Principle 8: SELF - 8.02

8.02. Improve their ability to create safe, reliable, and useful quality software at reasonable cost and within a reasonable time.

As the intended software was done for a client according to agreement it was agreed to deliver the product within a limited time. The cost was negotiated with discussion with the client as according to the features he requested and the effort and resources that would require to implement them.

The major challenge was to develop the website within the agreed time period with the expected level of quality, features, safety and reliability requirements. The team worked in accordance to achieve the target and we were able to produce a high quality product within the specified limitations of time while meeting the requirements as requested.

The experience was a huge support for the team members in improving the ability to deliver a high quality product at a reasonable cost within a reasonable time period. And as per the difficulties that were faced during implementation and issues that we had to undergo, it was indeed an exercise to provide much better and quality service in the future with similar activities. The entire team was able to enhance their abilities and knowledge on the specified areas with the experience gained by involving in the project.

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Posted in Principle 8: SELF

Principle 8: SELF - 8.01

8.01. Further their knowledge of developments in the analysis, specification, design, development, maintenance and testing of software and related documents, together with the management of the development process.

With the involvement in the designing and implementation of the website we have gone through the necessary life cycle in building a quality product, from the requirement gathering phase to analysis of the requirements, designing the website, implementation of it, testing and finally undertaking the responsibility of its maintenance.

With the experience gained in requirement specification and analysis stage, we have been able to further our knowledge in how to deal with clients and to write a proper and a well-organized requirement specification document. The analysis and understanding of the exact requirements of the client made it possible to get real life experience of what was studied as theory in the classes.

With the designing of the site, the team was able to enhance knowledge on database structuring, use cases and activity diagrams and proper planning of how an implementation is actually done.

The development phase was much supportive in further strengthening the knowledge on programming and to learn new methodologies and techniques that we had to use in order to fulfil the customer requirements. In testing, several techniques were followed and learned theories were put into practice through that phase.

Apart from the enhanced knowledge on programming, document writing and requirement specification we have been able to learn how to manage the development process of a software. The team members had to divide the workload among themselves and manage the work with the limited time available which was a critical task. With all that, as a team we have been able to further enhance our knowledge in the software engineering industry through involvement in the aforesaid project. 

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Posted in Principle 8: SELF

Principle 7: COLLEAGUES - 7.01

7.01. Encourage colleagues to adhere to this Code.

In the process of designing and implementing the website for our client, each of the team members made sure that every other colleague follow the code of ethics and take measures to minimize or avoid completely the inappropriate effects to other parties through the product delivered.

All three of us followed the six principles mentioned in code of ethics while designing the website and whenever any misclarification was done by a team member, we discussed and solved the issue ensuing the final decision adheres to the code. From the point of serving the client with the best possible product up to every choice that was made in the process of implementation it was ensured that each of us encouraged others not to violate the code and to maintain the standard of the final outcome.

In deciding how the details of the external sources should be displayed several ideas were put forward and finally it was decided to display the link to the actual site or the blog article so that the due credit is given to the actual author of the article. How the quality of the website should be maintained and to satisfy the client’s needs to the maximum possible level were results of encouraging the colleagues to follow the code of ethics.

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Posted in Principle 7: COLLEAGUES

Principle 6: PROFESSION - 6.11

6.11. Recognize that violations of this Code are inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.

Being in the path to become professionals in the field of software engineering, we as the team who designed the aforementioned software have understood clearly the need and importance of adhering to the Code of Ethics in the process. The code of ethics which includes every aspect a software engineer should be thinking of such as the concern for the public, client and employer, product, judgment, management, profession, colleagues and one self, precisely identifies the qualities a professional software engineer should possess.

Being a software engineer it is important that he acts consistently with the public. If the productions he would produce are not going to be consistent or particularly inappropriate or useless to the public, the effort and the resources put into building the software would be wasted. Hence he should understand the general public in order to become a profession in the field and violation of that would lead to the creation of a useless software engineer. We have understood this through research of what kind of users would be using the website and taking measures to ensure that maximum comfortability is provided for them through all measures.

The client and the employer needs to be the key concerns for a professional software engineer. Providing the best possible service to the client while being honest about one’s competencies and following ethical procedures when interacting with the client as well as the employer are important issues to be considered. The client was considered as the main concern in our project and we have followed the necessary procedures to satisfy him in the best possible way by implementing the system so as to fulfill his requirements.

It is the software engineer’s duty to ensure that the product he delivers meet the highest standards possible. If the quality of the product is not up to the standards or if the required specifications are not being met, he would obviously not be considered a professional in the field. Therefore it is important that he knows what he produces and how he does it. We have made sure that this too is fulfilled by keenly adhering to every standard requirement and specially the code of ethics.

