Re: Comments/views appreciated...

From: Frank Hamersley <terabitemightbe_at_bigpond.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 05:46:22 GMT
Message-ID: <O8eIf.7709$yK1.291@news-server.bigpond.net.au>

Roy Hann wrote:
> "Duncan Langford" <d.langford_at_ukc.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:d.langford-ya02408000R1302061425570001_at_news.ukc.ac.uk...
>

>>Many years ago I was writing a book on appropriate computer use, and

>
> posted
>

>>here in the hope I'd be able to gather some relevant views from 'real'
>>professionals, rather than just relying on 'academic' CS people, like

>
> me...
> [snip]
>

>>So I would be very interested indeed in your learning your current views
>> on
>>the relevance of 'professional issues' or 'ethics' to your professional
>>practice. Do please take as much or as little space as you need, and bear
>>in mind that (I hope!) tomorrow's professionals may well be reading what
>>you say; negative as well as positive opinions are very welcome.

>
> IT "professionals"? Now there's a laugh!
>
> There is no such thing. The IT industry is a gigantic fraud.

I'd agree, except that the industry hardly even denies its abysmal record. But then, to promote a code of ethics to others and then continue as before, that would be a real fraud!

> The
> overwhelming majority of people working in it have no professional
> credentials whatever.

Or talent even if "credentials" are held.

> The very biggest systems (for big business and most
> especially for government) are built by big consultancies like EDS,
> Accenture, KPMG, and so on. They do not hire IT "professionals" (and
> couldn't if they wanted to--which they probably don't). They hire vast
> cadres of bright, energetic, motivated young university grads, often (maybe
> even usually) with not even a numerate science on their transcript, and set
> them to work copying and adapting the handiwork of last year's induction.
> (There is, I admit, often a lot of on-the-job vocational training available
> in these companies, but it is not a professional education, and it is done
> too late.)
>
> No one would hire an engineering firm to build a plane or a bridge or a
> telephone network without it had lots of engineers. No one would hire an
> accounting firm to prepare their taxes without they had some accountants.
> Ditto law firms. Ditto medical services. These are all professions. They
> have professional standards; professional development, and professional
> regulation. IT is about as professional as used-car sales. A code of
> ethics is a nice-sounding idea but it would convey a wholly bogus image of
> professional integrity. (Is it ethical to propose such a thing then?)

Of course not, unless the outcome of all ethics failures is to renounce membership permanently. Then hopefully style Darwinian selection would eventually lead to a better state of affairs.

BTW it seems things are not going to get better, even after the dot bomb, as the next crop of "IT pros" are coming from the ranks of XBox twiddling kids who crave even more instant gratification than the last generation.

Cheers, Frank.
(Curmudgeon) Received on Mon Feb 13 2006 - 23:46:22 CST