1. Information Technology as a Profession
Bob August

2. Introduction Background The Learned Professions The Ten Dimensions
The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession
Discussion/Questions

3. Background Graduate Course in College and University Teaching
Introduction of Concept to Programming Students
USASBE Meeting
IABPAD Paper
ACBSP Regional Conference

4. The Learned Professions
A profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. Examples are accounting, law, medicine, finance, the military, the clergy and engineering.
Classically, there were only three professions: ministry, medicine, and law. These three professions each hold to a specific code of ethics, and members are almost universally required to swear some form of oath to uphold those ethics, therefore "professing" to a higher standard of accountability. Each of these professions also provides and requires extensive training in the meaning, value, and importance of its particular oath in the practice of that profession.
*Wikipedia

5. The Learned Professions
Doctors
Attorneys

6. The Learned Professions
Teachers
Clergy

7. The Ten Dimensions Professional Organizations
Acquired Body of Knowledge
Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
Code of Conduct/Ethics
Client/Provider Relationship
Service to the Profession
Certification through Examination
Regulating the Profession
Giving Back
It’s a Calling

8. Dimension 1: Professional Organizations
Doctors - American Medical Association
Attorneys - American Bar Association
Nurses – American Nurses Association
Teachers
Discipline
Teaching Level

9. Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge
Doctors
4 years of medical school
2+ years of residency/internships
Attorneys
3 years of law school
College/University Faculty
Masters
Ph. D.
Clergy
Seminary/School of Theology

10. Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
Doctors
Attorneys
CPAs
Teachers

11. Dimension 4: Code of Ethics
Doctors – Hippocratic Oath
Attorneys – Code of Ethics for Practicing Attorneys
Nurses – ANA Code of Ethics
Teachers – State Boards

12. Dimension 5: Provider/Client Relationship
Doctor/Patient
Attorney/Client
Teacher/Student

13. Dimension 6: Service to the Profession
Regional and National Conferences
Papers
Symposium
Seminars
Workshops
Officers

14. Dimension 7: Certification through Examination
Doctors – Medical Licensing Exam
Attorneys – Bar Exam
Accountants – CPA Exam
Nurses – RN Exam

15. Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession
Doctors – State Medical Boards
Attorneys – State Bar Associations
Clergy – Religious Denomination
Teachers – State Board for Education Certification

16. Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy)
Doctors - Doctors without Borders
Attorneys – Pro Bono Work
Clergy – A Life of Service

17. Dimension 10: It’s a Calling
Doctors
Attorneys
Teachers
The Clergy

18. The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession

19. Dimension 1: Professional Organizations
Association of Computer Machinery
Association of Information Technology Professionals
Information Systems Security Association

20. Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge
Information Technology Professionals
4-year college education (SIGITE Recommendation)
Specialization in a specific IT area
Programming
Networking
Web development
User support

21. Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
Information Technology Professionals
Rapid Change
Professional Development

22. Dimension 4: Code of Conduct/Ethics
ACM
AITP
ISSA

23. ACM Code of Conduct/Ethics
Preamble
Commitment to ethical professional conduct is expected of every member (voting members, associate members, and student members) of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
This Code, consisting of 24 imperatives formulated as statements of personal responsibility, identifies the elements of such a commitment. It contains many, but not all, issues professionals are likely to face…

24. 1. GENERAL MORAL IMPERATIVES
As an ACM member I will ....
1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being.
1.2 Avoid harm to others.
1.3 Be honest and trustworthy.
1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent.
1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property.
1.7 Respect the privacy of others.
1.8 Honor confidentiality.

25. 2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
As an ACM computing professional I will ....
2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity in both the process and products of professional work.
2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence.
2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work.
2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review.
2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks.
2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities.
2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences.
2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so.

26. 3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES
As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will ....
3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities.
3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems that enhance the quality of working life.
3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization's computing and communication resources.
3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have their needs clearly articulated during the assessment and design of requirements; later the system must be validated to meet requirements.
3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and others affected by a computing system.
3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the principles and limitations of computer systems.

27. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
As an ACM member I will ....
4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this Code.
4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with membership in the ACM.
Adherence of professionals to a code of ethics is largely a voluntary matter. However, if a member does not follow this code by engaging in gross misconduct, membership in ACM may be terminated.

28. Dimension 5: Client/Provider Relationship
Provider/Customer

29. Dimension 6: Service to the Profession
Regional and National Conferences
Papers
Symposium
Seminars
Workshops
Officers

30. Dimension 7: Certification through Examination
Information Technology Professionals
Vendor Certification
Microsoft
Cisco
Sun
Vendor Neutral
CompTIA – A+, Network+, Security+, etc.
International Information Systems Security Certifications Consortium (ISC)2 - CISSP
SANS Institute – Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

31. Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession
SANS - GIAC
(ISC)2 - CISSP

32. Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy)
Bill & Melinda Gates

33. Dimension 10: It’s a Calling
“When you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life.”

34. The Current State of Information Technology as a Profession
Professional Organizations
Acquired Body of Knowledge
Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
Code of Conduct/Ethics
Client/Provider Relationship
Service to the Profession
Certification Through Examination
Regulating the Profession
Giving Back
It’s a Calling

35. Questions/Discussion