INTRODUCTION

The British Computer Society sets the professional standards of competence, conduct and ethical practice for computing in the United Kingdom. The Society was incorporated by Royal Charter in July 1984.

This Code of Practice is directed to all professional members of The British Computer Society and was issued in September 1999. It is a generic Code of Practice, consisting essentially, of a series of statements which prescribe minimum standards of practice, to be observed by all members.

The Code is concerned with professional responsibility. All members have responsibilities: to clients, to users, to the State and society at large. Those members who are employees also have responsibilities to their employers and employers' customers and, often, to a Trade Union. In the event of apparent clash in responsibilities, obligations or prescribed practice the Society's Registrar should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.

The Code is intended to be observed in the spirit and not merely the word. The BCS membership covers all occupations relevant to the use of computers and it is not possible to define the Code in terms directly relevant to each individual member.

However, the Society has now recognised that due to the continuing diversity of the profession, it must encourage its members to produce additional Codes which are applicable and relevant to specific sectors of the profession. This generic Code will enable the production of such Codes which will be presented to, and approved by, the Qualifications and Standards Board prior to circulation. The first of these from IS Practitioners working as Contractors is already available.

THE GENERAL CODE OF PRACTICE

Purpose
A Code of Practice is a set of principles established to ensure that Information Systems (IS) Practitioners maintain recognised standards of competence in all aspects of IS practice. The Code of Conduct establishes the principles of behaviour in IS practice.

This General Code of Practice has been introduced to:

• Provide guidance to all Information Systems Practitioners regardless of their specialism.
  
• To allow for the provision of sector-specific Codes of Practice governing practice in specialist areas.

Employers, clients, members of the public or other professions should expect the same high standards of practice in Information Systems as are expected from members of other recognised professions. Professional Institutions set standards of technical capability which professional Practitioners must satisfy, and they prescribe standards of professional practice to which their members must conform or be held accountable for any lapse.

Responsibilities of Information Systems Practitioners
Information Systems Practitioners shall seek to upgrade their professional knowledge and skill and shall maintain awareness of technological developments, procedures and standards which are relevant to their field, and shall encourage their subordinates to do likewise.

The Practitioner has a duty of professional care to abide by those BCS sector-specific Codes of Practice which have any bearing on the practitioner's current role.

Should the Practitioner discover any difficulty in applying a Code of Practice, he or she shall immediately bring it to the attention of the BCS Registrar.

Information Systems Practitioners who are BCS members adopting the General Code of Practice are also bound by the requirements of the BCS Code of Conduct. Others adopting this Code of Practice are also advised to adhere to the Code of Conduct.

Authorisation
This General Code of Practice is approved by Council with the authority of Qualifications and Standards Board.

Sector-specific Codes to be adopted must be:

• Authorised by an appropriate specialist community, then
  
• Approved by Qualifications and Standards Board.

Development and Maintenance of Codes of Practice
All BCS-initiated Codes of Practice are maintained through Qualifications and Standards Board.

In the event that the BCS adopts Codes of Practice originating from other recognised bodies, these will be maintained by the originating bodies.

Guidance on how to produce sector-specific Codes of Practice is available separately from the BCS Registrar, 1 Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 1HJ. Tel: +44 (0)1793 417417. Fax: +44 (0)1793 480270. Email: alewis@hq.bcs.org.uk

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