Computer Science: Professional Ethics - Assignment Example

Computer Science: Professional Ethics Essay In today's world the computer is the most important means of problem free existence. Over the years we have been using it to make our work less strenuous. The computer scientists have the capability to take the world in their stride and create an environment, which is beneficial, to all. They can enhance their capabilities by following certain professional ethics meant for helping them understand their professional implications to the fullest. In order to serve the society at large, their colleagues and their employer in the most effective way, they should always abide by these set guidelines. Unfortunately people most related to it i.e. the computer professionals have started misusing this excellent media. The problem is accelerating at huge pace and has become a matter of concern for organizations all over the world. I have a friend who works in a BPO (Business Process Outsource) organization in India as a top-level computer scientist. He is working indirectly for a bank situated in U.S. as this bank out sources its back office work to other countries. Through my friend's emails I came to know that India is the most popular country for outsourcing work from the developed countries. The reason is that the companies get cheap labor there when compared to countries like U.S or U.K. So most of the companies located in these countries are transferring their backend process to India to reduce their operating expenses. Hence India has become the back office of the world. Of late there have been many incidents that have threatened the reputation of the BPO industry workers there. Due to the mistake of a few computer professionals, the entire BPO clan is being looked with suspicion. According to my friend an incident that took place a couple of months ago in his organization, became the focal point for everybody's attention. One of my friend's colleagues used to deal with the credit cards of people situated in different parts of the world. He was not new in the organization and had gradually earned trust from all. His crime was that - he copied all information of credit cards of thousands of customers on a removable storage media and passed on this important data to wrong hands. Naturally he earned a lot of money by doing this. The customers of the bank smelled the rat and complained about the illegal transfer of their money and misuse of their personal information. That bank immediately caught hold of this outsourcing organization of India. A major investigation was ordered at once and shortly after that the magnitude of the crime and the person behind it was made obvious to all. The person responsible for this tried to escape but was taken under police custody. He confessed that he was planning this for a long time and money was the only motive behind his criminal act. The bank that had outsourced the job to this particular organization of India severed all ties. The whole outsource community at large started seeing India as untrustable. Thankappan and Kamath has rightly stated, "It would be safe to say that the biggest challenge the BPO segment faces today is information security, as much of the backlash against outsourcing revolves around security." (2004. p 29) Since that incident the BPO organizations have tried hard to put back the image of India in its appropriate place. They have ensured all their business partners abroad, that they have adopted severe security measures in terms of policies, procedures and technology to bounce back their image. If we look from the ethical point of view we find that professional ethics or the principles of conduct that was required to be followed by that professional as a computer scientist or engineer was overlooked by him completely. So as we can see there was a major ethical problem behind this incident. The culprit had the responsibility towards the following people or in other words the stakeholders of the organization he was working in: Clients Employer Colleagues Public at large But he ignored all that. Additionally he overlooked his responsibilities towards the following principles too: Judgment Management Product Profession He also overlooked the fact that how his conduct might ruin his own reputation which ultimately happened. According to The Code of Ethics of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), "An ACM member should consider the health, privacy and general welfare of the public in the performance of his work. An ACM member, whenever dealing with data concerning individuals, shall always consider the principle of the individual's privacy and seek the following: To minimize the data collected. To limit authorized access to the data. To provide proper security for the data. To determine the required retention period of the data. To ensure proper disposal of the data." (Rue and Byars, p.542) The culprit in discussion simply did not follow any of the guidelines. Keeping in mind the code of ethics a computer scientist should consider the following things in a situation like this so that he does not fall prey to such untoward circumstances and temptations. He should work from the point of view of all the following angles around which the principles revolve. Public: The computer scientist should see that the interest of all that is the client, employer and workers are being taken into account while keeping in mind the public at large. He should see that the quality of life of and the environment of the public in general is not affected negatively. He should be fair and as stated in the Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice, "The ultimate effect of the work should be to the public good." (para.24) Come what may he should always try to use his skills for good cause. The public interest should come first for him and he should never deteriorate the quality of his work and harm others. In matters like public documentation, which was involved in the case mentioned above, he should understand the importance of being honest and not get tempted to play with others property and emotions for his own benefits. Employer and client: From this angle the computer engineer should provide service with honesty to both the parties, i.e. the employer and the client. Illegal or unethical use of any software (like it was the case in discussion) should be avoided by him completely. According to Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice, "Use the property of a client or employer only in ways properly authorized, and with the client's or employer's knowledge and consent"(para.33). Confidential information should always be kept confidential and should never be misused. In other words the computer engineer should work in the