1. Pick at least 3 definitions of ethics from those given and give your own example of each.
· Ethics as a concept suggest the notion of correct or incorrect practices relative to various concern or fields of study.
Example.
A doctor for example who has sworn the Hippocratic oath is bound by professional ethics. So, if a patient asks him or her to breach these ethics then s/he is bound not to do so. An example may be when a patient asks a doctor to help them to commit suicide. A doctor would have to refuse this request, because potentially it is a breach of ethics.
· Ethics is the study and philosophy of human conduct with emphasis on the determination of right or wrong.
Example.
Lian have a co-worker at the big company tell a unpleasant customer "I have your address, your date of birth, and your social security number. Now do you want to be polite to me, or shall I wreak havoc on your credit, sir?". It is unethical because although the customer is not polite, he or she Is not pertaining to you rather he or she is pertaining to the company’s service, that’s why he or she is not polite. As an employee of that company you should know your ethics to help the customer to solve their problems.
· Ethics is the study of the morality of human actions.
Example.
A former boss of Mary was dating someone who also worked in the same company (but not the same department). A rare promotional opportunity came up that the girlfriend and one of her co-workers both applied for (they were both qualified). Because they have to have their current manager's permission to even apply for jobs in other departments, her co-worker had to ask the boss. Since he knew his girlfriend was also applying, he did his damndest to talk her co-worker out of applying, even telling her she wasn't qualified (even she was) and wouldn't enjoy it. Eventually, though he did relent, but her co-worker had reason to believe he talked to the hiring manager in an effort to sabotage her chances. The girlfriend got the job. It is unethical because as manager you have to be fair to your employee even though you have a relationship to one of your employee. You should not use your position to get anything you want.
2. Study the ACM Code of ethics (http://www.acm.org/about/code-of-ethics) or software engineering code of ethics (http://www.acm.org/about/se-code) and summarizes its concerns and what you have been found out.
ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) Code of Ethics
Adopted by ACM Council 10/16/92.
Section 1 : Outline fundamental ethical consideration.
Section 2 : Addresses additional, more specific consideration of professional conduct.
Section 3 : Pertain specifically to individuals who have a role, whether in the work place or in a volunteer capacity such as with organization like ACM.
Section 4 : Principles involving compliance with this code are given.
Contents & Guidelines
1. General Moral Imperatives
2. More Specific Professional Responsibilities
3. Organizational Leadership Imperatives
4. Compliance with the Code
5. Acknowledgments
1. GENERAL MORAL IMPERATIVES
As an ACM member I will …
1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being.
This principle concerning the quality of life of all people affirms an obligation to protect fundamental human rights and to respect the diversity of all cultures. Computing professionals who design and develop systems must be alert to, and make others aware of, any potential damage to the local or global environment.
1.2 Avoid harm to others.
"Harm" means injury or negative consequences, such as undesirable loss of information, loss of property, property damage, or unwanted environmental impacts. This principle prohibits use of computing technology in ways that result in harm to any of the following: users, the general public, employees, employers.
One way to avoid unintentional harm is to carefully consider potential impacts on all those affected by decisions made during design and implementation.
To minimize the possibility of indirectly harming others, computing professionals must minimize malfunctions by following generally accepted standards for system design and testing.
In particular, the assessment of risk and responsibility must be credible. It is suggested that advice be sought from other computing professionals.
1.3 Be honest and trustworthy.
Honesty is an essential component of trust. Without trust an organization cannot function effectively.
A computer professional has a duty to be honest about his or her own qualifications, and about any circumstances that might lead to conflicts of interest.
1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
The values of equality, tolerance, respect for others, and the principles of equal justice govern this imperative. Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin, or other such factors is an explicit violation of ACM policy and will not be tolerated.
However, these ideals do not justify unauthorized use of computer resources nor do they provide an adequate basis for violation of any other ethical imperatives of this code.
1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent.
Violation of copyrights, patents, trade secrets and the terms of license agreements is prohibited by law in most circumstances.
Unauthorized duplication of materials must not be condoned.
1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property.
Computing professionals are obligated to protect the integrity of intellectual property.
1.7 Respect the privacy of others.
Computing and communication technology enables the collection and exchange of personal information on a scale unprecedented in the history of civilization.
It is the responsibility of professionals to maintain the privacy and integrity of data describing individuals.
1.8 Honor confidentiality.
The principle of honesty extends to issues of confidentiality of information whenever one has made an explicit promise to honor confidentiality or, implicitly, when private information not directly related to the performance of one's duties becomes available.
2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
As an ACM computing professional I will …
2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity in both the process and products of professional work.
Excellence is perhaps the most important obligation of a professional. The computing professional must strive to achieve quality and to be cognizant of the serious negative consequences that may result from poor quality in a system.
2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence.
Excellence depends on individuals who take responsibility for acquiring and maintaining professional competence. A professional must participate in setting standards for appropriate levels of competence, and strive to achieve those standards.
2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work.
