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Criteria and Procedures for Developing Codes of Ethics or of Conduct: To Promote Discussion Inside the IFIP National Societies

misc: : Criteria and Procedures for Developing Codes of Ethics or of Conduct: To Promote Discussion Inside the IFIP National Societies

Abstract:

This document should be considered as an “Executive Summary” of the work
undertaken by IFIP-SIG9.2.2 (IFIP Framework on Ethics of Computing) since it produced its monograph Ethics and the Governance of the Internet [1].

The reader is also recommended to refer to the supporting documentation
available on the Internet at http://www.info.fundp.ac.be/~jbl/IFIP/References_Criteria_and_procedures.pdf

IFIP is an international organisation whose members are the national member Societies, and we are aware of a growing interest amongst these national computer Societies in developing their own codes of ethics/conduct. Given the diversity of IFIP’s membership, the aim of this group is not to be prescriptive but, rather, to offer a framework of principles within which organisational and national cultures can be taken into account.

IFIP-SIG9.2.2 in appreciating the different cultural, social and legal contexts of an international community believes however that there are “minimum criteria, conditions, and requirements” of a Code of Conduct. In this respect we recommend that each national or regional situation remain open to the notion of “universalisation” as suggested by Kant in his “categorical imperative.”[2]

In producing this document, SIG9.2.2 provides an overview of its most recent work over the past years. Its aim is to provide persons considering the development or revision of a code of ethics (for their profession or organisation that is involved in activities relating to the implementation of information and communication technologies) with a view of the various issues to bear in mind. The goal is not to mandate best practice but is to identify good practice and avoidance of pitfalls.

This document offers a starting point for organisations wishing to develop a code, and a “checklist” which can be used retrospectively by those with codes already in place. The following pages set out what we consider to be the minimum conditions or requirements for developing a code of conduct or ethics, in terms of content as well as process and evaluation.

We begin with an overview of the rationale for codes of conduct, and follow with some explanation of the distinctions between codes of conduct and practice. In keeping with the aim of the document we provide practical support in highlighting the main issues facing information technologists today and we emphasise the importance of the process of writing a code. Finally, we offer criteria for the evaluation of a code of conduct.

BibTeX entry:

@MISC{miscBeDuHoJoKiSiWh04a,
  title = {Criteria and Procedures for Developing Codes of Ethics or of Conduct: To Promote Discussion Inside the IFIP National Societies},
  editor = {Berleur, Jacques and Duquenoy, Penny and Holvast, Jan and Jones, Matt and Kimppa, Kai and Sizer, Richard and Whitehouse, Diane},
  year = {2004},
  keywords = {Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, IFIP},
  ISBN = {3-901882-19-7},
}

Belongs to TUCS Research Unit(s): Laboris Information Systems

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