Professional Issues In Software Engineering

This revision of a successful first edition brings up-to-date an area which has become an increasingly essential element of a software engineer's education - legal and professional responsibility. The past few years have seen a rapid increase in concern for those issues beyond mere technical knowledge with which a software engineer is daily confronted. These include: the effect of new technology on employment; the safety and reliability of computer systems; intellectual property rights in software; computer contracts; and computer misuse.; New sections concern recent European directives on health, safety and copyright, as well as new case law in these areas. There is also a more detailed discussion of criminal liability for software and the Data Protection and Computer Misuse Acts are covered in full. In addition, developments in the relevant ISO and BS standards are outlined and the growing profile and practice of quality managers is reflected in a more expansive treatment.; This final-year undergraduate textbook brings together the expertise and experience of academica in software engineering, law, industrial relations and health and safety. This book explains the central principles and issues which each field brings to software engineering. Appendices include the British Computer Society's "Code of Conduct" and "Code of Practice".