[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Two questions for the list:
1. Do you guys think there is any value to employers if testing candidates are required
to adhere to a "code of ethics"? Would it help deal with the misperception that
Open Source is not well structured? Or is it just so much fluff?
IMO (which is not necessarily that of LPI's :-) ) it need not be fluff.
It takes the cert beyond a mere identification of skill into a realm of
identifying true professionals in the field. It is an assumed part of
the certifications in most fields that are considered "professional"
(law, medicine, accountancy, engineering, etc.)
It is not commonplace in IT certification because most of that is vendor
driven and things like ethical codes are considered a hindrance to wide
acceptance within the IT training field :-P.
Personally, I really like the idea of a code being part of the cert
because it indicates to the public that the peer community places a
value on character as well as skill. Having said that:
- Are you sure this is what the community wants? Ethics codes are (or at
least they can be) controversial issues and not everyone thinks that a
technical cert should reach beyond technical evaluation
- I agree with Bill that an ethical code is worthless without methods of
policing and policies to handle alleged breaches. There would have to be
a mechanism in place to deal with accusations of breaking the code, and
there have to be clear penalties. The process needs to be fair. Even so,
you can almost expect to be sued if a cert is ever revoked for ethical
reasons, because that amounts to a kind of public humiliation.
It's one thing to have a voluntary code of ethics, quite another to have
an accreditation program enforce it. One option is to have an opt-in
system, in which the candidate's record of completing the certification
indicates whether or not that person voluntarily adheres to the Code. Of
course, you still have to deal with instances in which a person claims
to follow the Code but evidence indicates otherwise.
- Evan
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