ICT521 IT Professional Practice: Code of Ethics and Conduct Framework

This report provides a comparative analysis of the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Irish Computer Society (ICS), and Singapore Computer Society (SCS) codes of ethics. It examines the similarities and differences between these codes, focusing on aspects such as public interest, quality of life, honesty, integrity, competence, and professional development. The report also discusses the importance of ethical principles and personal responsibility in the IT profession, highlighting the need for professionals to adhere to societal values, maintain competence, and avoid harm to others. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of organizational leadership in promoting ethical conduct and ensuring compliance with established codes, ultimately contributing to the integrity and effectiveness of the IT profession. Desklib offers a wide range of study resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their academic endeavors.

Running head: COMMUNICATION SKILLS 1
Communication Skills
Name
Institution

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Part A
The codes of ethics chosen are the Irish Computer Society (ICS) Code of Ethics and the
Singapore Computer Society (SCS) Code of Ethics which are to be compared to the Australian
Computer Society (ACS) Code of Ethics. They form part of the computer society constitution
and apply to all the computer society members not considering their role or specific expertise
areas in the ICT industry (ACS Code of Ethics, 2018). It is a must for the members to endorse
and advance the dignity, effectiveness, and honor of being a professional (“Ethics and the ICS
Code of Conduct”, 2018). Besides, it does not only look at the professional side alone but also
the side of the law whereby it expects the members guided by the code of ethics to be the perfect
example of a good citizen who adheres to societal values and acts within the law. The code
encourages the adherence to societal values that include the public interest primacy, honesty, the
enhancement of the quality of life, competence, professionalism, and professional development.
It encourages its members to value the public interests more than their personal and business
ones. They are expected to add to the quality of life of the people affected by their work and
encouraged to be honest at all times especially when representing their skills, services, products,
and knowledge. What’s more, the represented IT professionals are expected to work diligently
and competently for their stakeholders and enhance not only their professional development but
also that of their colleagues and staff. And finally, these codes of ethics require that the IT
professionals display professionalism by adding to the integrity of the society as well as to the
respect of the members for each other.
ACS Code of Ethics (Australian) SCS Code of Ethics (Singapore)
The Primacy of the public interest **
The enhancement of quality of life **

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Honesty Integrity
Competence Competence
Professional Development Full responsibility
Professionalism The Society
ACS Code of Ethics (Australian) ICS Code of Ethics (Irish)
The Primacy of the public interest Protection of Public Interest and Legal
Compliance
The enhancement of quality of life Responsibility to Employers and Clients
Honesty Member Email Conduct
Competence Competence, Ethics and Impartiality
Professional Development
Professionalism Professional Dignity and Promotion of
Professional Aims
Part B
The ACS Code and SCS Code have a significant difference with each other. The ACS
code is more detailed than the SCS Code. The ACS Code values the public interest much more
than those of the private and sectional whereby the public is given the utmost priority when it
comes to resolving any conflicts (ACS Code of Ethics, 2018). ACS encourages the recognition
and minimizing of the adverse effects of ICT by promoting equal access of its benefits to all

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members of the society. ACS does not allow the breach of public trust or the trust of stakeholders
when working. For the organization, honesty and integrity are of utmost importance and have to
underlie all the professional actions and decisions. SCS also encourages its employees to act with
integrity at all times (Singapore Computer Society, 2018). ACS encourages its employees to
have their knowledge up to date especially with standards, practices, and technologies. SCS
members, on the other hand, are expected to act with professionalism in an attempt to improve
the prestige of the profession. ACS ensures equal treatment for everyone including their
employees regardless of their status in life.
The codes emphasize the commitment to the importance of ethical professional conduct.
It values dignity, honor, and effectiveness of professionalism. It consists of various imperatives
that are formulated as personal responsibility statements and identifies them as a commitment. It
outlines the fundamental ethical considerations, especially to the society. The standards of the
ICT industry are constantly changing. Moreover, it is missing more specific considerations of the
ICT professional conduct. It only discusses the adherence to societal values and the general
moral imperatives but lacks more specific professional responsibilities such as acquiring and
maintaining professional competence and accepting and providing an appropriate professional
review.
The best rudiments of the ACS Code of Ethics are the elements of personal responsibility
and the relations with the public. It encourages the performance of duties with diligence,
honesty, and professionalism (Bledsoe, 2017). Also by putting the primacy of the public interest
as the first element of the code of ethics shows that they value the public and does not intend to
do anything that would affect their interests. This shows that the organization values the society
and ensures they provide people with the best services in an honest and professional way.

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Alternatively, the worst elements of the Code are competence whereby the professionals are
expected to work diligently for their stakeholders. It is true they are expected to work
competently, but it should not be for their stakeholders alone. They should be able to work
competently and diligently for themselves as well to satisfy their own desires to delivering the
best services.
Part C
Some phrases and words in a code of ethics can be interpreted in a lot of ways. Any
ethical principle can conflict with other standards in specific situations and the questions allied to
ethical conflicts can be answered well through thoughtful consideration of the fundamental
principles and not on reliance on detailed regulations. Any code developed should identify the
elements of the commitment for the members of an organization. It should have statements of
personal responsibility that contains many but not necessarily all of the issues the professionals
are likely to go through. It should outline fundamental ethical considerations which apply to
individual conduct as a professional. These imperatives should be expressed in a form that is
general to lay emphasis on ethical principles showing that computer ethics are imitative of more
general ethical principles.
The general moral imperatives should include elements such as the contribution to the
society and the well-being of the people, avoiding harm to others and being honest and
trustworthy. The principle regarding the quality of life of humans affirms that an organization
has an obligation to care for the fundamental human rights and hold with a high opinion the
diversity of cultures. Harm can be used to mean negative consequences or injury. This is an
important element in a code of ethics as it prohibits an organization from using its resources in a

