Software systems are permeating our daily lives and are the heart of mission-critical and safety-critical
systems such as airplane avionics and nuclear power regulation. But no matter what the project is,
you should strive to work in a professional, disciplined and ethical manner. Agile was created in this
spirit. This course was built to guide your practice of this discipline we call software engineering.
Learning Outcomes
Describe why professionalism is important.
Explain the multiple aspects of behavior that contribute to professional behavior.
Identify sources of unconcious bias and actions that you can do to counter bias in your own work environment.
Study Resources
For your study of this topic, use these resources.
In this course, you'll deepen your understanding of unconscious biases,
how they influence behavior, and how they impact us all. You'll also learn
numerous actions you can take to help counter bias in your own work environment.
from Chapter 3 - Engineering of Software in Essentials of Software Engineering, Third Edition
by Frank Tsui, Orlando Karam and Barbara Bernal available on Skillsoft through the RIT library.
from Chapter 2 - Engineering Ethics in Professional Ethics and Human Values by M. Jayakumaran, Rahman R. Kalil and A. Alavudeen available on Skillsoft through the RIT library.
The following books are not available on-line. They are good reads for you to get a better understanding of professional ethics and responsibility. You may have a better appreciation for them if you read them several years into your career.
The Pragmatic Programmer,
by Dave Thomas and Andy Hunt. This book contains lots of material and tips - both technical and professional.
Ethics within Engineering by Wade Robison. Wade Robison is an RIT faculty member who has taught engineering ethics for a number of years working with students in KGCOE Multi-disciplinary Senior Design.
Samual Florman was a civil engineer who used his GI Bill benefits after WW2
to get an M.A. in English from Columbia. He is well-known for his views of a broader range of responsibilities that engineers have.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,
by Robert Pirsig.
The classic on the pursuit of quality. Prisig was a one-time
writer of computer tech. manuals in the 60s.
The Fifth Agreement,
by Don Miguel Ruiz and Don Jose Ruiz.
A practical guide to self-mastery.
Professional responsibility - quiz
(2 exercise points)
Read the first three Web Articles and Blogs resources on professionalism.
Read the Preamble of the IEEE/ACM Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice and scan through the detailed descriptions.
Complete the Microsoft online lesson on Unconscious Bias.
Complete the 5-minute quiz, Professional Responsibility, which is in the myCourses Quiz
area. You must complete the quiz by the time shown in your section's schedule.