June 2010 Edition
Computer Science Department, University of Cape Town
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The British Computer Society (BCS) sets the professional standards of competence, conduct and ethical practice for computing in the United Kingdom. The Royal Charter incorporated the Society in July 1984. This code of conduct is directed to all members of The British Computer Society. As an aid to understanding, these rules have been grouped into the principal duties, which all members should endeavour to discharge in pursuing their professional lives.
The Public Interest
Duty to Employers and Clients
Duty to the Profession
Professional Competence and Integrity
The Public Interest
Members shall in their professional practice safeguard public health and safety and have regard to protection of the environment.
Members shall have due regard to the legitimate rights of third parties.
Members shall ensure that within their chosen fields they have knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, regulations and standards and that they comply with such requirements.
Members shall in their professional practice have regard to basic human rights and shall avoid any actions that adversely affect such rights.
Duty to Employers and Clients
Members shall carry out work with due care and diligence in accordance with the requirements of the employer or client and shall, if their professional judgement is overruled, indicate the likely consequences.
Members shall endeavour to complete work undertaken on time and to budget and shall advise their employer or client as soon as practicable if any overrun is foreseen.
Members shall not offer or provide, or receive in return, inducement for the introduction of business from a client unless there is full prior disclosure of the facts to the client.
Members shall not disclose or authorise, to be disclosed, or use for personal gain or to benefit a third party, confidential information acquired in the course of professional practice, except with prior written permission of the employer or client, or at the direction of a court of law.
Members should seek to avoid being put in a position where they may become privy to or party to activities or information concerning activities which would conflict with their responsibilities in 1-4 above.
Members shall not misrepresent or withhold information on the capabilities of products, systems or services with which they are concerned or take advantage of the lack of knowledge or inexperience of others.
Members shall not, except where specifically so instructed, handle client's monies or place contracts or orders in connection with work on which they are engaged where acting as an independent consultant.
Members shall not purport to exercise independent judgement on behalf of a client on any product or service in which they knowingly have any interest, financial or otherwise.
Duty to the Profession
Members shall uphold the reputation of the Profession and shall seek to improve professional standard through participation in their development, use and enforcement, and shall avoid any action, which will adversely affect the good standing of the Profession.
Members shall in their professional practice seek to advance public knowledge and understanding of computing and information systems and technology and to counter false or misleading statements, which are detrimental to the Profession.
Members shall encourage and support fellow members in their professional development and, where possible, provide opportunities for the professional development of new entrants to the Profession.
Members shall act with integrity towards fellow members and to members of other professions with whom they are concerned in a professional capacity and shall avoid engaging in any activity, which is incompatible with professional status.
Members shall not make any public statements in their professional capacity unless properly qualified and, where appropriate, authorised to do so, and shall have due regard to the likely consequences of any statement on others.
Professional Competence and Integrity
Members shall seek to upgrade their professional knowledge and skill and shall maintain awareness of technological developments, procedures and standards which are relevant to their field, and shall encourage their subordinates to do likewise.
Members shall seek to conform to recognised good practice including quality standards, which are in their judgement relevant, and shall encourage their subordinates to do likewise.
Members shall only offer to do work or provide a service, which is within their professional competence and shall not claim to any level of competence, which they do not possess, and any professional opinion, which they are asked to give, shall be objective and reliable.
Members shall accept professional responsibility for their work and for the work of their subordinates and associates under their direction, and shall not terminate any assignment except for good reason and on reasonable notice.
Members shall avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between themselves and their client and shall make full and immediate disclosure to the client if any conflict should occur.
The British Computer Society Code of Practice is directed to all members of The British Computer Society. It consists, essentially, of a series of statements, which prescribe minimum standards of practice, to be observed by all members.
The Code of Practice is concerned with professional responsibility. All members have responsibilities: to clients, to users, to the State and society at large. Those members who are employees also have responsibilities to their employers and employers' customers and, often, to a Trade Union. In the event of apparent clash in responsibilities, obligations or prescribed practice the Society's Secretary-General should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.
The Code is to be viewed as a whole: individual parts are not intended to be used in isolation to justify errors or omissions or commission. The Code is intended to be observed in the spirit and not merely the word. The BCS membership covers all occupations relevant to the use of computers and it is not possible to define the Code in terms directly relevant to each individual member. For this reason the Code is set out in two levels to enable every member to reach appropriate interpretations.
The BCS Code of Practice can be found at the following Web site: http://www.bcs.org.uk/
Compare and contrast CSSA's codes to that of BCS. What are the differences and similarities. Also have a look at the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.