COMP6099
Research Skills & Professional Issues
Professional Issues in Practice
University of Manchester
12th March 2008
Prof. David J Parsons
Professional Issues in Practice
Today we will seek to :
Review the material covered in my earlier lecture on
Professional Issues context
Relate the Professional Issues addressed in that lecture to the
practical world of IT / Computing
Examine some future challenges facing the IS / IT computing
professional
© David J Parsons 2008
Professional Issues in Context – What did we covered ?
Business / Technical Challenges facing the Professional
Our perceived professional performance
Some specific issues – people, project, personal.
Professions, the role of the Professional Society
© David J Parsons 2008
Professional Issues in Context
We looked at :
Some ideas
Some concepts
Some theories
BUT much of what we discussed is :
PRACTICAL and Relevant to the
SOCIETY
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT
In which we as existing / potential IS / IT / Computing Professional Practitioners
find ourselves in what is now sometimes referred to as Information Systems
Engineering.
© David J Parsons 2008
Information Systems Engineering – what is it ?
Some key words extracted from a Definition agreed between the British
Computer Society & the Engineering Council in 1989
Creation, use and support of information systems for the solution of
practical problems.
Specification, design, construction, testing, bringing into service,
maintenance and enhancement
Quality assurance
Design, development and use of standards and tools
Fitness for purpose, range of functionality, economy and efficiency, reliability,
cost-effectiveness, security and safety, and life cycle support.
The FULL Definition from a PRACTICAL point of view…………………….
© David J Parsons 2008
Information Systems Engineering
( definition agreed between the British
Computer Society & the Engineering Council in 1989 )
Information Systems Engineering is the application of engineering
principles, founded on appropriate scientific and technological disciplines,
to the creation, use and support of information systems for the solution of
practical problems. As with other branches of engineering, this primarily
involves the activities of specification, design, construction, testing,
bringing into service, maintenance and enhancement, together with quality
assurance applied to all of these. The scope includes hardware
components ( such as processors, networks and interface devices ) and
software components ( including operating systems software, information
structure software, communications protocol and application software ). It
also includes the design, development and use of standards and tools
essential for the engineering of information systems.
The users of information systems require them to exhibit observable
attributes of any properly engineered system or artefact including fitness
for purpose, range of functionality, economy and efficiency, reliability, costeffectiveness, security and safety, and life cycle support.
© David J. Parsons 2008
ISE definition 1 – its PRACTICAL nature
Application of engineering principles & founded on appropriate scientific and
technological disciplines
To the creation
use and
support of information systems
For the solution of practical problems
PRACTICAL ( New Oxford Dictionary )
‘ ....of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something, rather than
with the theory and ideas ...’
PRACTICE ( New Oxford Dictionary )
‘....the actual application or use of an idea, belief or method as opposed to
theories about such application or use...’
© David J. Parsons 2008
ISE definition 2 – the systems methods we need to develop solutions
Involves the activities of : PRACTICAL systems life cycle aspects :
specification
identifying, understanding users needs
design
solutions / alternatives to meet those needs
construction
building agreed solution to meet users needs
testing
ensuring solution ‘works’ as required
bringing into service
introducing into existing user environment
maintenance and
enhancement
ensuring solution can be enhanced to meet
additional requirements & if necessary, corrected
quality assurance applied to all of the above
© David J. Parsons 2008
ISE definition – 3 – the hardware / software systems we use
Scope includes
PRACTICAL Examples :
hardware components
processors, networks and interface devices
software components
operating systems software, information
structure software, communications
protocols and application software
standards and tools
their design, development and use
I.E. The PRACTICAL tools, methods, etc that we are going to use to develop
PRACTICAL solutions that will operate on the required hardware and
software systems to meet the user’s needs
© David J. Parsons 2008
ISE definition 4 – to meet our users’ needs
Business users of information systems requirements - The observable
attributes of any properly engineered system or artefact
This includes
PRACTICAL aspects
fitness for purpose,
Meeting users needs
range of functionality,
Providing appropriate solution
economy and efficiency,
Optimising performance requirements
reliability,
Consistent, trustworthy in operation
cost-effectiveness,
Achieving financial / technical ‘balance’
security and safety, and
Data, processing, Health & Safety
life cycle support.
