Deck 9: Professional Ethics and Responsibilities

Question 1

In one application of a voice-recognition system, the system failed to recognize female speakers. A likely reason was

A) The program was specifically designed for men
B) Women's voices are inherently harder to recognize
C) Women do not speak as loudly as men, and the system used inferior microphones
D) The program was primarily developed and tested by men

Answer 1

The program was primarily developed and tested by men

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a principle for producing good systems?

A) Understand what success means
B) Include users in the design and testing stages
C) Be open and honest about capabilities, safety, and limitations of software
D) Overestimate the costs and time a project will take

Answer 2

Overestimate the costs and time a project will take

Question 3

How do professional ethics differ from general ethics?

Answer 3

Not answer

Question 4

Why is honesty one of the most fundamental values?

Question 5

Explain why keeping one's professional skills up-to-date is a requirement of professional ethics.

Question 6

Software designers should include users in the design stages.

Question 7

Professional ethics requires professionals maintain their skills.

Question 8

Choose two issues/topics covered this semester. For each of the two topics:
a. Describe each issue/topic, giving a brief history (no more than a paragraph).
b. Give at least two arguments on each side of the issue/topic (at least four arguments total).
c. What suggestions do you have for resolving this issue/topic, or why do you think the issue/topic cannot be resolved? Explain your answer.
Remember to answer all three questions for each of the two issues/topics.

Question 9

For the following scenario, identify at least 3 stakeholders. List at least 2 possible actions. How would each possible action affect each of the 3 stakeholders (give at least one possible consequence for each stakeholder and each possible actions - 6 total)? Which action would you take? Why?
You are the lead programmer on a new software product. You work for a small, privately owned software company that has had only limited success in the past. There is nothing else on the market similar to the new software you are developing. The software is just entering the testing stage, which is estimated to take approximately 10-12 months. The scheduled release date is 14 months from now. You and the other developers have been working long hours, 60 hours a week, and earning a relatively low salary. The entire development team will be sharing in the profits once the new software is launched. The owner has just returned from an industry tradeshow, and has learned about a consumer tradeshow that would be perfect for launching the new product. The project manager meets with you and the other developers on the team and tells you that the owner is very excited and determined to release the product at the consumer show, which is only 4 months away. It will take at least 2 months to prepare the marketing and packaging for the product. You are told you have 2 months to test and fix any problems.

Question 10

MATCHING

-stakeholders

A) individuals and organizations who would be affected in some way by an ethical dilemma
B) professional organization for the computing industry

Question 11

MATCHING

-ACM

A) individuals and organizations who would be affected in some way by an ethical dilemma
B) professional organization for the computing industry