This document discusses the role of ethics in software engineering. It states that ethics helps software engineers identify their responsibilities and obligations to individuals, groups, and organizations. A software engineering code of ethics guides engineers to prioritize public interests, ensure product quality, and support good product management. The document also notes that engineers should work transparently with the public, deliver high quality products, and that managers should support ethical practices. Overall, the document argues that following a code of ethics helps software engineers work reliably and address ethical issues in their work.

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Puttananjammagari, Utphala
09/16/15
Instructor: Julie Johnson
Paper 1
Role of ethics in Software Engineering
Ethics plays a very crucial role in software engineering. It helps in identifying ethical
responsibilities and primary obligations within individuals, groups and organizations. These
principles helps software engineer in identifying, how their work will impact health, safety and
welfare of the public; treating their colleagues with good manner; helps in maintaining honesty
and independence in their professional judgement. Software engineering code of ethics helps
engineer to work reliably with public interest, maintaining product quality and product
management.
Software engineers should always act constantly with public interest and responsible for
their own duties. According to Gotterbarn (1999), code of ethics designed to answer the consent
of ethical issues (p. 102). Also, it educates public and professionals about ethical obligations.
Working consistently with public interest like, be fair to any software or user documents
concerning to public. Working closely with public helps engineers to understand the requirement
much better. Indirectly it helps engineers to work directly with client and helps them in
understanding their needs. For example, do not disclose personal data of individual to public
without the knowledge of that person. These eventually leads into security breaches. So, it is
always recommended to be consistent and work along public interest.

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Software engineers are expected to ensure and exhibit their product quality is meeting
highest professional standards. “A fundamental principle should be precise enough to be capable
of support or contradiction” (Bourque, 2002, p.67). For example, always provide a good user
documentation about the product, so that it will be ease of use even for the new engineer. Also,
consider appropriate method for the task at the hand to deliver good quality of software product.
Engineers can make use of software testing tools, to make sure that they are delivering quality
product to the customer. If there are any bugs or software issues, it is always good to fix them,
before delivering to the customer. Fixing issues internally will reduce the cost to the company
and quality of the product will increase. Another example, is always work well with your client,
in getting exact requirement and specifications which will eventually leads to developing good
software product and also it maintains good client and employer relation.
Leaders and Managers should endorse ethical approach towards Software Management.
Managers should always make sure that, software engineers are informed about company
standards before they start work to maintain the integrity. “Managers should ensure there is a
good agreement concerning ownership of any software, procedures, studies, writing or other
intellectual property to which software engineer has contributed”( Gotterbarn, 1999, p.106). As
an example, manager should assign work to the employee only after knowing their education and
experience of that engineer in the given field. It is not like always more people equal less time.
Only if managers take more skilled people, products can deliver within time. Also, it will help
managers to save the cost to the company with good quality of service. Efficient leaders can
foresee the issues and guide the team members about the issues with their experience. It helps
company to deliver product with in time. Good management always leads to successful projects.

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The main goal of ethics is to help software engineers to increase the ability to recognize
and address the ethical issues. However, by considering all the above points we can clearly state
code of ethics helps software engineer to work reliably with public interest, maintaining product
quality and product management. Following code of ethics helps engineers to work in an
integrated manner. Furthermore analysis need to be done to overcome the potential flaws of
opinion based studies.

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References
Bourque, J., Dupis, R., Abram, A., Mooore, J.W., Tripp, L., & Wolf, S. (2002). Fundamentals
principles of Software engineering a journey. The Journal of System and Software, 62,
59-70.
Gottenbarn, D., Miller, K., & Rogerson, S. (1999). Software engineering code of ethics is
approved. Communication of the ACM, 42 (10), 20-28.
Singer, J. and Vinson, N.G. (2002). Ethical issues in empirical studies of Software Engineering.
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 28, 1171-1180.