Professional Responsibility & Accountability

Allison FoxPo-Han Chen

The question to keep in mind:

What is professional responsibility?

What is a profession?Body of knowledgeAutonomyFormal organizationCode of EthicsCulture of practice

IT compared to law & medicineBody of knowledge: is it

defined? Should we define it?

Should IT experts have the power to govern themselves?One universal exam?

Licenses?Should there be one formal

organization of IT experts?Is it possible for one Code

of Ethics to cover all of IT?What is IT culture?

Is the practice of IT design and research a profession?(Should it be?)12 year old app developer

The levels of responsibilityLegal systemCode of EthicsHuman ethicsCall for a “moral operating system”

The four types of professional relationships

Employer-employeeProfessional –professionalClient-professionalOther stakeholder-professional

Employer-Employee

Why is there a process of “whistle blowing?”The Hughes CaseBART

Professional-ProfessionalWhy should co-workers be loyal to each

other?Hughes

Do professionals “owe” each other anything?Should build up reputation of the profession in

the public eyeShould promote growth in the professionApple sues Samsung- ethical towards fellow

professionals?

Client-ProfessionalAgency, Paternalistic, FiduciaryWhich of these is the best type of relationship

for IT?How to use experts-and when not toGuns for hireNegligence

MySpaceAccenture

Professional-Other Stakeholders

Should IT professionals take other stakeholders into account when designing a system/following a client’s demands?

AccentureACS law: porn server data leak

Professional RelationshipsWhich relationship is the most important?

(i.e. which one does a professional have the most ethical responsibility to honor?)

Other stakeholders vs. employer?Employer vs. other professionals?Client vs. other stakeholders?Client vs. employer?Can they be ordered in a linear fashion?