1. Why is good judgment required in order to use the Software Engineering Code o

Question

1. Why is good judgment required in order to use the Software Engineering Code of Ethics effectively?

2. What is virtue ethics? How does virtue ethics relate to the Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice?

3. Why is it usually difficult to assign moral responsibility for computer system failures to a particular individual? What are the implications for the organizations that create these systems?

4. What is whistleblowing? What harms does it cause? What benefits does it provide? Why is whistleblowing rare?

Explanation / Answer

1a)

Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:

2a) Virtue ethics is developed through education, and moral virtue, which comes about through repetition of the appropriate acts (Figure 8.7). You can acquire the virtue of honesty, for example, by habitually telling the truth. According to Aristotle, deriving pleasure from a virtuous act is a sign that you have acquired that virtue. There is a wealth of virtues, of course. Here is a brieflist of two dozen virtues given by James Rachels: benevolence, civility, compassion, conscientiousness, cooperativeness, courage, courteousness, dependability, fairness, friendliness, generosity, honesty, industriousness, justice, loyalty, moderation, patience, prudence, reasonableness, selfdiscipline, self-reliance, tactfulness, thoughtfulness, and tolerance

3a)

Computing presents a particular case for understanding the role of technology in moral responsibility. As these technologies become a more integral part of daily activities, automate more decision-making processes and continue to transform the way people communicate and relate to each other, they further complicate the already problematic tasks of attributing moral responsibility. The growing pervasiveness of computer technologies in everyday life, the growing complexities of these technologies and the new possibilities that they provide raise new kinds of questions: who is responsible for the information published on the Internet? Who is accountable when electronic records are lost or when they contain errors? To what extent and for what period of time are developers of computer technologies accountable for untoward consequences of their products? And as computer technologies become more complex and behave increasingly autonomous can or should humans still be held responsible for the behavior of these technologies?

This entry will first look at the challenges that computing poses to conventional notions of moral responsibility. The discussion will then review two different ways in which various authors have addressed these challenges: 1) by reconsidering the idea of moral agency and 2) by rethinking the concept of moral responsibility itself.

4a)whistle blowing :

Whistle-blowers come forward publicly when something illegal or unethical is going on in their organizations after they do not receive an acceptable reply internally when communicating concern. Whistle-blowers are often ostracized in their companies and face the dilemma of protecting their employer or stepping forward when something inappropriate is going on.

Whistle-blowing can lead to a breakdown of trust. Companies typically prefer that employees use internal communication systems if they are uncomfortable with activities going on in their departments or the company. This gives the company a chance to monitor itself internally before the employee decides to go elsewhere. If trust breaks down between managers and employees, tension and effective working relationships among employees become challenging.

BENIFITS :

Exposing Unethical Behavior

The whistle-blower serves a vital function in government and business. When corporations and government agencies step over legal and ethical lines, whistle-blowers can make these practices public knowledge, which can lead to violators being held accountable. The added scrutiny that comes with criminal investigations, civil lawsuits and media attention can influence the behavior of similar organizations. Companies and government offices that engage in similar misconduct may have previously believed they could get away with their bad behavior, but the ripple effect of the whistle-blower's efforts can bring about reforms.

legal Protection :

The federal government's Whistleblower Protection Program protects employees who report violations of various workplace safety, environmental, financial reform and securities laws. The program protects from retaliation workers who blow the whistle on their employer's behavior. Retaliatory action can include dismissal, demotion, denial of benefits and reduction of working hours. Companies found to be in violation of the whistle-blower protection laws can face fines, suspension of government contracts and civil lawsuits.

hazards :

Diminished Career Prospects

The attention that a whistle-blower case brings, both to the employee and the company, can have a downside. Media interviews, legal testimony and government investigations can affect the whistle-blower's career prospects. While the outside world may view whistle-blowers as heroes for revealing corrupt behavior, industry insiders and hiring managers may see them as disloyal or indiscreet for not keeping company secrets and industry practices under wraps. The media attention may lead to the whistle-blower being blacklisted in his industry.

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