Case: Summary of case
A small software company is working on an integrated inventory control system for a very large national shoe manufacturer. The system will gather sales information daily from shoe stores nationwide. This information will be used by the accounting, shipping, and ordering departments to control all of the functions of this large corporation. The inventory functions are critical to the smooth operation of the system. Jane, a quality assurance engineer with the software company, suspects that the inventory functions of the system are not sufficiently tested, although they have passed all their contracted tests. She is pressured by her employers to sign off on the software. Legally she is only required to perform those tests which have been agreed to in the original contract. However, her considerable experience in software testing has led her to be concerned over risks of the system. Her employers say that they will go out of business if they do not deliver the software on time. Jane contends if the Inventory sub-system fails, it will significantly harm their client and its employees. If the potential failure were to threaten lives, it would be clear to Jane that she should refuse to sign off. But since the degree of threatened harm is less, Jane is faced with a difficult moral decision.
1.2.1 Public Interest
a) identify those potentially impacted by your work and explicitly consider their interests;
c) advise your stakeholders as soon as possible of any conflicts of interest or conscientious objections that you have;
1.2.4 Competence
a) endeavour to provide products and services which match the operational and financial needs of your stakeholders;
e) advise your stakeholders when you believe a proposed project, product or service is not in their best interest;
f) accept responsibility for your work;
1.2.6 Professionalism
f) refrain from any conduct or action in your professional role which may tarnish the image of the profession or detract from the good name of the ACS;