The ethics of discussing ID consulting projects
A hallmark of this profession is commitment to protecting client confidentiality. This
involves not disclosing any information that may cause harm to clients and their
organizations which may include clients’ identities and information about their personal
and professional matters.
We will practice client confidentiality in class to prepare us for professional work. The
following ground rules are intended to allow us to practice in a sound professional manner
while learning from each other.
1. Do not use real identifiers in WebCT discussions or in reports. Use pseudonyms.
Disguise the identities sensibly. A "global pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis"
and "a large University in Ames, IA" not sensible identifiers because the true identity is
obvious to anyone familiar with these locations. This is one of the few times in professional
life where deception or at least obfuscation is a good practice.
2. If you come to understand the identity of a classmate's client do not disclose the identity
of the client or organization to anyone for any reason.
3. Do not discuss your project or other's projects outside of the classroom. You never know
who is listening to a conversation in a public place. If the project is current, just a few
details could give away the client’s identity and information that could harm the client.
4. If you do find a good professional reason to present data about a project or publish about
the project, seek written permission from the client before you communicate such
information even when you use pseudonyms.
5. Practice the discipline of not discussing consulting matters with colleagues, family
members, etc. These are life long habits to consciously develop. If you make a mistake (and
you will) move on quickly don't dwell on it especially in public conversation. If you feel
there is a potential for harm arising from your conversation you have an obligation to
prevent the harm, if possible, or to inform the client or both.