ACM code of ethics and professional conduct
Communications of the ACM
Using the new ACM code of ethics in decision making
Communications of the ACM
Communications of the ACM
Ethics and information systems: the corporate domain
MIS Quarterly - Special issue on intensive research in information systems
Ethics of Information Management
Ethics of Information Management
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The authors start with the premise that the field of information technology is not a "profession," because it is missing some of the defining characteristics of a profession. In particular, the authors claim the field is impotent in terms of certification and meaningful sanctions for unprofessional behavior. Furthermore, unlike "true" professions, leadership (with the frequent exception of IT in academia) is more often than not in hands of someone who has not come "up through the ranks" and therefore does not enjoy peer status.Handicapped by lack of credentialing, the inability to deal effectively with unprofessional behavior, and non-peer leadership, the resulting power vacuum has led to a responsibility vacuum, which in turn complicates issues of information ethics.The authors then argue that the IT field, whatever it considers itself to be, or is perceived by society to be, has a responsibility to society to disclose its position on ethical issues: to proclaim or disclaim such positions if there is consensus or acknowledge disagreement within the field in the absence of consensus. Specifically, there arises as societal obligation to "own up" to the realities of our not being a profession and such implications as our inability to deal with unprofessional behavior.The authors conclude that information ethicists must not only assist the field in identifying ethical issues and formulating appropriate positions, but they must also lobby the field regarding the importance of keeping society informed on the existence, non-existence, or evolution of such positions; and directly alert society, on behalf of the field, to the existence, non-existence, or evolution of such positions. In particular, the authors assert that any progress the field can make in resolving ethical jurisdiction---who gets to have say in matters of information ethics---will have an immense positive impact on the future of information ethics, contribute significantly to progress in matters of legal jurisdiction, and may even assist the field in resolving its identity.