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Computer Society and ACM Approve Software Engineering Code of Ethics

Don Gotterbarn, Keith Miller, Simon Rogerson Executive Committee, IEEE-CS/ACM Joint Task Force on Software Engineering Ethics and Professional Practices

CHANGES TO THE CODE

Major revisions were made between version 3.0—widely distributed through Computer (Don Gotterbarn, Keith Miller, and Simon Rogerson, “Software Engineering Code of Ethics, Version 3.0,” November 1997, pp. 88-92) and Communications of the ACM—and version 5.2, the recently approved version. The preamble was significantly revised to include specific standards that can help professionals make ethical decisions. To facilitate a quick review of the principles, a shortened version of the code was added to the front of the full version. This shortened version is not intended to be a standalone abbreviated code. The details of the full version are necessary to provide clear guidance for the practical application of these ethical principles. In addition to these changes, the eight principles were reordered to reflect the order in which software professionals should consider their ethical obligations: Version 3.0’s first principle concerned the product, while version 5.2 begins with the public. The primacy of well-being and quality of life of the public in all decisions related to software engineering is emphasized throughout the code. This obligation is the final arbiter in all decisions: “In all these judgements concern for the health, safety and welfare of the

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oftware engineering has evolved over the past several years from an activity of computer engineering to a discipline in its own right. With an eye toward formalizing the field, the IEEE Computer Society has engaged in several activities to advance the professionalism of software engineering, such as establishing certification requirements for software developers. To complement this work, a joint task force of the Computer Society and the ACM...