Professional Ethics - Ethics for the Information Age - page 417

3.03 Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental
issues related to work projects.
3.04 Ensure that they are qualified for any project on which they work or propose to
work by an appropriate combination of education and training, and experience.
3.05 Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or
propose to work.
3.06 Work to follow professional standards, when available, that are most appropri-
ate for the task at hand, departing from these only when ethically or technically
justified.
3.07 Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.
3.08 Ensure that specifications for software on which they work have been well docu-
mented, satisfy the users' requirements and have the appropriate approvals.
3.09 Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, scheduling, personnel, quality and
outcomes on any project on which they work or propose to work and provide an
uncertainty assessment of these estimates.
3.10 Ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software and related docu-
ments on which they work.
3.11 Ensure adequate documentation, including significant problems discovered and
solutions adopted, for any project on which they work.
3.12 Work to develop software and related documents that respect the privacy of those
who will be affected by that software.
3.13 Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use
it only in ways properly authorized.
3.14 Maintain the integrity of data, being sensitive to outdated or flawed occurrences.
3.15 Treat all forms of software maintenance with the same professionalism as new
development.
PRINCIPLE 4: JUDGMENT
Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judg-
ment. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:
4.01 Temper all technical judgments by the need to support and maintain human
values.
4.02 Only endorse documents either prepared under their supervision or within their
areas of competence and with which they are in agreement.
4.03 Maintain professional objectivity with respect to any software or related docu-
ments they are asked to evaluate.
4.04 Not engage in deceptive financial practices such as bribery, double billing, or other
improper financial practices.
4.05 Disclose to all concerned parties those conflicts of interest that cannot reasonably
be avoided or escaped.