Question: Use your knowledge of IEEE/ACM Code of Ethics in Chapter 12 and Append

Question

Question: Use your knowledge of IEEE/ACM Code of Ethics in Chapter 12 and Appendix C to Evaluate the “Case of Studies” given below. For each Case Study:

- Mention the relevant Principle(s) (ex. Public)

- Related to each mentioned Principle, also mention the related clause(s) (ex. 1. 01)

- For each mentioned clause, give reasons for choosing that specific clause(s)

- After doing all the above, provide solution to each case study. (Ex. In case study 1, Bob should think of………………..). Solution should consist of 6 lines at least.

Note that there can be more than one relevant Principles and Clauses for each study.

Case Study 1: (2 Marks)

Bob is an experienced software engineer at a renowned software company. An analyst named Mr. John is working on a project for the defense department of his company, testing the software used in an airplane. Bob is the quality control manager for the software. Early simulation testing revealed that, under certain conditions, instabilities would arise causing plane to crash. The software was debugged and modified accordingly to fix the problems uncovered by the initial tests and hence, the software passed all the simulation tests after the modifications.

Despite the above testing and debugging, Bob is still not convinced that the software is safe. He is worried that the software may have a design flaw that can only be fixed using extensive redesigning. Bob is also convinced that the technique applied to fix the initial problems is not up to the mark and it did not actually address the underlying problem.

Now, Bob brings this issue to his supervisor who assures Bob that the problem has been resolved. However, the supervisor also tells Bob that any kind of redesigning would waste our efforts and will cause unnecessary delays, resulting in lost of money for the Software company. Bob has to deal with a lot of pressure in order to step back from his opinion and let the software tested on the plane. He has also been notified (rather indirectly) that if he continues to persist in delaying the system, he will be fired. What should Bob do in the current situation?

Case Study 2: (2 Marks)

Ann is an IT consultant. Her job is to give advises to small businesses regarding their computer needs. Basically, Ann examines and evaluates company’s operational requirements and suggests the related hardware and software to meet those requirements. Recently, Ann has been hired by a small private hospital interested in upgrading their IT system especially the system for patient records and accounting.

Hospital announced the “call for proposals” in order to receive bids (or proposals) and they have received several. Now, Ann has to evaluate these proposals. Being an experienced professional, Ann examined the received proposals carefully judging these on the basis of the systems proposed, the experience of the companies that bid, and the costs and benefits of each proposal.

Ann concluded that a company known as Alpha Tech had proposed the best system for the hospital, and therefore, she recommended that the hospital should buy the Alpha Tech system. Ann also gave details explaining on why she thinks the Alpha Tech bid was the best. However, she did not reveal that she has (hidden) ownership shares in Alpha Tech. Was the behavior of Ann ethical?

While giving your answers do not forget the point that Ann sincerely evaluated all the proposals as a true professional. She strongly believes that the bid provided by Alpha Tech is the best

Explanation / Answer

Case Study 1:

Principle 2: Client and Employer

And the respective clause:

2.04. Ensure that any document upon which they rely has been approved, when required, by someone authorized to approve it.

2.06. Identify, document, collect evidence and report to the client or the employer promptly if, in their opinion, a project is likely to fail, to prove too expensive, to violate intellectual property law, or otherwise to be problematic.

2.09. Promote no interest adverse to their employer or client, unless a higher ethical concern is being compromised; in that case, inform the employer or another appropriate authority of the ethical concern.

Principle 3: Product

And the respective clause:

3.01. Strive for high quality, acceptable cost and a reasonable schedule, ensuring significant tradeoffs are clear to and accepted by the employer and the client, and are available for consideration by the user and the public.

3.03. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects

3.05. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.

So in case study 1 Bob should think of the control management, he was the control manager earlier it was confirmed that the software was errorized after knowing it certain simulations were done. Testing, debugging was done to the software. So he should think of some better alternative in order to sort out the problem because it was identified earlier, otherwise it will be a great loss. As a responsible employee he was worrying about the plane crash and the loss but after all the simulation tests it was passed and after the modifications the software was all set. So he need not worry. If it was failed it will be seen in the simulation tests only. Bob shouldn’t resist the denying he should further go with the procedure.

Case Study 2:

Principle 4: JUDGMENT

And the respective clause:

4.01. Temper all technical judgments by the need to support and maintain human values.

4.05. Disclose to all concerned parties those conflicts of interest that cannot reasonably be avoided or escaped.

4.06. Refuse to participate, as members or advisors, in a private, governmental or professional body concerned with software related issues, in which they, their employers or their clients have undisclosed potential conflicts of interest.

Principle 6: PROFESSION

And the respective clause:

6.06. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.

6.07. Be accurate in stating the characteristics of software on which they work, avoiding not only false claims but also claims that might reasonably be supposed to be speculative, vacuous, deceptive, misleading, or doubtful.

As it was mentioned that Ann sincerely evaluated all the proposals as a true professional, And at the same time she has to tell about the shares she has in alpha tech as a partner, But as her profession she was done the right thing she has examined all the proposals based on the requirements and sort the best one among them. The hospital has asked for the best proposal so she selected alpha tech which was best among them. According to the respective clause we should obey all the laws so the behavior of Ann was ethical.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse Q
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.