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manner that is harmful to others. Honesty is a vital component of trust and without it in an
organization, the company cannot function effectively (Australian Computer Society CODE OF
ETHICS, 2018). Other general moral elements include being fair, honoring property rights,
giving proper credit whenever necessary, respecting other people’s privacy, and honoring
confidentiality. The values of tolerance and equality are important. Discrimination on any basis
should never be allowed or tolerated. Violating property rights is contrary to professional
behavior and should not be condoned with.
A code should have the elements of more specific professional responsibilities.
Employees in an organization should strive to attain the highest quality and dignity as well as
effectiveness in the process of professional work. Every professional strives for excellence that is
why maintaining high-quality products and services is important for all organizations.
Excellence, however, depends on persons who take responsibility for obtaining and maintaining
professional competence. It is vital to set standards for the suitable levels of competence and to
thrive to attain them. Honoring contracts and assigned responsibilities also displays integrity and
honesty in more specific professional responsibilities. Another important facet is to know and
respect all the existing laws that pertain to professional work. However, in this case, the
compliance has to be balanced with the knowledge that some existing rules and laws can at times
be inappropriate or immoral and hence have to be challenged. Besides, violating a regulation can
at times be ethical when the law conflicts with another law that is deemed more important or if it
has an inadequate moral basis. But if one violates a law for any reason, then he or she has to fully
accept the responsibility for the consequences.
Some of these elements could be considered optional. It is of the essence for Codes of
ethics to have the organizational leadership elements however it is not a must. These elements

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may include the articulation of social responsibilities of organizational members and encourage
the acceptance of the responsibilities. Organizations have an impact on the public and they have
to accept responsibilities to the society. That is, organizational leaders should encourage the full
participation of their employees in meeting social responsibilities and quality performance. It is
the duty of organizational leaders to ensure that their services enhance and not degrade. They
should ensure they build work systems that contribute to the improvement of the working life
quality. The leadership should also acknowledge and support the proper and authorized use of
the resources of the organization. What’s more, the management should not design or implement
systems that are deliberately demeaning to others. They should also create opportunities for
organizational members to learn the set principles and the issues related to the profession.
Compliance with the code is also an element that could be considered optional.
Upholding and promoting the code’s principles is important but its inclusion is optional as the
members know that they should comply with the code and encourage as well as support
adherence by other employees (Flanagan, 2012). Any violations of the code should not be
accepted nor tolerated in spite of adherence to it is largely a voluntary matter.
Part D
An important professional characteristic is the need of the members to abide by the Code
of Ethics. Subscribing to a set of ideas and values is essential to the society as they uphold and
advance the dignity and honor as well as effectiveness of the profession. This Code of Ethics
framework defines the purpose of the ICT organization. It is a broad set of principles that are
intended to educate as well as set up general guidelines that would help guide the conduct of the
professionals (Code of Conduct for ICT - EU Science Hub - European Commission, 2018). The

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framework has an overriding commitment to satisfy the public interest through demonstrating
professional competence. The ICT organizations intend to serve the best interest of the society
by contributing to its growth (Understanding the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct,
2018). It is also about a member of the organization doing something not just because it is legal
but because it is right. It is about the duty of the organization to protect the society from the harm
or injury the organization may bring to it. This framework shows the organization’s service to
the greater good with the public interests given the first priority. Fair practice, respect, and
integrity, as well as honesty, reliability, and accountability, are core attributes of the
organization. Respecting privacy and honor is also of essence especially when conducting
professional practices. It also shows that it is important to acquire professional competence and
maintain it since excellence is a very significant obligation of a professional. Setting standards as
professionals are the best strategy for individuals to attain professional excellence. Hence, this
framework, in general, shows that it is important for every professional to be committed to
ethical professional conduct.

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References
ACS Code of Ethics. (2018). Acs.org.au. Retrieved 31 March 2018, from
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf
Australian Computer Society CODE OF ETHICS. (2018). Users.ece.utexas.edu. Retrieved 31
March 2018, from http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~perry/education/SE-Intro/ACS-COE.pdf
Bledsoe, M. (2017). The Importance Of A Code Of Ethics For It Professionals, Career Trend.
Code of Conduct for ICT - EU Science Hub - European Commission. (2018). EU Science Hub.
Retrieved 31 March 2018, from
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/energy-efficiency/products/coc
Ethics and the ICS Code of Conduct. (2018). Ics professionalism. Retrieved 1 April 2018, from
https://www.ics.ie/professional/ics-code-of-ethics
Flanagan, P. (2012). The ISBT code of Ethics and the altruistic donor. ISBT Science Series, 7(1),
303-306.
Singapore Computer Society. (2018). Singapore Computer Society Code of Conduct. Retrieved
31 March 2018, from
https://www.scs.org.sg/membership/membership_code_of_conduct.php
Understanding the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. (2018). Cips.ca. Retrieved 31
March 2018, from http://www.cips.ca/?q=system/files/understand_coe2006.pdf