IT Ethics and Professionalism in Information Technology

Introduction

Professionalism denotes a higher degree of knowledge and behavior that promotes well-being among people performing similar jobs. Adopting and fostering a spirit of professionalism portends greater success and fulfillment. The purpose of this essay is to explore the idea of professionalism within the Information Technology profession. To assist in this effort, professional codes of conduct will be explored and applied directly to the unique circumstances that involve the IT professional. Ethics and responsibility will also be addressed to help contextualize challenges that deal specifically with privacy, trust, and reason. The essay concludes with recommendations on how IT professionals may become more aware of the importance and practical application of a professional attitude.

While people involved in the IT career field have specific and unique experiences within the scope of their duties, it is first important to understand what professionalism is and how it can be applied in general terms. Norton (2010) suggested that first and foremost a level of expertise is needed to become a professional in any industry. This idea included "becoming an expert in the skills and tools necessary to do your job. Always perform to the best of your abilities and keep your knowledge up-to-date. Professionals know their trade."

Professionalism

Inherent within this understanding is an idea of self-motivation. Unlike non-professionals, those intent on making themselves better will do so on their own accord with little or no encouragement from others. Professionals have essentially transcended the master-slave relationship and work for a greater purpose that revolves around advancing the specific trade or industry they are involved in.

The ability to communicate effectively also denotes a strong professional presence. Professionals in every field know how to convey a message in a variety of ways. Whether verbal, written, or otherwise, professionals must understand different languages, customs, and traditions that can greatly contribute to their overall ability to communicate. Professionals who know how to communicate effectively understand the entire system of operations — from the customer or end user all the way to the top of the leadership hierarchy. Regardless of context, professionals must be able to express their knowledge in a well-received manner in order to be proficient and attain goals and objectives.

Both information and technology have made great impacts on global culture, and the demand for IT professionals has been remarkable in recent decades. Every year, new and more sophisticated technology arrives with many more applications, creating an increasingly technology-dependent society. The need for professionalism within this career field becomes more and more evident as this trend continues and technology grows in importance and relevance.

IT Professionals and Industry Standards

In past years, IT professionals may have been seen as a uniquely specialized profession with distinctive personalities and skill sets. Today, much of that culture has moved toward the mainstream. McGarahan and Mims (2012) observed this social transformation and suggested that the new perspective places greater importance on the professional approach of its members. They wrote: "As IT leaders, we have the responsibility to always act in a professional manner; we must lead by example for the next generation of IT professionals. We can start by examining and continuously improving our attire, attitude, communication, relationship-building, networking, business and financial skills, and our desire to continuously educate ourselves. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard in the way we relate to one another and to our customers. If we are to bridge the gap of respect and credibility with the business, let us start by building meaningful relationships based on professionalism and a common pursuit of doing what's best for the business to create value."

In this evolution of the profession, a formal association was established. The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) was launched in 1996 to offer guidance and direction for professionals within this industry. Essentially, the group's mission is to serve its members by offering professional guidance and assistance when needed. Their website states: "To serve our members by delivering relevant technology and leadership education, research and information on current business and technology issues, and forums for networking and collaboration. Adopted December 2008."

Additionally, the AITP provides a set of guiding principles intended to bring the profession to a higher standard of operation. This code of ethics is used to foster cooperation and a sense of betterment among the group. The code is as follows:

Our Guiding Principles reflect AITP's beliefs about your role as a member and the impact we want AITP to have in the IT profession.

We aspire to be better leaders, better people. We excel through honesty. We treat others with respect. We demand ethical behavior of ourselves. We encourage out-of-the-box thinking. We lead with confidence and inspire team members to achieve success. We don't let fear of change paralyze us in reaching our goals. We are fiscally responsible. We take ownership in everything we do. We have fun.