Professional Issues in IT

Professional Issues

in IT

Topic 6 – Organizational

Context

Topic 7 - Professional

and Ethical Issues &

Responsibilities

Topic 8 - History of

Computing (Portion)

Contents

2. Steps to Create an Organizational Culture 4. Professionalism

1. Terms (Profession, Professional, IT Professional ) 2. Code of Ethics

1. Business Process

What is a business process ?

Processes are series of tasks that businesses go through every day in order to accomplish their mission. Business process include,

• Document management systems

• ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning ) Systems • BPR (Business Process Re-engering)

• ISO Certification

Organizations use various methods to discover, model, analyze, measure, improve, optimize, and automate business processes this is known as Business Process Management (BPM)

1. Business Process (Cont.)

1. Document management systems

Business process documentation is a complete description of a business process using words, images, and symbols to designate exactly how the process should function in an ideal environment.

A document management system stores • Versions and timestamps • Approvals and workflows

• Communication – To inform relevant people about changes

2. Business Process Reengineering (BPR)

Business Process Reengineering is redesign of core business processes to achieve improvements in productivity and quality. Many organizations do this process in order to gain competitive advantage.

1. Business Process - BPR

2016 – 3 (D)

BPR is process of redesigning of business processes to achieve improvements in productivity and quality

It was used as an excuse for cost cutting that really had nothing to do

with BPR. For example, many companies simply used it as an excuse

for laying off part of their workforce.

1. Business Process (Cont.)

3. ERP Systems

An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is a software application with a centralized database that Can be used to run an entire company

Advantages:

Streamline(flawless) Workflows, Better Financial Planning,

Improved Communication,

Improved Data Security and Accessibility, Disadvantages:

Slow Software Implementation, Expensive to Start (and Continue), Too Complex

1. Business Process (Cont.)

4. ISO (International Standards Organization) Certification

ISO certification certifies that a management system, manufacturing process, service, or documentation procedure has all the requirements for standardization and quality assurance.

ISO 9000 is defined as a set of international standards on quality management and quality assurance developed

to help companies effectively document the quality system elements needed to maintain an efficient quality system.

An organization must be audited and found to meet specific criteria. The auditors perform the following review: • Tell me what you do(describe the business process)

• Show me where it says that(reference the process documentation)

• Prove that this is what happened(exhibit evidence in documented records)

ISO 9000

2016 – 3 (C)

This certificate can prove that the company is up to sundered on quality management and quality assurance.

2. IT Environment - Components

2.1 Components

IT environment consists of following components. (IT infrastructure)

• Hardware • Software

• Telecommunication / Networking • Data

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Components

Software

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Components

Telecommunication

Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical or other technologies.

LAN - Local area network employed in smaller geographical area like office buildings

WAN – Wide are networks employed in larger geographical area like whole country (Ex. ISP)

Data

Computer software and hardware is used to convert data to meaningful information efficiently than paper-based systems.

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Frameworks

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Frameworks

IT Systems Services

Technical system or services that use to achieve goals within an organization. They can be smaller or larger.

Small (Atomic) system : Computing Devices, Storage, and Software

Composite systems (larger) : Business related Systems, such as Accounting or Payroll Systems, Document Management Systems, Application Monitoring Systems, Business Intelligence Systems IT Operational Services

Services that are put in place to help maintain or use any and all Systems made available in one or more specific Operating Environment. This includes, both, the Services that are directly related to specific Systems,

such as Release Management and Deployment Management, as well as those that are more general in nature and non-System specific, such as Project Management, Incident Management, Problem

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Frameworks

IT Operating Environment Services

Ensures IT operations are done in contained areas and doesn’t affect another environments.

These services can construct or reconstruct environment the work necessary to Deploy to an Environment, and the work necessary to support an Environment

IT delivery via SDLC

SDLC that drives the purpose of a specific Operating Environment and, therefore, all the work necessary to create, deploy to, operate, support and/or tear down an Environment.

Includes all the policies, standards, procedures, and work necessary to move a System through an SDLC in an effective and productive manner.

2. IT Environment (Cont.) - Frameworks

2016 – 3 (A)

Organization can be viewed in two perspectives, Component wise,

IT framework. Components

A Computer system consists of Software, hardware, telecommunication and data. Hardware – Physical components of computer system…………..

Software

Telecommunication Date

IT Framework

IT environment framework is consisting of 4 parts.

