3.3.6: Implications of ICT

1. 3.3.6: Implications of ICT Purpose and activities of a professional bodies

2. This presentation aims to: • Help you understand how to describe the purpose and activities of a professional bodies (e.g. BCS).

3. Introduction • In t he last lesson we looked at two professional bodies: • BCS (British Computer Society - UK) • ACM (Association of Computing Machinery – USA) • There are other professional bodies such as: • Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, formally IEE) • Irish Computer Society (ICS) • Information Processing Association of Israel (IPA) • Institute of Information and Computing Machinery (IICM)

4. What is a professional body? • A formal group that is set up to oversee a particular area in industry. • Professional bodies perform many roles and offer their members many activities.

5. What do they do? • Set standards for workers within an industry – code of conduct. • Can create examinations which allow members to gain a qualification proving they can follow the standard. • Provide publications which allow members to keep up to date with any changes to the standard.

6. What do they do? • Hold conferences which allow members to meet and discuss topical issues. • This also provides an opportunity for members to influence possible legislation. • Hold local meetings allowing members to network and share their experiences.

7. Key points to remember • Activities include events and publications that the professional bodies produce. • The BCS, for example, promotes wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology, science and practice. • They do this through their activities.

8. Activity • Read through the table on page 217 of the text book. • Copy out the table. • Answer the questions in the text book.

9. More Questions • Describe the purpose of the BCS. • [4 marks] • Describe the activities of the BCS which would make it worthwhile for a network manager to join. • [6 marks]