Mgt. 231 Assignment 1: ACM Code of Ethics and Software Companies

This assignment analyzes the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, focusing on its application within the software industry. The student identifies and defines key ethical principles, including welfare of the community, avoiding harm, fairness, respect for privacy, and maintaining professional competence. The assignment uses the ACM Code of Ethics as a framework and provides examples from specific software companies like Carv and Zymr to illustrate how these ethical principles are put into practice. The analysis includes how these companies address issues related to data protection, resource utilization, and grievance redressal. The student also highlights the importance of professional development and ethical guidelines for computing professionals. The assignment provides a clear understanding of the ethical responsibilities in the computing field, particularly in the context of software development and data privacy.

Running head: SALES
SALES
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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For this topic the code or ethics selected is the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
The ACM Code is the code of ethics for the computing professionals. The code of ethics
provides for the basis of ethical decision making for the computing professionals. The principles
covered in this code include welfare of the community, avoiding harm, honesty, being fair and
just, respecting privacy, maintaining high standard of professional competence (Acm.org, 2020).
Welfare of the community
This ethical principle requires a computing professional or organization to use their skills
individually and collectively towards the well being of the society and to acknowledge the
people who are stakeholders to the computing. The most important aim of a computing
professional is minimising negative consequences such as the threats that computing produce to
the safety, health, privacy and security of the stakeholders(Acm.org, 2020). The example of this
is found in the software company Carv. The aim of the company is to provide the companies
using its tools to optimize maximum utilization of the resources for increasing profitability. This
is an ethical behaviour and follows the ethical principle in a just manner (Carv.io, 2020).
Avoiding harm
This principle provides that it is the duty of the computing professionals to avoid unjustified
harm caused to any stakeholder. This includes unjustified injuries, destruction or disclosing any
information (Acm.org, 2020). The privacy policy of the software company Zymr can be seen as
complying with the Data protection regulations which ensures that the information shared by the
stakeholders are well maintained and not disclosed unjustly (Zymr, 2020).

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Being fair and just
The principle provides that a computing professional needs to value equality, respect, justice and
equality which governs the principle of fairness. This includes proper grievance redressal
(Acm.org, 2020). Although very less is found about the grievance redressals in the software
companies, there are certain ways in which it is ensured. A company is required to follow the
regulations set by the grievance redress cell and should maintain a open forum where the
stakeholders can complain about the problems they have faced.
Respect privacy
The ACM code of ethics requires the computing professionals to respect the privacy of the data
they collect. Although it is possible with the help of technology to collect, monitor and exchange
private and personal data, yet a computing professional should respect the privacy of q person
and should know the rights and responsibilities that are associated with collecting and using such
data (Acm.org, 2020). The privacy policy of the software company Zymr can be seen as
complying with the Data protection regulations which ensures that the information shared by the
stakeholders are well maintained and not disclosed unjustly (Zymr, 2020).
Maintaining high standard of professional competence
The ACM code of ethics requires the computing professionals to take responsibilities both
individually and in groups to acquire and maintain professional competence, including both
technical knowledge and social awareness (Acm.org, 2020). Although very less is found about
the ethical policies in the software companies, there are certain ways in which it is ensured. An
organisation is required to follow the regulations set by the code of ethics and law. The

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computing professionals should upgrade their skills as necessary and attend the conferences and
seminars which they find would help in it. They should also maintain ethical guidelines.

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Reference
Acm.org. (2020). The Code affirms an obligation of computing professionals to use their skills
for the benefit of society. Retrieved 24 January 2020, from https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics
Carv.io. (2020). Terms. Retrieved 24 January 2020, from https://www.carv.io/terms
Zymr. (2020). Privacy Policy - Zymr. Retrieved 24 January 2020, from
https://www.zymr.com/privacypolicy/