Information Technology as a Profession

1. Information Technology as a Profession Bob August augur@lake.ollusa.edu

2. Introduction • Background • The Learned Professions • The Ten Dimensions • The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession • Discussion/Questions

3. Background • Graduate Course in College and University Teaching • Introduction of Concept to Programming Students • USASBE Meeting • IABPAD Paper • ACBSP Regional Conference

4. The Learned Professions • A profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. Examples are accounting, law, medicine, finance, the military, the clergy and engineering. • Classically, there were only three professions: ministry, medicine, and law. These three professions each hold to a specific code of ethics, and members are almost universally required to swear some form of oath to uphold those ethics, therefore "professing" to a higher standard of accountability. Each of these professions also provides and requires extensive training in the meaning, value, and importance of its particular oath in the practice of that profession. *Wikipedia

5. The Learned Professions • Doctors • Attorneys

6. The Learned Professions • Teachers • Clergy

7. The Ten Dimensions • Professional Organizations • Acquired Body of Knowledge • Maintaining the Body of Knowledge • Code of Conduct/Ethics • Client/Provider Relationship • Service to the Profession • Certification through Examination • Regulating the Profession • Giving Back • It’s a Calling

8. Dimension 1: Professional Organizations • Doctors - American Medical Association • Attorneys - American Bar Association • Nurses – American Nurses Association • Teachers • Discipline • Teaching Level

9. Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge • Doctors • 4 years of medical school • 2+ years of residency/internships • Attorneys • 3 years of law school • College/University Faculty • Masters • Ph. D. • Clergy • Seminary/School of Theology

10. Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge • Doctors • Attorneys • CPAs • Teachers

11. Dimension 4: Code of Ethics • Doctors – Hippocratic Oath • Attorneys – Code of Ethics for Practicing Attorneys • Nurses – ANA Code of Ethics • Teachers – State Boards

12. Dimension 5: Provider/Client Relationship • Doctor/Patient • Attorney/Client • Teacher/Student

13. Dimension 6: Service to the Profession • Regional and National Conferences • Papers • Symposium • Seminars • Workshops • Officers

14. Dimension 7: Certification through Examination • Doctors – Medical Licensing Exam • Attorneys – Bar Exam • Accountants – CPA Exam • Nurses – RN Exam

15. Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession • Doctors – State Medical Boards • Attorneys – State Bar Associations • Clergy – Religious Denomination • Teachers – State Board for Education Certification

16. Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy) • Doctors - Doctors without Borders • Attorneys – Pro Bono Work • Clergy – A Life of Service

17. Dimension 10: It’s a Calling • Doctors • Attorneys • Teachers • The Clergy

18. The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession

19. Dimension 1: Professional Organizations • Association of Computer Machinery • Association of Information Technology Professionals • Information Systems Security Association

20. Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge • Information Technology Professionals • 4-year college education (SIGITE Recommendation) • Specialization in a specific IT area • Programming • Networking • Web development • User support

21. Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge • Information Technology Professionals • Rapid Change • Professional Development

22. Dimension 4: Code of Conduct/Ethics • ACM • AITP • ISSA

23. ACM Code of Conduct/Ethics • Preamble • Commitment to ethical professional conduct is expected of every member (voting members, associate members, and student members) of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). • This Code, consisting of 24 imperatives formulated as statements of personal responsibility, identifies the elements of such a commitment. It contains many, but not all, issues professionals are likely to face…

24. 1. GENERAL MORAL IMPERATIVES • As an ACM member I will .... • 1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being. • 1.2 Avoid harm to others. • 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy. • 1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate. • 1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent. • 1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property. • 1.7 Respect the privacy of others. • 1.8 Honor confidentiality.

25. 2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES • As an ACM computing professional I will .... • 2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity in both the process and products of professional work. • 2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence. • 2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work. • 2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review. • 2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks. • 2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities. • 2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences. • 2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so.

26. 3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES • As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will .... • 3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities. • 3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems that enhance the quality of working life. • 3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization's computing and communication resources. • 3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have their needs clearly articulated during the assessment and design of requirements; later the system must be validated to meet requirements. • 3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and others affected by a computing system. • 3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the principles and limitations of computer systems.

27. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE • As an ACM member I will .... • 4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this Code. • 4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with membership in the ACM. • Adherence of professionals to a code of ethics is largely a voluntary matter. However, if a member does not follow this code by engaging in gross misconduct, membership in ACM may be terminated.

28. Dimension 5: Client/Provider Relationship • Provider/Customer

29. Dimension 6: Service to the Profession • Regional and National Conferences • Papers • Symposium • Seminars • Workshops • Officers

30. Dimension 7: Certification through Examination • Information Technology Professionals • Vendor Certification • Microsoft • Cisco • Sun • Vendor Neutral • CompTIA – A+, Network+, Security+, etc. • International Information Systems Security Certifications Consortium (ISC)2 - CISSP • SANS Institute – Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

31. Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession • SANS - GIAC • (ISC)2 - CISSP

32. Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy) • Bill & Melinda Gates

33. Dimension 10: It’s a Calling • “When you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life.”

34. The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession • Professional Organizations • Acquired Body of Knowledge • Maintaining the Body of Knowledge • Code of Conduct/Ethics • Client/Provider Relationship • Service to the Profession • Certification Through Examination • Regulating the Profession • Giving Back • It’s a Calling

35. Questions/Discussion