ICT Professionalism: Strategies for Addressing ACS Code Violations

This report addresses the issue of classmates engaging in unethical activities, specifically ghostwriting, which violates the ACS Code of Professional Conduct and the ACS Code of Ethics. It outlines a strategy to address these violations, beginning with direct communication with classmates to emphasize the importance of honesty, competence, professional development, and upholding public interest. If these initial efforts are unsuccessful, the report suggests escalating the issue to the lecturer and head of department at CQU. The report highlights the importance of ensuring fair grading based on individual skills and hard work to maintain motivation and opportunities for skilled employees. It emphasizes the professional responsibility to take action against unethical behavior to protect and promote professionalism in the ICT field, improve working conditions, and uphold the integrity of the profession.

Professional skills for Information and Communication Technology

First I will try and talk to my classmates about the wrong activities and will make them understand that
these activities are against the policies of ACS Code of Professional Conduct. At the same time, they
are also violating all the policies of ACS Code of Ethics i.e. the primary of public interest, the
enhancement of quality of life, honesty, competence, professional development and professionalism.
The most important ACS Code they are violating is Honesty which asks an individual to not breach
public trust in the profession. With respect to this value they should reject and should not make any sort
of offer which is inducement (Weckert & Lucas, 2013). Along with this, they are disregarding the
competence code because they are not performing on their own and hence are depending totally on
someone else for their expertise qualification. As a result, they are not accepting the responsibility of
their work and eventually are not respecting their allotted work. At the same time, they are not even
respecting the professional expertise of their colleagues in their respective areas of competence. Adhere
to this; the code of professional development is also getting breached because the individuals are not
doing their work on their own. Hence, they are not able to provide specials skills and advice to their
colleagues because they are not keeping themselves informed of the new technologies, practices and the
standards of the work (ACS, 2014). They themselves are not supporting education, training and
professional development in ICT and hence are unable to encourage their colleagues and students. At
last, if none of my actions fall in place it is my duty to tell my lecturer and the head department at CQU
about the ghost writing. I will also tell them how few of my classmates are using this as wrong means to
get good grades. As students who are less capable gets good grades with the help of ghost writing while
the students who work hard on their assignments get lesser grades. Hence, students feel demotivated
and do not feel enthusiastic to work more.
According to the code of professionalism, it is my duty to take applicable actions against the members
who involve themselves in behaviours which contradicts the codes of ACS (ACS, 2014). I have to
make sure that people get grades according to their skills and hard work because wrong practises will
limit the opportunities of employees having good skill set. In accordance of this code, I have to take a
calm, practical and a detailed stand on my professional work and must improve the working conditions.
This code also supports me in taking actions for all type of unethical behaviour and hence I will
eventually protect and promote professionalism in ICT (McDermid, 2015).

References
ACS. (2014).ACS Code of Professional Conduct. Retrieved from
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Professional-
Conduct_v2.1.pdf
ACS. (2014). ACS Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-
documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf
McDermid, D. (2015). Ethics in ICT. Pearson Australia Pty Ltd.
Weckert, J., & Lucas, R. (2013). Professionalism in the information and communication technology
industry. Australia: ANU E Press.