[LINK] The Ethics (!) of Dodgy Web Designers

[Tom Worthington]

At 02:10 PM 17/04/2007, Stilgherrian wrote:
>... Is it ethical for a "web design" firm to say they can deliver 
>"online applications" even after their programmer leaves? When the 
>programmer delivers code that contains basic security flaws, but 
>they seem unconcerned? ...

My notes on "Professional ethics and the World Wide Web" are at: 
<http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/webethics.shtml>. This includes 
links to articles by some of the researchers working on a $1M 
Australian project on IT ethics. But don't expect any definitive 
answers any time soon.

IT security was the topic for an ANU web design assignment recently. 
The students have found this issue much harder that writing software. 
You might find the references of use:

"... With very little time remaining until the deadline, you notice 
some security problems ... Examine the ethical principles involved in 
this situation and identify the problems arising in applying the 
codes of ethics. Describe the options available to you in these 
circumstances and the possible effects on yourself and others. 
Evaluate your preferred options, rating your ethical principles ..." 
<http://cs.anu.edu.au/students/comp2410/assignments/a1/assignment1.pdf>.

Some comments, which may not necessarily apply in your case:

* ETHICS ARE PERSONAL: Professional bodies have codes of ethics for 
individual professionals. These do not cover a firm, nor do they 
necessarily cover non-members.

* USE A STANDARD:  There are frequently disagreements between 
coworkers as to what is an acceptable quality of work. You can take 
some heat out of the argument by using an external standard. I do 
this when acting as an expert witness in court cases on software and 
web site problems. In some cases the standards were written into the 
original specifications for the system, but everyone seems to forget 
them when the problems start. In other cases I had to find some 
standards myself. In one case the standards were cited on the web 
site of the company developing the web system, but not used by them.

* PRESSURE FROM CLIENTS: If you are a professional, then you are 
obliged to act in the client's interests, even if the client doesn't 
want you to. If you can't find an alternative acceptable to you and 
the client, then you may have to resign or accept being sacked. If 
the client says do something you know to be a bad idea, when it goes 
wrong they will more than likely blame you anyway. ;-)



Tom Worthington FACS HLM tom.worthington at tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd            ABN: 17 088 714 309
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617                http://www.tomw.net.au/
Visiting Fellow, ANU      Blog: http://www.tomw.net.au/blog/atom.xml