IT System Services – consists of technical systems that are used to achieve organizational goal. (H/W, software)

IT Operational Services – services that are supportive to maintain system services. i.e., risk, deployment management IT Operating environment – ensures IT operations are done in contained areas and doesn’t affect another environment IT delivery via SDLC - includes all the policies, standards, procedures, and work necessary to move a System through

3. Organizational Culture

Ethics vs Morale vs Law

Law Morality Ethics

Formal rules on how we behave as the members of society

Informal framework of values,

principals, beliefs, customs, ways of living

Answers basic question of “what should I do? “

They specify what we should do and specially not do.

one’s personal beliefs about right and wrong

Gives sense to what is good right and meaningful.

Laws are enforced by law institutions

Not enforced by law body. But there is a social pressure.

Standards or codes of behavior

expected of an individual by a group Laws can be just or unjust Morality may vary by:

Age, Cultural group, Ethnic background, Religion, Life

experiences, Education, Gender

Virtues –Habits that incline people to do what is acceptable

Vices –Habits of unacceptable behavior

Integrity (Quality of being honest) is a cornerstone of ethical behavior

Ethics

2017 – 2 (ii)

• Standards or codes of behavior expected of an individual by a group • Answers basic question of “what should I do? “

Morals, Ethics & Law

2017 – 2 (iii)

Law Morality Ethics

Formal rules on how we behave as the members of society

Informal framework of values,

principals, beliefs, customs, ways of living

Standards or codes of behavior

expected of an individual by a group They specify what we should do and

specially not do.

one’s personal beliefs about right and wrong

Answers basic question of “what should I do? “

Laws are enforced by law institutions

Not enforced by law body. But there is a social pressure.

Not enforced by law body Laws can be just or unjust

Ethics

Ethics in organizational context

Several trends have increased the likelihood of unethical behavior: • Globalization creating complex work environments

• Organizations challenged to maintain profits / revenue • Heightened vigilance by:

• Employees • Shareholders

Ethics – Unethical behavior

2017 – 3 (iii)

Harassment is unwanted behavior which is offensive, or which makes someone feel intimidated or humiliated.

Harassment Types

• Harassment based on race • Harassment based on gender • Harassment based on religion • Harassment based on disability

• Harassment based on sexual orientation • Age-related harassment

• Sexual harassment

Ethics – Unethical behavior

2018 – 1 (iii)

Harassment can be occurred through both IT technologies and physical interaction in a workplace • While sharing jokes referring to sexual acts (lewd jokes) or racial slurs – both

• Unwanted touching or physical contact – physical interaction • Spreading false rumors – both

• Requesting sexual favors.

Ethics

Including Ethical Considerations in Decision Making Steps in a decision-making process

• Develop problem statement • Identify alternatives

• Evaluate and choose alternative • Implement decision

• Evaluate results • Success

Steps to Create an Ethical Organizational Culture

2016 – 3 (B)

• Selecting the right leader

• A clear purpose & strategy

• A focus on doing the right thing

• Hiring the right people

• Firing the wrong people

• Run ethical training courses

• Reward people for doing the right thing\

4. Professionalism

Terms (Profession, Professional, IT Professional )

Profession (වෘත්තිය)

A paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification (Specialized knowledge, Long and intensive academic preparation).

Professional

A professional can be an experience in a field or area.

Contribute to society, participate in lifelong training, assist other professionals Carry special rights and responsibilities

IT Professional

IT workers do not meet legal definition of professional • Not licensed by state or federal government • Not liable for malpractice

Professional

2017 – 2 (i)

• A professional can be an experience in a field or area.

• Contribute to society, participate in lifelong training, assist other professionals

• Carry special rights and responsibilities

IT Professional

Seven forces are changing professional services

• Client sophistication (able to drive hard bargains) • Governance (due to major scandals)

• Connectivity (instant communications)

• Transparency (view work-in-progress in real-time) • Modularization (able to outsource modules)

• Globalization (worldwide sourcing)

• Commoditization (for low-end services) IT workers involved in relationships with

• Employers • Clients • Suppliers • Other professionals • IT users • Society at large

The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional

Practice

Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (Version 5.2) as

recommended by the ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Task Force on Software Engineering Ethics and

Professional Practices and jointly approved by the ACM and the IEEE-CS as the standard for

teaching and practicing software engineering.

Software engineers shall commit themselves to making the analysis, specification, design,

development, testing and maintenance of software a beneficial and respected profession. In

accordance with their commitment to the health, safety and welfare of the public, software

engineers shall adhere to the following Eight Principles:

Eight Principles

1. PUBLIC – Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.

2. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER – Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer consistent with the public interest.

3. PRODUCT – Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.

4. JUDGMENT – Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.

5. MANAGEMENT – Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance.

6. PROFESSION – Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.

7. COLLEAGUES – Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.

8. SELF – Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.