BCS Code of Conduct

Details of the four Sections of the BCS code of Conduct 

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  • Created by: mike
  • Created on: 04-01-13 12:47

1. Public Interest Code

You shall:

a. have due regard for public health, privacy, security and wellbeing of others and the environment.

b. have due regard for the legitimate rights of Third Parties*.

c. conduct your professional activities without discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, nationality, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion, age or disability, or of any other condition or requirement

d. promote equal access to the benefits of IT and seek to promote the inclusion of all sectors in society wherever opportunities arise.

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2. Professional Conpetence and Integrity Code part

You shall:

a. only undertake to do work or provide a service that is within your professional competence.

b. NOT claim any level of competence that you do not possess.

c. develop your professional knowledge, skills and competence on a continuing basis, maintaining awareness of technological developments, procedures, and standards that are relevant to your field.

d. ensure that you have the knowledge and understanding of Legislation* and that you comply with such Legislation, in carrying out your professional responsibilities.

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2. Professional Conpetence and Integrity Code part

You shall:

e. respect and value alternative viewpoints and, seek, accept and offer honest criticisms of work.

f. avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious or negligent action or inaction.

g. reject and will not make any offer of bribery or unethical inducement.

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3. Duty to Relevant Authority Code

You shall:

a. carry out your professional responsibilities with due care and diligence in accordance with the Relevant Authority’s requirements whilst exercising your professional judgement at all times.

b. seek to avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between you and your Relevant Authority.

c. accept professional responsibility for your work and for the work of colleagues who are defined in a given context as working under your supervision.

d. NOT disclose or authorise to be disclosed, or use for personal gain or to benefit a third party, confidential information except with the permission of your Relevant Authority, or as required by Legislation.

e. NOT misrepresent or withhold information on the performance of products, systems or services (unless lawfully bound by a duty of confidentiality not to disclose such information), or take advantage of the lack of relevant knowledge or inexperience of others.

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4 . Duty to the Profession Code

You shall:

a. accept your personal duty to uphold the reputation of the profession and not take any action which could bring the profession into disrepute.

b. seek to improve professional standards through participation in their development, use and enforcement.

c. uphold the reputation and good standing of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

d. act with integrity and respect in your professional relationships with all members of BCS and with members of other professions with whom you work in a professional capacity.

e. notify BCS if convicted of a criminal offence or upon becoming bankrupt or disqualified as a Company Director and in each case give details of the relevant jurisdiction.

f. encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.

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Definitions: LEGISLATION

The term “Legislation” means any applicable laws, statutes and regulations.

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Definitions: THIRD PARTIES

The term “Third Parties” includes any person or organisation that might be affected by your activities in your professional capacity, irrespective of whether they are directly aware or involved in those activities.

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Definitions: RELEVANT AUTHORITY

The term “Relevant Authority” in this document is used to identify the person(s) or organisation(s) which has/have authority over the activity of individuals in their professional capacity.

For practising BCS members this is normally an employer or client. For student members, this is normally an academic institution.

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Definition: PUBLIC INTEREST

  • Acting in the public interest may be governed by Legislation.
  • Legitimate rights of third parties include protecting personal identifiable data to prevent unlawful disclosure and identity theft, and also respect for copyright, patents and other intellectual property.
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Definition: PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY

  • All members are required to undertake professional development activities as a condition of membership. Continuing professional development activities should broaden your knowledge of the IT profession and maintain your competence in your area of specialism.
     
  • You should seek out and observe good practice exemplified by rules, standards, conventions or protocols that are relevant in your area of specialism
     
  • You should only claim current competence where you can demonstrate you have the required expertise e.g. through recognised competencies, qualifications or experience.
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Definition: PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY

  • Legislation that may apply in carrying out your professional responsibilities might include that applicable to:
    • your Relevant Authority.
    • the geographic area in which you are carrying out your professional responsibilities.
    • Trustee Board Regulations Schedule 3 v4 – Code of Conduct for BCS Members
    • Approved by Trustee Board 8 June 2011 Page 5 of 5
    • You may need to seek guidance from your Relevant Authority.
  • Where you are leading a first of kind project you will ensure that you make use of peer review and support where appropriate.
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Definitions: DUTY TO RELEVANT AUTHORITY

  • Exercising of your professional judgement:
    • Where there is conflict between full and committed compliance with the Relevant Authority’s instructions and the independent and considered exercise of your professional judgement, you will indicate the likely risks and consequences.
    • If any conflict is likely to occur or be seen by a third party as likely to occur you will make full and immediate disclosure to your Relevant Authority.
    • If for any reason you are unable to complete any assigned tasks in accordance with their requirements (e.g. on time or within budget) you will advise the Relevant Authority as soon as practicable.
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Definition: DUTY TO THE PROFESSION

  • As a member of BCS you have a responsibility to:
    • share knowledge and understanding of IT and support inclusion of every sector of society.
    • encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.
  • In circumstances where a member is also a member of another professional body the clauses of any other applicable code of conduct cannot be employed to diminish or negate the clauses of the BCS Code of Conduct.
  • You will not make any statement on behalf of BCS or purport to represent BCS through any public medium, including digital social media, unless authorised to do so by BCS.
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