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- Preamble
- General Moral Imperatives
- Additional Professional Obligations
- Organizational Leadership Imperatives
- Compliance with the Code
3. Organizational Leadership
Imperatives
As an organizational leader, I will…
This section draws extensively from the draft IFIP Code
of Ethics, especially its sections on organizational ethics and international
concerns. The ethical obligations of organizations tend to be neglected
in most codes of professional conduct, perhaps because these codes are
written from the perspective of the individual member. This dilemma is
addressed by stating these imperatives from the perspective of the organizational
leader. In this context “leader” is viewed as any organizational
member who has leadership or educational responsibilities. These imperatives
generally may apply to organizations as well as their leaders.
3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of the organizational unit and encourage full acceptance of these responsibilities.
The impact of organizations on the public yields a set of responsibilities to the community and the society. Procedures and attitudes oriented toward quality will reduce harm to members of the public, thereby serving public interest and fulfilling social responsibility. Therefore, organizational leadership should encourage full participation in fulfilling social responsibilities as well as quality performance.
3.2 Design and build information systems to enhance the quality of working life of employees.
Organizational leaders have the responsibility to ensure that computer systems enhance, not degrade, the quality of working life. When implementing a computer system, organizations should consider the personal development, physical safety, human dignity, and human fulfillment of all workers. Appropriate human-computer ergonomic standards should be considered in the system design and the workplace.
3.3 Articulate and support proper and authorized uses of an organization’s computer technology.
Because computer systems can become tools to harm as well
as to benefit an organization, the leadership has the responsibility to
clearly define appropriate and inappropriate uses of organizational computing
resources. The number and scope of such rules should be minimized but
fully enforced when established.
3.4 Ensure participation of users and other affected parties in system design, development, and implementation.
Present system users, potential users and other involved persons should be directly involved as collaborators in all phases of the system development cycle. Cooperation and collaborative work should be encouraged among all groups involved in designing and using the system.
3.5 Support policies that protect the dignity of users and others affected by a computerized system.
Designing or implementing systems that deliberately or inadvertently demean individuals or groups is ethically unacceptable. Computer professionals who are decision makers should verify that systems are designed and implemented to protect personal privacy and enhance personal dignity.
3.6 Support opportunities for learning the principles and limitations of computer systems.
This complements the imperative on public understanding (2.7). Educational opportunities are essential to facilitate optimal participation of all organizational members. Learning opportunities which should be available to all members to improve their knowledge and skills in computing include information about the consequences and limitations of particular types of systems. Specific limitations include those arising from specific assumptions, simplification of underlying models, complexities, and the improbability of anticipating every possible operating condition.
Go to: Compliance with the Code
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