Code of ethics? which one?

Abstract

We all have ideas about our local, national, and global professional code of ethics. But, we do not really know for sure how they interact. With the growth of global business practices, information technology (IT) professionals are wandering in a circle when it comes to ethical dilemmas. Which ethical standards should they follow? Should they adhere to their local IT professional standards; should they swear allegiance to their national IT vision, their country and its cultural and historical influences on professional IT practices? Or, should they give in to the global set of ethical behaviors dictated by their global employer when power, profit and politics impose new codes of ethics across the whole world. Furthermore, with the new structures of the global organizations, the global market has a pool of professionals and each one of them has his/her own interpretation of their own respective code of ethics. All these issues will certainly leave our young professional graduates in a state of divided loyalty. Whichever way our IT graduates choose, they are bound to have conflicts.The pursuit of good ethical practices is indeed a desirable aim. But, anyone waiting for a standard global solution is in a deep trouble, because there is none. This paper will propose a framework aimed at providing a contribution towards the socialization of students' self-regulated multicultural societies through international student exchange programs. The aim of the framework is to create a suitable environment where students can and will develop, assess, review and educate their own professional code of ethics for the current and future members of their students' mini-societies. This will eventually prepare them to be active participants in the bigger debate dealing with the issue of global professional code of ethics.