Why Professioanlism in IT Matters

The IT industry is funny.  It has a very low barrier to entry.  A computer with an internet connection can turn anyone into a web developer, or a programmer, or a network specialist.  A bright high school kid can whip up a pretty cool application, or produce a flashy web page, or even configure your network for you.  But what kind of guarantee do you get from the work?

Think of it this way:  You have a lawyer and a guy who read some law books.  Who do you want writing up the contract on your new home?  You have a doctor and a hunter.  Who do you want taking out your appendix?  You have a janitor and an Engineer.  Who do you want designing and building the bridge you drive on?  Would you trust a whiz kid to build your purchasing system?

Why would you take the risk of engaging the services of an under qualified individual when something important is at stake?

 

When you hire someone with an I.S.P. you already know a few things about them:

1. They have education and training in the IT field.
2. They continue to improve their education and training.
3. They have promised to maintain a high standard of ethics.
4. The IT field is their primary area of work, and have been in the field for at least several years.

Those things matter.  They create trust and confidence.

Privatization Argument

Recently there have been ads on TV and web discussion concerning the privatization of the Provincial Government’s IT services.

The claim mainly rests on who the service provider is responsible to.  A government employee is responsible to the Government, which is responsible to the people.  A corporate employee is responsible to the company, which is responsible to the owner(s)/shareholders.

http://www.ifyoulovesaskatchewan.ca/privatization_threats/technology.html

The argument is: If a company’s bottom line is threatened, it will choose the least damaging option, which may put the people of the province at risk.

I’m not going to argue about whether this is right or wrong, either logically or in reality.  What I want to argue is, in an environment where you have people with the I.S.P. designation, it is a moot point.  From this page, there are two key points about the I.S.P. to understand:

• Standards of Ethics and Practice – Holding an I.S.P. designation means that your IT staff members have agreed to be bound by the CIPS Code of Ethics. Their intentions can be trusted. I.S.P. holders only undertake work that they are qualified to do. This reduces your organization’s management risk. You can trust an I.S.P. holder.
• Public confidence – Organizations can have peace of mind knowing that their clients and customers can rely on I.S.P. holders to abide by the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct. CIPS has a review process to investigate complaints regarding I.S.P. holders or CIPS members who may have violated the CIPS Code of Ethics.

Hire people with the I.S.P. designation, and you can be confident they will do the right thing.

 

 

CIPS and the ISP

Many people have no idea what CIPS is and what the ISP is about.  CIPS was founded in 1958 and represents IT professionals regarding issues in IT.  In 2005, the Saskatchewan Government enacted Right to Title legislation that gives CIPS Saskatchewan the sole right to bestow the title Information Systems Professional (I.S.P.) to an applicant.  The I.S.P. is the only industry wide designation and provides a path to international recognition (ITCP).

Achieving the I.S.P. and maintaining the designation shows commitment and continued improvement in the IT industry.  I.S.P.s make a commitment to IT professionalism by ensuring they are continuously updating their skills and gaining relevant experience.  If an employer hires a person with an I.S.P. they can be assured of a certain level of expertise and professionalism.

This blog will discuss different topics and issues related to CIPS, Professionalism, and IT.

For more information, see:

CIPS Saskatchewan
www.cips.ca

CIPS National
sk.cips.ca