Professional Ethics in Information Systems

What is the primary focus of professional ethics?

• Technical skill development

• Legal compliance only

• Relationships and responsibilities to clients and society

• Marketing and sales strategies

Which of the following is a general moral imperative under the ACM Code?

• Increase software costs

• Avoid harm to others

• Promote software sales

• Encourage software piracy

Which principle states that software engineers must act consistently with the public interest?

• Principle 2: Client and Employer

• Principle 4: Judgment

• Principle 1: Public

• Principle 6: Profession

If a software engineer discovers a serious security vulnerability, what is their ethical responsibility?

• Sell the information to competitors

• Keep it confidential forever

• Disclose it to the appropriate persons or authorities

• Post it on social media for awareness

A left-handed user tests a handwriting system and finds it unusable. What guideline was overlooked?

• Avoiding intellectual property conflicts

• Honoring confidentiality

• Designing for real users

• Prioritizing cost over safety

A developer is assigned to a high-risk AI system affecting public safety. How should ethical guidelines shape their decision-making?

• Deliver the product as quickly as possible

• Focus only on technical specifications

• Evaluate safety, involve stakeholders, and delay if risks are unclear

• Let clients make all decisions

A software engineer wants to report unethical conduct by their employer, but fears job loss. Which ethical principle should guide them?

• Remain silent unless asked

• Prioritize loyalty over integrity

• Report significant violations if other methods are ineffective or dangerous

• Delete all evidence for self-protection

What is the purpose of professional codes of ethics?

• To increase company revenue

• To provide ethical guidelines and support for professionals

• To manage software updates

• To promote political agendas

According to the ACM Code, programmers should:

• Always follow client instructions regardless of ethics

• Share personal passwords with coworkers

• Respect the privacy of others

• Avoid reporting software bugs

Who can be affected by a computer professional's work?

• Only the client

• Just coworkers

• Only programmers

• Clients and the general public