Capable of upgrade, change, correction
© David J. Parsons 2008
ISE Definition 5 – relating the WHAT to the HOW
This ISE definition helps us look at and remind ourselves of some of the
PRACTICAL aspects of ……
WHAT
we need to consider as Professional Information Systems Practitioners
Let’s now look EXAMINE and remind ourselves of some PRACTICAL aspects
relating to ……..
HOW
we need to ‘implement’ the WHAT as Professional Information Systems
Practitioners
© David J. Parsons 2008
Practical Professional Responsibilities – examples of HOW
In my earlier lecture we briefly touched on aspects under the headings
People
Project
Legal
Personal
Let me remind you of some of the matters we reviewed
© David J. Parsons 2008
Practical Professional Responsibilities – examples of HOW - 1
People matters – what we do as professionals affects :
Users
Groups
Impacts
individuals – other professionals
organisation – management
their work & working practices
When Team leading we may be involved with :
Planning other people’s time
Technical guidance leadership
Coaching, advising, developing
Simple approach – treat others as we would like them to treat us
© David J. Parsons 2008
Practical Professional Responsibilities – examples of HOW - 2
Project Management matters requires us to consider :
Understanding requirements
functions
schedule
Managing / scheduling resources
tasks
Risk Analysis / management
security, restart, recovery
Quality Management
everywhere !
People Management
subordinates, ourselves !!!
© David J. Parsons 2008
financial
priorities
time
skills
Practical Professional Responsibilities – examples of HOW - 3
As Professionals we all have a professional obligation to comply with the laws
and regulations which exist bin the countries in which we are working or in
which our systems are operating.
So we MUST ensure that our designs comply with any LEGAL and/or
REGULATORY requirements :–
e.g.
Health & Safety -
Critical Systems
Data Protection –
to ensure requirements enshrined in the Data
Protection principles are implemented
Intellectual Property - especially when using ‘packages’ / licensed
software
Computer Misuse –
to ensure that appropriate ‘security’ is
designed in to prevent / detect misuse
…… and many more …..
© David J. Parsons 2008
Practical Professional Responsibilities – examples of HOW - 4
At a personal level we need to address matters such as :
Maintaining knowledge
& understanding
To cope with new technologies
different systems etc
Developing our competence
& expertise
To be able to use / exploit
different / new methods, tools
Personal behaviour
Maintaining high professional /
ethical standards
Communications skills
Reports / presentations
Setting examples and taking personal responsibility for our own &
subordinates actions including ongoing CPD
© David J. Parsons 2008
Practical Professional Responsibilities – other areas
Examples of other Professional Disciplines which we might encounter as Professional
Information Systems / Computing Practitioners include :
Aspects of PLANNING & CONTROL related to :
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
TIME MANAGEMENT
COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS – written, oral
BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
RISK MANAGEMENT
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
These are all additional to the skills, knowledge and experience relating to the
TECHNICAL aspects of our roles &
they all impact “how we behave as IS / IT Professionals”
© David J. Parsons 2008
How we behave as IS / IT Professionals
So we need to study and understand matters such as :
Ethical Principles and Practice
The Obligations facing us as IS / IT / Computing Professionals
The role of the Professional Society
Codes of Conduct / Ethics / Good Practice
All these areas can help us understand / guide Professional Behaviour /
Professional Conduct.
© David J. Parsons 2008
How we behave as IS / IT Professionals
ETHICS Definitions
New Oxford Dictionary
‘Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the
conducting of an activity ‘
ETHICS & COMPUTING – a definition
Robert Ayers : Professional Issues in Computing
“Ethics is concerned with questions of right and wrong, good and bad, and
determining how people should behave in particular situations”
© David J. Parsons 2008
PRACTICAL Computer Ethics ( Behaviour ) reminders
NOT academic philosophical study
BUT Practical issues relating to behaviour - e.g.