best possible way to satisfy both the client and the employer because it is due to them he is earning and gaining experience simultaneously. Hence he should always work keeping the interests of both the parties in mind and never resort to means like the case in discussion. Product: The computer scientist should see to it that the project he is engaged in should be carried in the best possible manner. Here product signifies, the project. He should achieve goals with full earnest and never try to look for his own material or any other benefits on the cost of the project in hand. He should always respect the privacy of the people while dealing with their personal and valuable data. According to Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice, "be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized. "(Para.53) So the computer scientist at work should always focus on the project in hand rather than anything else. Judgment: The computer scientist should always try to go by human values in his work. He should always try to not fall prey to illegal means and go by judgment in his profession. According to Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice, "not engage in deceptive financial practices such as bribery, double billing, or other improper financial practices." (Para.61) Professional objectivity should always be at the back of the computer scientist's mind not only in the situation being discussed but in general too. Management: In such a situation the computer scientists should efficiently mange all the project in hand and always see to it that he is resorting to right ways in doing so. It should be ensured that there is no risk to others' personal data. He should be aware of the policies and procedures of the organization he is working for and never temper with confidential files, password or data. He should never do anything nor should let anyone do anything, which is not consistent to the code of ethics. Profession: A computer scientist should always avoid any association with any person or organization, which wants to break the privacy of the data or the organization as a whole. In this context it has been stated in Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice - "not promote their own interest at the expense of the profession, client or employer." (para 82) In all circumstances the computer scientist should avoid violating any code of ethics related to his profession. Colleagues: He should assist his colleagues in making them fully aware of current standard work practices including policies and procedures for protecting passwords, files and other confidential information, and security measures in general. If any of the colleagues of the culprit in discussion have knowingly ignored his unethical behavior then they are at fault too. In fact, their action may have stopped such a crime from being taking place at all. If the computer engineer finds any of his colleagues finds any of his colleagues resorting to unethical means then he should at once stop him and in extreme cases complain to the higher authorities immediately. Self: He should always work towards the betterment of his skills so that he is able to efficiently perform his duties. Also, he should maintain honesty towards code of ethics and apply it accurately to his work. He should never indulge in any breach of the code of ethics and always keep improving himself in accordance to what is required for a computer professional like him and "recognize that personal violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer." (Software Engineers Code of Ethics and professional Practice, para 109) As it is obvious, each course of action would result in better working environment from everyone's point of view - The employer, the client, his colleagues, public at large and the computer scientist himself. In a situation like this my aim would be to work in the best interests of my employer, my client and the public at large. Naturally I will try to go by the principles pf judgment, management and professionalism. I will try to become a very good colleague and be on the search of any untoward behavior that may harm the reputation of the organization I am working for. Of course my own reputation and conduct would always be at the back of my mind. But I think I will pay more attention towards my employer, colleague and the public at large. In the interest of the employer: One mistake will mar the image of the organization, which is not only my employer but also of hundreds of my colleagues. So to indirectly create a good working atmosphere I will first and foremost pay more attention to the ethical requirement related to my employer. If my employer suffers, I will suffer too. So ethical guidelines related to this area will take the first position. In the interest of the client: It is due to the client that my organization is getting business. This business is directly related to the all the workers' jobs. As my organization (BPO) would be dependant on the client for all work. My ethical considerations will be more to that side as well. Considering the nature of crime, the client would be at great loss after the illegal transfer of its customer's data. His reputation in the market would be at stake. So looking from his point of view the ethical considerations towards maintaing a good reputation of my client in the large market would get my most attention. In the interest of the Public: here there are four kinds of public - 1.The people who are or can be the customers of my client - I have to strictly follow all the ethical principles so that they do not view the bank services with suspicion and maintain full trust in it. 2. The employees of my organization - just because one person has made a mistake or can make a mistake in future, the future of others should not be played with. So my action here would be to observe all the principles meant for computer professionals and urge my colleagues to do the same in order to avoid a shameful situation like the one, which has been mentioned above. 3. The companies of the developed countries that can become clients of my organization or sector. If such an illegal and unethical situation arises then no company would outsource job to my organization or sector and always consider it a cheat. 4. The competitors - who might take advantage of the situation. Thus, as a computer science professional I will be ethical in all my dealings with all the stakeholders in all-critical situations like this one. Works Cited Rue, Leslie W., and Lloyd. L.Byars. Management Skills and Applications 4th ed. USA: Irwin, 1992. Thankappan, Jeevan M., and Bijesh Kamath. "Can BPOs handle the Challenge" Network Computing 6.8 (2004) : 29. Computing and Public Policy 1999. 13 th December 2006 Read More