Codes of Coduct and Practice
 

The BCS Codes

We aim to comply to the rules provided for information system specialists by the British Computer Society. The BCS sets the professional standards of competence, conduct and ethical practice for computing in the United Kingdom.



Codes of Conduct


As an aid to understanding, these rules have been grouped into the principal duties which all members should endeavor to discharge in pursuing their professional lives.

The Public Interest
  1. Members shall in their professional practice safeguard public health and safety and have regard to protection of the environment.
  2. Members shall have due regard to the legitimate rights of third parties.
  3. Members shall ensure that within their chosen fields they have knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, regulations and standards and that they comply with such requirements.
  4. Members shall in their professional practice have regard to basic human rights and shall avoid any actions that adversely affect such rights.


Duty to Employers and Clients

  1. Members shall carry out work with due care and diligence in accordance with the requirements of the employer or client and shall, if their professional judgment is overruled, indicate the likely consequences.
  2. Members shall endeavor to complete work undertaken on time and to budget and shall advise their employer or client as soon as practicable if any overrun is foreseen.
  3. Members shall not offer or provide, or receive in return, inducement for the introduction of business from a client unless there is full prior disclosure of the facts to the client.
  4. Members shall not disclose or authorise, to be disclosed, or use for personal gain or to benefit a third party, confidential information acquired in the course of professional practice, except with prior written permission of the employer or client, or at the direction of a court of law.
  5. Members should seek to avoid being put in a position where they may become privy to or party to activities or information concerning activities which would conflict with their responsibilities in 1-4 above.
  6. Members shall not misrepresent or withhold information on the capabilities of products, systems or services with which they are concerned or take advantage of the lack of knowledge or inexperience of others.
  7. Members shall not, except where specifically so instructed, handle client's monies or place contracts or orders in connection with work on which they are engaged where acting as an independent consultant.
  8. Members shall not purport to exercise independent judgment on behalf of a client on any product or service in which they knowingly have any interest, financial or otherwise.



Duty to the Profession

  1. Members shall uphold the reputation of the Profession and shall seek to improve professional standard through participation in their development, use and enforcement, and shall avoid any action which will adversely affect the good standing of the Profession.
  2. Members shall in their professional practice seek to advance public knowledge and understanding of computing and information systems and technology and to counter false or misleading statements which are detrimental to the Profession.
  3. Members shall encourage and support fellow members in their professional development and, where possible, provide opportunities for the professional development of new entrants to the Profession.
  4. Members shall act with integrity towards fellow members and to members of other professions with whom they are concerned in a professional capacity and shall avoid engaging in any activity which is incompatible with professional status.
  5. Members shall not make any public statements in their professional capacity unless properly qualified and, where appropriate, authorised to do so, and shall have due regard to the likely consequences of any statement on others.


Professional Competence and Integrity

  1. Members shall seek to upgrade their professional knowledge and skill and shall maintain awareness of technological developments, procedures and standards which are relevant to their field, and shall encourage their subordinates to do likewise.
  2. Members shall seek to conform to recognised good practice including quality standards which are in their judgment relevant, and shall encourage their subordinates to do likewise.
  3. Members shall only offer to do work or provide a service which is within their professional competence and shall not claim to any level of competence which they do not possess, and any professional opinion which they are asked to give shall be objective and reliable.
  4. Members shall accept professional responsibility for their work and for the work of their subordinates and associates under their direction, and shall not terminate any assignment except for good reason and on reasonable notice.
  5. Members shall avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between themselves and their client and shall make full and immediate disclosure to the client if any conflict should occur.

Codes of Practice

 

Personal Requirements

  1. Keep himself, and subordinates informed of such new technologies, practices, legal requirements and standards as are relevant to his duties.
  2. Ensure subordinates are trained in order to be effective in their duties and to qualify for increased responsibilities.
  3. Accept only such work as he believe he is competent to perform and not hesitate to obtain additional expertise from appropriately qualified individuals where advisable.
  4. Actively seek opportunities for increasing efficiency and effectiveness to the benefit of the user and of the ultimate recipient.

    Organisation and Management

  1. Plan, establish and review objectives, tasks and organisational structures for himself and subordinates, to help meet overall objectives.
  2. Ensure that any specific tasks are assigned to identified individuals according to their known ability and competence.
  3. Establish and maintain channels of communication from and to seniors, equals and subordinates.
  4. Be accountable for the quality, timeliness and use of resources in the work for which he is responsible.

    Contracting

  1. Seek expert advice in the preparation of any formal contract.
  2. Ensure that all requirements and the precise responsibility of all parties adequately covered in any contract or tendering procedures.

    Privacy, Security and Integrity

  1. Ascertain and evaluate all potential risks in a particular project with regard to the cost, effectiveness and practicability of proposed levels of security.
  2. Recommend appropriate levels of security, commensurate with the anticipated risks, and appropriate to the needs of the client.
  3. Apply, monitor and report upon the effectiveness of the agreed levels of security.
  4. Ensure that all staff are trained to take effective action to protect life, data and equipment (in that order) in the event of disaster.
  5. Take all reasonable measures to protect confidential information from inadvertent or deliberate improper access or use.
  6. Ensure that competent people are assigned to be responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the data in the data file and each part of an organisation's database.
 
 
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