Dealing with personal uncertainties
Dealing with conflicts of opinion
What choice should I make in this situation?
Is the action I am considering unfair ?
Source : Duncan Langford Practical Computer Ethics
Practical
issues
In the workplace – client site, office, university
Whatever we are working on – systems analysis,
programming, documentation etc.
Recognising any potential outcomes of ‘unethical’ behaviour
© David J. Parsons 2008
Professional Behaviour
Why should we be ethical ? A reminder….
Discussions held with Computer Science undergraduates suggest
these points :
TRUST
as a reliable IS / IT Professional
SECURITY
guarding against unexpected outcomes
COMFORT
peace of mind
Source : Duncan Langford – Practical Computer Ethics
© David J. Parsons 2008
Professional Behaviour – which action should I take?
Ethics Check / Ethical Decision Making Checklists Questions
We looked at several approaches including the one taken from Blanchard & Peale
The Power of Ethical Management ( modified by DJP )
Is it LEGAL ?
Will it violate either civil law or company policy ?
Is it BALANCED ?
Is it fair to all concerned - short and long term ?
Does it promote win-win relationships ?
How will it make me feel about myself ?
Will it make me feel proud ?
Would I feel good if my decision were published ?
Would I feel good if my family knew about it ?
Will it pass the BATHROOM MIRROR test ?
© David J. Parsons 2008
Professional Issues
Professional Behaviour – I asked were there sources of help
Given the challenges / issues relating to:
people, projects, personal professionalism
Given the need for
professional compliance with legal / regulatory matters
personal integrity and high standards of personal behaviour
professional Ethics in the Workplace
Are there any sources of help ?
Can the Codes of Conduct / Practise of the Professional Societies provide
useful guidelines to help us address / deal with the challenges we face ?
© David J. Parsons 2008
Starting to summarise – the challenges we looked at ?
Business / Technology environments faced by the Professional
Why Information Systems are Important
Need for Professionalism & the ‘performance’ of our industry
Professional’s responsibilities – e.g. people, projects, legal, personal
Professional behaviour – ‘ethics’ & codes of behaviour / conduct
Why is it so important …… remember the surveys / reports ……
© David J. Parsons 2008
Perception is Reality
The Need for Professionalism
Standish 2002 *
31% of projects cancelled before completion
88% of projects exceed deadline, budget or both
For every 100 starts, there are 94 restarts
Average cost overrun – 189%
Average schedule overrun – 222%
* IT Project Management : On Track from Start to Finish
Joseph Philips ( McGraw Hill ) 2002
© David J. Parsons 2008
Report on GOVERNMENT IT PROJECTS – July 2003
Perhaps we can learn some lessons and avoid / prevent some of these
Causes of Project Failure :
Lack of clear link between project and organisations priorities
Lack of clear senior management ownership
Lack of effective engagement with project stakeholders
Lack of project / risk management skills
Lack of understanding / contact with supply industry
Evaluation driven by price NOT value for money
Too little breakdown of projects into manageable steps
Inadequate resources and skills to deliver requirements
… and understanding and recognising why factors such as these cause
problems can help us all be a professional in the practical world in which
we live and work …………
© David J. Parsons 2008
Being an IS / IT / Computing Professional in the PRACTICAL world
As IS / IT / Computing / IS Professionals we need to be aware that :
OUR designs will impact other professionals & end users
WE are expected to be professional i.e. – expert, competent, etc.
OUR work may well have legal, social & other implications
WE are part of a relatively 'new' profession
and there is / can be still considerable mistrust and ignorance of
IS / IT issues
© David J. Parsons 2008
Some Conclusions for us as IS / IT / Computing Professionals
Putting the PRACTICAL ISSUES in context
Information systems are here to stay !
