Software Development Impact Statement

1
Software Development Impact Statement

• Adapted from
• Cleanroom, PSP, and the Software Development
  Impact Statement Developing the Right Attitude
• Donald Gotterbarn
• Software Engineering Ethics Research Institute
• East Tennessee State University

2

• The Software Development Impact Statement (SoDIS)
  used to identify the ethical dimensions of a
  software development project and to identify ways
  to mediate the potential negative consequences of
  that project.

3
Why Bother?

• Why would someone want to burden developers with
  another document or process?

4

• Many companies have gone out-of-business because
  they have only emphasized short term efficiency
  and productivity. The quantity and cost of major
  product recalls in terms of dollars and company
  reputation are evidence of this mistaken emphasis
  on short term goals.

5

• When considering software development we need to
  consider the impact of the system as a whole.

6

• A social impact statement is modeled on an
  environmental impact statement which is required
  before major construction is undertaken.
• The environmental impact statement is supposed to
  specify the potential negative impacts on the
  environment of the proposed construction and
  specify what actions will be taken to minimize
  those impacts.

7

• Impact statements have been described for
  identifying the impact of information systems on
  direct and indirect system users Shneiderman and
  Rose, 1995.
• Shneiderman B. and Rose A (1995) Social Impact
  Statements Engaging Public Participation in
  Information Technology Design, Technical Report
  of the Human Computer Interaction Laboratory,
  September, pp 1-13.

8

• A Software Development Impact Statement (SoDIS)
  is intended to reflect the software development
  process as well as the more general ethical
  obligations to various stakeholders.

9
Stakeholders

• Establishing the right scope of consideration is
  essential in defining acceptable project goals.
• Stakeholders are individuals or groups who may be
  directly or indirectly affected by the project.
• Stakeholders who may be negatively affected are
  particularly important regarding ethical
  sensitivity.

10
Impact

• In looking at impact, you can refer to the
  ethical framework presented.
• Quality of Life
• Use of Power
• Risks and Reliability
• Property Rights
• Privacy
• Equity and Access
• Honest and Deception