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On Monday 8th February, the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS) and De Montfort University's Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility launched the UK report of the first ever international survey into the Ethical Attitudes of Information Systems (IS) professionals.
The report was welcomed by an audience of senior Information Systems professionals, Members of Parliament, civil servants and academics at the event, held at the RSA in London.
There was debate about the report with participation from most of the audience. The discussion paid particular attention to one of the findings: that a higher proportion of the younger IS professionals who responded took the less moral position on many of the questions asked. Dr Ben Fairweather, one of the co-authors, was keen to point out that "in other spheres, such as the environment, young people take a stronger moral position than those who are older, so perhaps ethical education is particularly needed by budding Information Systems professionals".
On the more general findings, Mary Prior of University College Northampton, the lead author of the report, emphasised that "it was particularly encouraging to see many IS professionals want their employer to have a code of ethics, and that many were keen to see action taken against transgressors".
Another author, Professor Simon Rogerson, however, was worried that this might not work in a profession where many people change jobs every few years. He thought that "the most likely way workers in IS will become familiar with a code of ethics relevant to their needs would be if professional bodies, such as the IMIS, have up-to-date and relevant codes". He was also anxious that professional bodies "work hard to encourage ethical awareness among their members, and especially younger members".
The survey was the first in a series that will be carried out every two years in the UK. The survey has also been conducted in Costa Rica, and is being conducted in Spain, the US and Australia.
For further information contact Simon Rogerson 0116 257 7475 or Ben Fairweather 0116 250 6143
ENDS
Note: the report "Is IT Ethical?", is published by the Institute for the Management of Information Systems, IMIS House, Edgington Way, Ruxley Corner, SIDCUP, Kent, DA14 5HR, price 10 pounds.