IT ethics gaining attention.

The fourth report in a longitudinal study of the ethical attitudes of Information systems professionals 'Is IT Ethical' was launched at the ETHICOMP 2005 conference held at Linkoping University, Sweden, 12--15 September.

Based on a sample of members in the Institute for the Management of Information Systems, an international professional institute that sets standards for professional conduct, the survey reflects attitudes among a population of practitioners already committed to ethical practice.

Key findings revealed that commercial pressures are taking their toll, leaving practitioners feeling less able to refuse work they don't agree with, and more resigned to cutting software testing in the face of ever-shortening deadlines. Confidence in the security of data from external threats is up, but concern is growing about threats from internal sources.

Study Director Mary Prior of the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility at De Montfort University notes, "The results of this study point to a number of areas where more guidance and support for individuals is desirable to encourage consistently responsible behaviours across the body of IS practitioners."

The 2004 survey also found support growing, from 86% in 1998 (the year of the first report) to a current level of 93%, for organisations to develop and administer ethics awareness programmes for their employees. Commenting on these findings, Ian Rickwood, Chief Executive of project sponsor IMIS said, "With the move to intemational outsourcing of software development and testing, this study highlights the need for international bodies to take the lead in delivering standards that will be consistent across the industry.'