
benefits he is looking for, and be careful not to lose objectivity
created by the latest development technology or by the desire to
promote your own product.
In the situation where a conflict exists between two or more clients,
a full and frank explanation and disclosure of the conflict should
be made to the clients.
A.5 Competence
Accept only such work as you believe you are competent to perform
and do not hesitate to obtain additional expertise from appropriately
qualified individuals where advisable.
You should always be aware of your own limitations and not knowingly
imply that you have competence you do not possess. This, of course,
is distinct from accepting a task of which the successful completion
requires expertise additional to your own. You cannot possibly be
knowledgeable on all facets of Information Technology but you should
be able to recognise when you need additional expertise and information.
A.6 Keeping Up-To-Date
Keep yourself, and subordinates, informed of such new technologies,
practices and standards as are relevant to your duties.
Others will expect you to provide special skills and advice; and
in order to do so, you must keep your knowledge up-to-date. This
is true for members of all professions, but particularly so in Information
Technology which is developing and changing rapidly. You must also
encourage your staff and colleagues to do the same, for it is impossible
to retain one's professional standing by relying only on the state
of one's knowledge and competence at the time professional status
is achieved.
A.7 Subordinates
Ensure subordinates are trained in order to be effective in their
duties and to qualify for increased responsibilities.
Take action to ensure that your hard won knowledge and experience
are passed on in such a way that those who receive it not only improve
their own effectiveness in their present positions but also become
keen to advance their careers and take on additional responsibilities.
A.8 Responsibility
to Your Client
Actively seek opportunities for increasing efficiency and effectiveness
to the benefit of the user.
Whatever the precise terms of your brief, you should always be
aware of the environment surrounding it and not work solely towards
completion of the defined task. You must regard it as part of your
duty to make your client aware of other needs that emerge, unsatisfactory
procedures that need modification and benefits that might be achieved.
You, as an innovator, should take into account the relevance of
new methods and should always be looking for the possibility of
additional benefits not foreseen when the project was planned.
You should also look beyond the immediate requirements to the
needs of the ultimate user. For example, the invoice your system
produces may be right for company accounting procedures but confusing
for the person who is being asked to pay against it.
A.9 Promoting Information
Technology
Endeavour to extend public knowledge, understanding and appreciation
of Information Technology.
People, for various reasons, can often be mistrustful or demonstrate
resistance when it comes to Information Technology. Aim to promote
Information Technology by educating people as to the benefits that
can be achieved through its application to their business. You should,
however, only express an opinion on a subject within your level
of competence and when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest
conviction, and oppose any untrue, inaccurate, exaggerated or misleading
statement or claims.
A.10 The Image of
the Profession and the Society
Refrain from any conduct or action in your professional role which
may tarnish the image of the Information Technology profession or
unjustifiably detract from the good name of your professional body.
Information Technology is a relatively new industry, characterised
by rapid change. It is unlike other professions such as accounting
or medicine in that it has not had the opportunity to evolve over
many years and acquire its own standards and legislation. Any person
can, in fact, practice within the industry and claim the title of
Information Technology Professional.
The Society is aware that the public image of Information Technology
is of some concern. It is imperative, therefore, that members of
the Information Technology profession endeavour to maintain a professional
standard that improves and enhances the industry's image. |
