NACCQ - Qualifications

Information and Communications
Technology Qualifications

| Back to list of Prescriptions

Prescription: ET600 (ET200)Ethics and Professionalism

Aim of Module	To equip students with the conceptual skills and knowledge that enables them to make ethically sound judgements and decisions according to a chosen set of ethical standards.
Credits	7
Student Learning hours	70
Content Revised	1998
Prescription Expiry Date	Nov 2005
Note	This is a Compulsory ICT L5 (CBC) Module

Level and Assessment Schedule
Topics	Highest Skill Level	Suggested Assessment Percentage
1 Ethical Behaviour	C	10
2 Codes of Ethics	C	20
3 Legislation	C	20
4 IT Issues	A	20
5 Making Ethical Decisions	P	20
6 Treaty of Waitangi	C	10

		100

LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will

C	1	Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of ethical behaviour.



C	2	Discuss a selection of professional codes of ethics, particularly those which Information Technology personnel are likely to practice.



C	3	Comment on legislation which relates to the Information Technology industry.



A	4	Evaluate the main ethical considerations facing Information Technology personnel.



P	5	Demonstrate an ability to formulate ethically sound decisions.



C	6	Recognise the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi to an Information Technology professional by being able to identify and discuss current treaty-based issues.

CONTENT

1	Ethical Behaviour


>	Criteria for professional conduct.



>	Role and nature of ethical behaviour.



>	Factors influencing individual behaviour.

2	Codes of Ethics


>	Codes of ethics verses codes of practice.



>	Examples of codes will be discussed.



>	Impact of codes on individual behaviour.



>	Common elements.



>	NZCS code of ethics.

3	Legislation


>	Impact of laws.



>	Individual acts such as:

		- Consumer Guarantees Act

		- Fair Trading Act

		- Official Information Act (and amendments)

		- Copyright Act

		- Health and Safety in Employment Act

		- Human Rights Act



>	Licensing agreements.

4	IT Issues


>	The main ethical considerations facing information technology personnel will be evaluated.



		E.g.

		-Software piracy

		-Hacking

		-Viruses

		-Sharing/matching data

		-Cloning/reverse engineering

		-Scanning

		-Internet pornography/crime

		-Company ownership vs personal knowledge

5	Making Ethical Decisions


>	Decisions should be able to be justified.



>	Decisions should be ethically sound.

6	Treaty of Waitangi


>	Identify and discuss current treaty-based issues such as:

		- National significance

		- Articles identified

		- Differences in translation

		- Differences in interpretation

		- Impact on Society and, in particular, the economy