ACM members must obey existing local, state, province, national, and international laws unless there is a compelling ethical basis not to do so. Policies and procedures of the organizations in which one participates must also be obeyed.
Violation of a law or regulation may be ethical when that law or rule has inadequate moral basis or when it conflicts with another law judged to be more important.
2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review.
2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks.
Computer professionals must strive to be perceptive, thorough, and objective when evaluating, recommending, and presenting system descriptions and alternatives. When providing evaluations the professional must also identify any relevant conflicts of interest.
2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities.
Honoring one's commitments is a matter of integrity and honesty. A computing professional has a responsibility to request a change in any assignment that he or she feels cannot be completed as defined. The major underlying principle here is the obligation to accept personal accountability for professional work. The computing professional's ethical judgment should be the final guide in deciding whether or not to proceed.
2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences.
Computing professionals have a responsibility to share technical knowledge with the public by encouraging understanding of computing, including the impacts of computer systems and their limitations.
2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so.
Theft or destruction of tangible and electronic property is prohibited by imperative 1.2 - "Avoid harm to others." Trespassing includes accessing communication networks and computer systems, or accounts and/or files associated with those systems, without explicit authorization to do so. No one should enter or use another's computer system, software, or data files without permission.
3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES
As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will …
3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities.
Organizational procedures and attitudes oriented toward quality and the welfare of society will reduce harm to members of the public, thereby serving public interest and fulfilling social responsibility.
3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems that enhance the quality of working life.
Organizational leaders are responsible for ensuring that computer systems enhance, not degrade, the quality of working life. Appropriate human-computer ergonomic standards should be considered in system design and in the workplace.
3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization's computing and communication resources.
As to benefit an organization, the leadership has the responsibility to clearly define appropriate and inappropriate uses of organizational computing resources.
3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have their needs clearly articulated during the assessment and design of requirements; later the system must be validated to meet requirements.
Current system users, potential users and other persons whose lives may be affected by a system must have their needs assessed and incorporated in the statement of requirements.
3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and others affected by a computing system.
Designing or implementing systems that deliberately or inadvertently demean individuals or groups is ethically unacceptable. Systems are designed and implemented to protect personal privacy and enhance personal dignity.
3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the principles and limitations of computer systems.
Educational opportunities are essential to facilitate optimal participation of all organizational members. Opportunities must be available to all members to help them improve their knowledge and skills in computing, including courses that familiarize them.
4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE.
As an ACM member I will …
4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this Code.
The future of the computing profession depends on both technical and ethical excellence. Each member should encourage and support adherence by other members.
4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with membership in the ACM.
If a member does not follow this code by engaging in gross misconduct, membership in ACM may be terminated.
I found out that the ACM Code of Ethics are concerned to our fellowmen, all of us should know how to act and obeyed according to theirs laws and it’s emphasize the ethics that we should enhance in our life for a better and have a command responsibilities as individual.
3. In your opinion, when does an act become ethical or unethical? Explain your answer. Support your answer by using example.
The act become ethical when it is accepted in a particular community, but if it is not accepted then it is considered unethical.
Example.
Spitting on the road or eating chewing gum here in the Philippines was ok, while in Singapore are not and you will be fined.
4. Given the opportunity to formulate at least 5 ethical norms to govern computing, what would they be? Briefly explain each.
· Use computer in proper way.
Using Internet is commonly habitat to us, getting information and advance information but we should know on how or when we need to use it for knowing how we addicted on it and also for our safeties.
· Do not create something to destruct other for your own sake.
Doing destruction like viruses and hacking are usually can cause to a harmful effect especially in all users intended to be responsible on it.
· Respect the private property and opinion of others.
Respect should be a policy, well of us should respect the private property and mostly the opinions of other in order to build a good relationship into others.
· Be responsible in every act you made.
Knowing the limitation is the best thing to do, everything you did, wrote or made in the internet had a equivalent responsibilities
· Have a limitation in all information you gave.
Giving information is easy things we did but in order to have privacy we should limit in giving information for our good and safeties. Don’t easily trust others.
5. A co-worker calls you at 9am at work and asks for a favor. He is having a little trouble getting going this morning and will be an hour or so late getting into work. He explains that he has already been late for work twice this month and a third time will cost him four hours pay. He asks you to stop by his cubicle turn his computer on, and place some papers on the desk so that it looks like he is “in”. you have worked on some small projects with this co-worker and gone lunch together. He seems nice enough and does his share of the work, but you are not sure what to tell him. What would you do? What will be your decision? Support your position by using any definition of ethics discussed in this module.
Ethics is the study and philosophy of human conduct with emphasis on the determination of right or wrong.
For me I should go in a fair decision, me as a friend I can help him easily but the point is were both worked for a company. If I did it, what can possibly result of what I’ve done. As a co-worker I could not do his favor for his own sake and also not for my own sake, even though we been so close. I rather to tell him that he need to have a time management to fixed everything to be able to come early and not to be late again for his own good. We, as a friendly people doing favorable thing is not good enough to have this kind of ethics because we should know our limitation in doing favors.
