June 2010 Edition
Computer Science Department, University of Cape Town
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The Computer Society of South Africa - CSSA has a code of conduct – a guide on how to handle issues. It maintains a complaint structure which involves the Committee of Enquiry and the Disciplinary Committee. The code addresses several key issues – integrity, confidentiality, impartiality, responsibility, relationship to the CSSA and non-discrimination.
This principle required that member must:
Behave at all times with integrity which implies
Soundness
Completeness
Obtain expertise from qualified adviser where necessary
Do not hide behind this principle to avoid being helpful
Never knowingly lay claim to a level of competence not possessed.
Act towards clients/employers/employees in a manner that is based on trust and good faith.
Expressed any opinions that are based on adequate knowledge and honest conviction
Not deliberately make false or exaggerated statements.
Must comply with the CSSA code of practise
Keep abreast of relevant developments in IT
Refrain from illegal activities including copyright and patent violations.
Members will act with complete loyalty to client in respect of confidential information and must take adequate measures to ensure confidentiality of information that can be used for personal or corporate advantage. This includes business plans, trade secrets, and personnel information. Companies should train all their staff to achieve this objective in order to obviate inadvertent or intentional leaks.
Member must act with impartiality when giving independent advice and will disclose any relevant personal interests in respect to relatives or friends in any way involved or personal involvement with involved companies. In other words members are expert to not be a salesperson (who is expected to be biased to their own products) but rather to act as a consultant (who is expected to consider the welfare of the whole organisation).
Member must take full responsibility for any work done and the work should be completed in agreed time and budget. In cases of delay, the client must be alerted to any late delivery. Additionally, generic information (not confidential information) about an area should be fed back to the Profession. Members are also required to combat ignorance about technology.
Member must:
Not seek personal advantage to the detriment of the society
Actively seek to enhance the image of the Society
Not bring the Society into disrepute by personal behaviour
Not misrepresent the views of the society
When faced with conflict of interest, declare their position
Member must not engage in illegal discriminatory practices on any bases and must hire personnel based on skills, experience and performance. Remuneration must be done on equal opportunity basis. Additionally, employers should initiate and/or support programs that encourage development and training on equal opportunity basis.
This procedure exists so that anyone may lay a complaint against a member. The level of the member determines his/her responsibility. For example, consultants carry more obligations. The Society, however, has no legal standing between member and employer, but where appropriate the Society will give support to member losing job or censuring employer for violating the Society’s code of conduct.
The society has regulations that required all complaints to be in writing. The complaint will first be investigated by a Committee of Enquiry which has the power to summon the member involved. If misconduct is established by the committee, the member is given 21 days to response to the complaints. If this response is unsatisfactory, the issue is referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
The Disciplinary Committee sets a formal hearing where witnesses may be called. No legal representation is allowed and the proceeding is carried out in camera. If the member is found to be guilty, he or she can be warned, reprimanded, suspended or expelled.
Do you think this procedure is fair, adequate, and constitutional?