BAHRIA UNIVERSITY (KARACHI CAMPUS)

MIDTERM EXAMINATION –SPRINGSEMESTER – 2020

(Professional Practices : CSC-307)

Take Home Assignment

Class: BS (CS)–7(A/B/C) (Morning)

Course Instructor: Aniqa Naeem Submission Deadline: 31-May-2020Max
Marks: 20

Note:All questions carry equal marks.

In order to support your answer, protocol diagrams of research articles can be used.

QUESTION NO. 1 (Professional Ethics & Code of Ethics)

a) Ethics is a moral principle that governs a person's or group's behavior. Illustrate
with an example how ethics and policies can play a role in developing ethical
behavior or users in this information age.
Ethics is a term used to define “The set of moral principles, through which we can
differentiate between what’s right or wrong”. With the introduction of new technologies
we are now capable of doing things which we could not do before. This has created
new situations which were not specifically addressed before.
For example, internet has given us the power of anonymity now people can
anonymously make perfect copies of digital copyrighted music for their own use
without making payment to the music’s owner. Many people who used to buy legal
copies of copyrighted music have now found themselves with dozens of illegally
downloaded albums. This has become so common that illegally downloading music is
not anymore considered as an unethical behavior, the anonymity provided to us by
this information age has vastly altered our perception of “Ethics”.

b) Computer ethics can be defined as the systematic study of the ethical and
social impact of computers in the information society. It deals with practical
problems and focuses on the nature of moral action and responsibility. How do
we know whether or not an action is morally right or wrong? (Hint: Justify your
answers with definition, how does it work and why it is important.)
Computer ethics are a set of moral principles that regulates the use of computers. As
technology advances, some common issues of computer ethics including intellectual
property rights (copyrighted content) and privacy concerns are raised, this is how
computers effect society. It’s very important to suppress dishonest business practices
and to protect and encourage fair competition and to promote moral and social values
in society.it also plays a major part in protecting personal information and controlling
plagiarism. Computer ethics should be used to consider whether or not an action
through computer is morally correct or not. In my opinion if an action through a
computer mutually benefits everyone it’s concerned about is morally right, as long as
it’s within the boundaries of the law.

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 For example, if a game developer needs pre-made assets or models for its game, he
should buy them or if he’s using free assets or models he should definitely give credits
to the person who made them, this is an example of morally right action, because it’s
mutually benefitting both parties it’s concerned about.

QUESTION NO. 2 (Intellectual Property)

As a Senior Software Architect Engineer in a multinational software
development house you are responsible to design, develop and enhance an
application for the profit of the company. On the other hand, at the same time,
you are developing your own commercialize application as you initial work or
product for your own company. Some of your own products is largely
influenced by your company's products.
a) Does your action is ethically right? Give your reasons for your answer.
No, in my opinion using copyrighted material of the company for the development of
one’s own application is ethically wrong. If I am working for a firm, it means I should be
loyal to it and my first priority should be the benefit of the company rather than using
the company’s materials for my own benefit. If I plan to use any of the company’s work
for the development of my own product, there should be a copyright agreement
between us and I should legally acquire the right to use the company’s material for the
development of my own product.
b) You have launched your own product and received a very good review from
users. Your company has just been made aware of your product and is trying to
claim the copyright of your creation.
There is nothing wrong in making your own product if you haven’t used any
copyrighted material. But In a situation like this the company has the legal right to file
a case of copyright against me, if there sure that I have used their materials for my
creation. If that’s not the case The company is ethically wrong to claim the copyright of
my product as it has violated the basic code of ethics which says that you can’t
represent someone else’s work as your own. You should be 100% sure and have
done all the research to before claiming copyright of someone else’s creation.

c) There are FOUR (4) different categories of software product: Freeware,

Shareware, Public Domain and Propriety Software. Explain the meaning and
provide an example for each of them.
 Freeware:
 Freeware is a software which is available for free. Unlike commercial software, it
does not require any payment or licensing fee.  Every publisher defines its own
rules for the freeware it offers. Sometimes freeware’s is a limited version of a
larger and paid software program.
 Example:
 Adobe PDF, Google Talk, VLC media player, Google chrome
 Shareware:
 Shareware software is also a copyright and is not free, they are available at a
very low cost and sometimes no, but usually requires payment and registration
for full legal use. Copies of software are distributed to the users on a trial basis

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 means users are free to test the software and conclude that it fulfils there need
up to the mark so that they can pay for the legal use.
 Example:
 Winrar, Internet Download Manager, Filmora

 Public Domain:
Public domain is a software with no legal, copyright or editing restrictions associated
with it. It is free and open-source software that can be access publicly downloaded,
uses, modified, distributed or sold without any restrictions.
Examples:
SQLite, I2P and CERN
 Propriety Software:
Propriety is also copyright that can be used only by obtaining license from its
developer. Individuals or a company both can own such proprietary software. It’s
source code is closely guarded.it can have major restrictions like.
 No further distribution.
 Number of users that can use it.
 Type of computer it can be installed on, example multitasking or single user
only, etc.
Examples:
Windows,Facebook

QUESTION NO. 3 (Professional Practice)

A professional is a person who proves that he/ she has the knowledge,
experience, and skills to perform a specific job. When professionals exercise
their skill and act in their professional roles, they may face clashes of
responsibilities.

a) Discuss the main characteristics of IT professionals?

Characteristics of IT professionals:
 Task oriented.
 Punctuality.
 Focuses on client requirement
 Competence.
 Better communication skills
 Agile management skills.
 Good planner.
 Fast learner.
 Promote team work

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  Responsible.
.

b) A professional (consultant) should not tell a client that there is better way to do
something, without consulting the consultant or the employer? Why?
According to me, the client consult a consultant with a scatter ideas and requirement
which he wanted to be done in an organized way, and the job of consultant is to
analyze the client requirement and thoughts deeply and suggest the most suited
outcome possible, and it will be only possible when there is a stronger bond of
communication between consultant and client. If the communication lacks between
them, it can cause a great loss to both of them.
c) A professional (programmer) should not write a system that he/she think might
be used for illegal purpose (e.g. creating virus)? Why?
In my opinion a programmer shouldn’t create anything which can be malicious in any
way, or can be used for illegal purpose, like virus or a software which could be used
as a hacking tool or steal private information. Because it violates the computer ethics
and harms the fragile environment of computer safety, however things like ethical
hacking and some viruses which are used to test anti-virus software’s are perfectly
fine because they help us fight these illegal systems.
d) A professional (system administrator) should not set up a system without
strong security to save money? Why?
A developer or a system administrator should not set up a system without strong
security to save money because not only it is harmful to them but it also jeopardizes
the security of the information of their clients, in my opinion the trust between
administration and clients are the key reason for maintaining a successful software
system which should definitely not be put in to jeopardy for the sake of saving some
money, it is totally worthless and massively harmful, because an attacker or a hacker
can easily get access to sensitive information about not only you but your client as
well.

****************The End*****************

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