Maintaining the integrity and independence in their professional judgment is another key issue that a professional software engineer might want to understand. And also following an ethical approach in management of software development and maintenance and finally advancing the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest are equally important. Also being supportive of the colleagues and engaging in lifelong learning regarding their profession makes a much better professional out of him. And we have been supportive of other team members throughout the implementation process and being in line with the code of ethics all the time have learnt the importance of engaging in the learning process. In the procedures followed in designing, implementing and managing the development process of the website, our team has learnt and understood that violation of the above points would be inconsistent with being a professional software engineer.

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Posted in Principle 6: PROFESSION

Principle 3: PRODUCT - 3.13

3.13. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.

Since the intended system was a website and especially since it had to be informative, the above mentioned code was more crucial in the context of our project. The data that were used in the site were mainly from the company itself. The mission, goal, objectives and the details regarding their company and the other information relevant to the equipment the company trade were directly obtained from the sources of the client and hence those data are properly authorized and ensured to be obtained in a properly authorized manner.

Apart from those details, we have taken measures to include more details about sustainability, ethical trading and several other related fields as requested by the client. The details to be included in such cases had to be obtained from external sources and it was important that corrective ethical and lawful means were followed in acquiring those. Several videos that are published on the site were taken from the YouTube site which allows sharing of the video with no restrictions. Hence the acquiring of those did not raise any ethical issue.

Most of the other details were directly taken from other sites or articles from blogs that were available on the internet. Hence clear precautions were taken to avoid any unethical procedure in sharing those details in our site. The direct link to those sites were provided each time the details were shared and due credits have been awarded to the original authors of the articles which we have taken details from. The issue was given high consideration and attention since any unlawful mean of obtaining data from external sources would bring up unnecessary issues for the client as well as for us being the developers.

It was guaranteed that the details used within the site were accurate and up to date. The external sources from which the article links were obtained were examined and proper research was made to assure that the obtained information is true and accurate. Hence every necessary measures were followed by the team to adhere to the above mentioned code in order to provide the customer with the most reliable and accurate information.

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Posted in Principle 3: PRODUCT

Principle 3: PRODUCT - 3.07

3.07. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.

With regard to the website we are intended to design, we have taken the maximum effort in understanding the domain and specifications as required by the client. Apart from the first meeting with the client when only a brief introduction to the system was given, several rounds of client meetings were held during the implementation. These meetings were considered the main source of information to comprehend the desired product. Hence, the client was shown the finished product at each iteration and his ideas and suggestions were taken into consideration in improving the website further.

Other than the client meetings, the specifications were understood by studying similar websites of parallel industrial companies and also research through internet helped a lot in understanding the exact requirement of the customer. Discussions among the group members on which features to be improved and added were also much supportive in understanding the required specifications and designing a perfect and a useful website for the client.

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Posted in Principle 3: PRODUCT

Principle 3: PRODUCT - 3.03

3.03. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.

With regard to the website we are concerned with, we have identified the issues that are related with it and measures are being taken during implementation to avoid or minimize the effect of them.

When addressing the ethical issues that are to be faced, the main concern was that whether the client who is a telecommunication equipment trading partner follow the ethical practices in trading procedures and whether the traded equipment are made adhering to them. It was emphasized by our client not only that they follow the ethical practices but also encourage their stakeholders on ethical use of resources considering that as one of the key goals of the company. Driving the telecom equipment manufacturers and supporting the customers for ethical consumption is deliberated by them as vital objectives to be achieved. Hence it was clearly observable that the ethical issues were properly addressed and no further measures were needed in that context.

Regarding the cultural issues the website does not really impact the culture of the related parties or create any significant issue in that concern. Since the intended project is only an informative website related to the promotion of our client’s product which would be telecommunication equipment trading, it has no impact on the culture in whatever the aspect.

The major legal issues faced would be the client’s practices followed when trading the equipment. Hence before the request to design the website was accepted, the relevant parties were consulted and measures were taken to identify the exact procedure of trading and the company’s trading policies in order to arrive at the conclusion that the project has no legal issues whatsoever. The type of the stakeholders of the company and how qualified the manufacturers are and also how the legal sides of the trading is handled was taken into consideration at that stage.

The company makes sure that they not only trade telecommunication equipment just for their profits but that they follow a green business initiative. Green technology and clean manufacturing are two of their significant considerations. Hence it would ensure that the company follows a business strategy which has minimal negative impact on the local or global environment, community, society or economy. And that would provide sufficient evidence that the supposed site would adhere to the above mentioned code of ethics.

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Posted in Principle 3: PRODUCT