The British Computer Society (BCS) and the Code of Conduct
After recently earning my first job within the IT industry, I was browsing around the internet and then I came across this organisation in which I felt was important to write as an IT professional. To understand them, so I can apply them to my career and get a knowledge in how we should conduct ourselves within the industry. The British Computer Society (BCS) are a professional body that ensures that the legal, ethical and social issues within the IT industry are followed to ensure that the correct practices are being followed within the UK. Members of the British Computer Society (BSC) must follow the Code of Conduct which stipulates that they are obligated to follow the rules and regulations within organisation to help establish a control on how members should conduct themselves within the IT industry.
The Code of Conduct: http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/conduct.pdf
“Have due regard for public health, privacy, security and wellbeing of others and the environment” (BCS, Code of Conduct, 2011).
The issue of privacy and security in the IT industry is a very crucial one, especially when it involves sensitive information such as medical, financial or legal information, many questions arise pertaining to the issue of privacy and security such as; can the companies be trusted with the information they collect, how much information is too much information, is the system secure. The protection of such information should be principal to IT professionals and care should be taken from the early days of coding such as till systems.
“Promote equal access to the benefits of IT and seek to promote the inclusion of all sectors in society wherever opportunities arise” (BCS, Code of Conduct, 2011).
Digital equality is important to IT professionals as the use of the internet helps to create equal opportunities for individuals in society. Access to commination and information should be a basic human right for the elderly and disabled to reduce the disadvantages the gain from not being able to use the same way others are.
“DO NOT misrepresent or withhold information on the performance of products, systems or services (unless lawfully bound by a duty of confidentiality not to disclose such information), or take advantage of the lack of relevant knowledge or inexperience of others”
As professionals we often have knowledge beyond implementation. We have knowledge that is relevant to decision making. We should always be open and honest to relevant authorities especially when key decisions are to be made as to what option they have and the consequences of each. We should also not misrepresent a product, our organisation or service for personal gain or take advantage of the fact that the outside world does not know us as well as we do ourselves. Also we should not pass on confidential information, mostly trade secrets without permission.
IT professionals are usually involved in relationships with many others including co-workers, employees and clients. Managing these relationships play a major role in achieving good professional ethics. Conflicts of responsibility always arise as to what is owed to “relevant authorities” and this usually begs the question of loyalty.
The term “relevant authority” means the person or organisation that has authority over what you are doing. Relevant authorities include employers, stakeholders, and government among others and at every point in time we have a duty to one or more of these authorities. The BCS code of conduct states that IT professionals should carry out their professional responsibilities with due care and diligence in accordance with the Relevant Authority’s requirements whilst exercising your professional judgement at all times.
IT professionals must ensure the data security so as to prevent unauthorised access or data loss. The design of the system must ensure that the data can be retrieved fast and in appropriate form. The correctness of data can be supported by input verification. The reliability of the system must be ensured by good quality management and testing. Also, the system has to facilitate backups.
The BCS code of conduct also states that IT professionals should develop their professional knowledge, skills and competence on a continuing basis, maintaining awareness of technological developments, procedures, and standards that are relevant to their field(s). As specialists, IT or otherwise we should strive not only to achieve mastery of an esoteric body of knowledge, but also to maintain a mastery of that body of knowledge in order to provide a competent professional service to clients. Professionals in the IT industry should ensure that work is carried out to proper standards and practitioners must not exploit their clients to gain personal advantage, always advice clients. IT practitioners should also from allowing a conflict of interest, bias and undue influences of others compromise their judgments.
Overall, members to should conduct themselves in a way will not does create and violate any social, ethical or legal issues within the IT profession. Being aware and diligent enough to understand how they should act towards clients and their fellow colleagues is important in maintaining relationships and the protection of private data and ensuring their is equal opportunities for everyone in the IT industry as well.