Technology is becoming all pervasive
Technology & associated information systems are becoming essential
to most / many organisations
These organisations will demand more of the technology & information
systems investments
Quality, reliability, functionality, effectiveness, efficiency... etc. will all
be demanded
As individuals involved with IS/IT studying the implications of the
technology and the many issues raised by technology will help us all to
be professional and act professionally
But what else will we need to think about in the future….
© David J. Parsons 2008
Some Conclusions for us as IS / IT / Computing Professionals
Looking at the FUTURE …..
What else will we need to think about in the future….
Some BIG ISSUES
Some IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Some REAL CHALLENGES ……………..
© David J. Parsons 2008
Professional – I asked if there a need for an enhanced definition ?
PROFESSIONAL ( NOD ) - “of or belonging to a profession ....... involving
training....... showing appropriate skill ........ maintaining proper
standards ....... competent .... expert....."
Do we need extend to include a mix of :
competency
( e.g. relevant up to date skills appropriate to
the tasks being carried out )
and integrity
(e.g. a commitment to a recognised code of ethical
behaviour which identifies obligations and
responsibilities ( and which may, in certain
circumstances overcall contractual obligations ) )
The BCS believes such an enhanced definition is necessary – what do you
think ?
© David J Parsons 2008
Some questions about the IS / IT / COMPUTING Profession
Should the computing profession become more regulated ?
Should the computing profession become a licenced profession ?
Should those working in the profession need to be ‘registered’ as
qualified and competent to carry out their role / fulfil their
professional obligations in the same way as doctors and lawyers are
registered ?
If the answer to all or some of the above is YES, what would be
involved ?
Would a regulated ‘licenced’ computing profession prevent some of
the errors and failures that have occurred ?
© David J Parsons 2008
The FUTURE ? Likely IT Developments over next 10 years
Taken from The Future of Law – Richard Susskind - 2002
Global telecommunications
Information industries
Virtual private networks
Computing power increases
Convergence of computers & television
Smarter technologies
Multi-media growth
Usability developments
Interpersonal & inter organisational computing
WEB as the ‘first port of call’
We are already seeing many of these implemented.
No doubt we could all add our own ideas to this list !
© David J. Parsons 2008
The TOP 10 Challenges for IT Professionals - 1
IET Information Professional – October / November 2006
1.
CHARTERED STATUS
:
gaining in the GRAVITAS stakes
2.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
:
keeping the best people
3.
ENTERPRISE SECURITY
:
threats from inside
4.
BALANCING ACT
:
IT – Business Alignment
5.
ENTERPRISE MOBILITY
:
Where are all the users going ?
© David J. Parsons 2008
The TOP 10 Challenges for IT Professionals - 2
IET Information Professional – October / November 2006
6.
WORK / LIFE BALANCE
:
stressing the importance
7.
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
:
finding room at the top
8.
OUR WAY
:
what the high achievers say
9.
INTERPRISE SECURITY
:
guarding against outside threats
:
while they’re busy it’s time to catch
up on your reading.
10. USER POWER
© David J. Parsons 2008
The FUTURE
What else do Information Systems Professionals need to be considering ?
Some of my thoughts :
Are we becoming excessively reliant on IT ?
Any there morally/ethically objectionable uses of IT ?
What will be the social impact of incessant growth of IT ?
Are we developing a digital divide – separating the information
haves from the information have nots .
Will DATA be the next major pollutant ?
No doubt you can and will add your own thoughts to this list !
© David J. Parsons 2008
Where I started - the increasingly complex information & technological
infrastructure - a challenge
President of the World Future Society :
'the global network of interconnected computers and telecommunications
links is already the biggest machine ever built..... but it will likely become
bigger and more powerful in the coming decades. This monster machine
will fundamentally transform human life as we know it today.‘
Such technology developments / innovations surely HAVE and
surely WILL continue so to do.
That is why an understanding of PROFESSIONAL and related
PRACTICAL ISSUES is so important to us all.
THANK YOU for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.
© David J. Parsons 2008