Code of Ethics of a Professional Society

● Basic ideas, concept and

goals
● Conflicts of interest
● Examples in Practical
Problems
Basic Ideas Of a Professional Society
● The fundamental concept behind a professional society's code of ethics is to define a
framework of principles and standards that its members must follow in their
professional endeavours.
● These codes aim to foster and uphold the utmost ethical conduct and
integrity within the profession
● The typical components encompass: Integrity, Responsibility, Fair Treatment
and Respect, Competence to name a few.
Goals of a Professional Society
● Drive global innovation through broad collaboration and sharing of knowledge
● Enhance public understanding of engineering and Technology
● To be a trusted source for educational services and resources to support lifelong
learning
● Educating the public and policy makers on the benefits, potential, limits, and pitfalls of
computing and computer science
● Promoting ethical computing to make a positive impact across the global computing
community
● the world’s leading venues (conferences, publications, magazines) for research that
shapes the future of computing and careers of those in computing
 Concepts

Social Responsibility
● This concept underscores the idea that engineers and technologists have a
profound responsibility to society.
● Their work should be directed towards improving the overall well-being and
quality of life for all members of the public.
● Engineers and technologists are expected to consider the broader implications of
their work, including its environmental, societal, and ethical impact.
 Concepts

Integrity and Honesty

● Integrity and honesty are fundamental principles of the code.
● Professionals are expected to be truthful, accurate, and straightforward in their
professional activities.
● This concept extends to maintaining trustworthiness in all aspects of work, from
research to product development and interactions with clients or employers.
 Concepts

Professional Development
● The code promotes the idea that professionals should continually seek opportunities for
personal and professional growth.
● This includes staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, research, and ethical
considerations in their field.
● It emphasizes the importance of self-improvement and the pursuit of excellence in one's
professional competence.
 Concepts

Respect for Intellectual Property

● This concept encourages professionals to recognize and respect the intellectual property
rights of others.
● This includes respecting patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.
● It discourages unethical practices such as plagiarism or unauthorized use of intellectual
property.
 Conflicts Of Interests

● A conflict of interest is any event known to a participant in the publication process such that, if it
is revealed later, it would make a reader feel reasonably deceived, or an author, reviewer or
editor feels defensive.
● A potential conflict of interest can be identified at any point during the publication process, but
when possible, potential conflicts should be determined before acceptance and publication
decisions are made.
● If there are doubts about whether a circumstance represents a conflict, they are assessed on
terms agreed by the respective organizations. IEEE, ACM or any other such professional
societies have their own terms to identify and manage them.
 Examples of relationships that produce COIs
● Notable personal or professional rivalry/animosity (publicly known or not).

● Personal or family relationships that would reasonably cause others to doubt impartiality.

● Potential for financial gain or significant recognition, personally or for a close associate or family
member.

● Working closely together, supervisor/supervisee relationships, funder/awardee relationships, joint

funding, professional collaboration, and joint authorship of publications can all contribute to COIs.

➔ Individuals in such relationships involving in peer review of, or making editorial decisions about
published materials provided by the related parties results in Conflict Of Interests and must be
avoided and assessed in case of detection.
 Practical problems

● Autonomous Vehicles and IEEE Code of Ethics

● The conflict between safety and liability
● Real-life ethical dilemmas in programming autonomous vehicles
● Engineers' struggle to balance safety and innovation
● The relevance of practical problems in ethical decision-making
An in-depth look at the ethical challenges faced
by engineers working on autonomous vehicles

● Complex Decision-Making: Autonomous vehicles may encounter situations where they have to make
split-second decisions, such as swerving to avoid a pedestrian or staying on course to prevent a collision.
● Ethical Programming: Engineers are tasked with programming the vehicles to make the "right" ethical
decisions, but defining what is right can be challenging.
● Public Safety vs. Liability: Engineers must balance public safety with the potential legal and financial
implications of autonomous vehicle accidents.
● Lack of Clarity: Professional codes of ethics, like IEEE's, emphasize safety and protection of the public,
but they may not offer specific guidance on programming decisions in these complex scenarios.
● The Practical Challenge: Engineers working on autonomous vehicles face the real-world practical
problem of making ethical decisions that could impact lives, and they must grapple with the
consequences of their choices.
Thank You!