PIIST MIDTERMS

is more than just about qualifications, knowledge, and skill; but is also about integrity, ethics, and trust.

PROFESSIONALISM

Professionalism is more than just about qualifications, knowledge, and skill; but is also about integrity, ethics, and trust. Practicing and maintaining a high level of valued professionalism will create stronger relationships with clients, employers, the team, and the public who will use or benefit from the products and services.

(T/F) TRUE

The idea of professionalism and the establishment of modern professions originated from?

trade guilds and the learned societies for the church, law, and medicine

The idea of professionalism and the establishment of modern professions developed from the transaction of providing privileges and recognized status to specific people in return for the development and application of their unique knowledge and skills.

(T/F) TRUE

• According to initial British and American analyses, professionalism was determined to be an occupational value for the stability and ordinance of social systems. 

• Professional relations (PR) were cooperative and mutually supportive in this interpretation.

• Relations of trust represented the employeeclient, and employee-management interactions as competence were presumed as a guarantee through education, training, and licensing.

FIRST INTERPRETATION

• During the 1970s-1980s, professionalism was dismissed as a successful principle and professionalization as a process of authority over occupation or a market.

• According to this interpretation, professionalization promotes a professional’s occupational self-interest in salary and power.

• It was a process initiated and controlled by the employees through professional institutions and associations to promote and protect their self-interests.

SECOND INTERPRETATION

• It involved the analysis of professionalism as a discourse of occupational change and control, especially in organizations wherein it was increasingly applied and utilized by managers. 

• There is an important difference between the discourse of professionalism as built “from within.”

• It can also be from the occupational group itself and as-built “from above” or by managers in work organizations.

THIRD INTERPRETATION

When discourse is built _________, the benefits to the group can be significant. The occupational group uses the discourse to build its occupational identity, promote its image with clients and customers, and secure and promote the occupational control of work by employees.

FROM WITHIN

Studies in the early 21st century demonstrated that professionalism presents advantages for both clients and employees. These studies highlighted the importance of maintaining professionalism and trust, competence, and discretion as the main organizing principles for service work in modern societies.

(T/F) TRUE

• Professionalism is knowing what is appropriate in different situations as it avoids awkwardness or upset, boosts credibility and helps to feel job security. 

• This characteristics relates to outward appearances, such as dress, hygiene, and body language.

• It also covers the way of speaking and writing in selecting a topic to discuss and behavior with others.

APPROPRIATENESS

It is about a professional who gets the job done and done well. The ability must meet the role's requirements to produce results that exceed expectations. Professionalism manages the expectations of others and identifies when it is necessary to ask for support.

COMPETENCE

Reasonable ________ reassures and motivates other people by boosting the ability to influence and lead. It also encourages everyone to take on new challenges as the risk of damaging their professional reputation if things go wrong is non-existent.

CONFIDENCE

Professionalism involves being reliable, setting high standards, and displaying care in every aspect of the job. It is about being diligent and organized and holding oneself accountable for thoughts, words, and actions, no matter the results.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Conscientiousnes should not be confused with working longer hours than everyone else or obsessing about details. True professionals plan and prioritize their work to keep it under control while not letting perfectionism hold them back.

(T/F) TRUE

Staying professional under pressure is a sign of a true professional. It requires strategies for managing emotions and a clear awareness of other people’s feelings and thoughts.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

In short, emotional intelligence is essential. Professionalism means keeping emotions in check. But at the same time, expressing feelings for meaningful and fruitful conversations is necessary.

(T/F) TRUE

• This keeps professional people true to their word.

• It also stops them from compromising their values, even if that means taking a bigger risk.

• It is committed to being honest – to oneself and others. When beliefs and behaviors are aligned, genuineness reflects.

INTEGRITY

• Professionalism involves detailed and up-to-date knowledge which is highly specialized.

• Professionals can master a role and a specialization by learning new knowledge at every stage of their careers.

• It is also vital to put this into action. Being professional means being confident to show that knowledge is not for self-promotion but for helping others succeed.

KNOWLEDGE

Professionalism means being a role model for politeness and displaying good manners to everyone, not just to impress specific people. To show proper ______, take others’ needs into account, and help uphold their rights.

RESPECT

From verbal and body language to e-Etiquette, employees must know the expectations in how they communicate. It is equally important that employees have the resources they need to develop their communication skills.

COMMUNICATION

Quality communication can eliminate unnecessary problems and promote better productivity in the workplace. Communicating effectively creates a strong team connection increasing overall performance. If employees consult and consider the views of others, their interest in cooperation increases leading to finding the best possible solutions.

(T/F) TRUE

• This builds a strong employee relationship as the more they work closely, the more they get to know and develop a liking for each other.

• Additionally, the more they work together, the more they learn and adapt to living with each other’s likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. 

• One of the benefits of this is reduced toxic work culture.

TEAMWORK

This is driven by drama, low morale at work, lack of communication, and the fear of a boss.

TOXIC WORK CULTURE

Teamwork is enhanced by participating in team-building activities to practice relying on others’ strengths and consulting doubts and confusions as soon as they arise.

(T/F) TRUE

• This allows a professional to analyze information, arrive at conclusions, and make sound decisions.

• This is an essential skill everyone must improve as they are valuable in any role in an organization.

• It can be developed through communication and creative problem-solving as it allows the free-flowing connection of ideas to evaluate arguments, find errors, and solve complex issues. 

CRITICAL THINKING

In critical thinking, prioritize taking on high-risk problems that need immediate action to practice critical thinking skills while ensuring the correctness and quality of the output.

(T/F) TRUE

• Aligns the behavior of employees to the company’s visions.

• It promotes openness, partnership, and trust.

• Additionally, when employees know supervisors’ expectations, they do better in their jobs. 

ETHICS

Always mind the stakes involved in any aspect of the job to ensure actions are bounded by what is morally correct and acceptable. Recognizing the importance of ethics helps employees feel secure as threats such as harassment and bullying are absent, and respect is thriving.

(T/F) TRUE

• This is expressed through natural human values and unique talents and perspectives that employees contribute.

• Humanity is dynamic as it incorporates the innate need for purpose, growth, and work-life balance simultaneously. 

• Practicing being kind, accepting, and emotionally available is a massive step towards achieving humanness in the workplace.

HUMANNESS

Humanness does not require additional skills but the natural values to do good around people. Professionals today want to be a part of something larger than themselves, something that in some way positively impacts the human experience.

(T/F) TRUE

the analysis of human actions from the perspective of “good” and “evil” or of “morally correct” and “morally wrong.” It deals with responsibilities, rights, use of language, significance of ethical life, and how people make moral decisions.

ETHICS

It is one of the methods to navigate new ethical issues in an organization. It outlines a set of acceptable behaviors in a professional or social group generally agreed to by its members. It also specifies various actions that are considered appropriate and inappropriate.

CODE OF ETHICS

• It deals with protecting fundamental human rights and one’s right to autonomy.

• It is essential to minimize the adverse effects of information systems, including threats to health, safety, and privacy.

• Systems should respect diversity, meet social needs, be used in socially responsible ways, and be broadly accessible.

CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AND HUMAN WELL-BEING

To contribute to society and human well-being, it is also encouraged to actively participate in volunteer work that benefits the public good.

(T/F) TRUE

means causing adverse consequences, such as undesirable loss of information, physical or mental injury, loss of property, and unjustified damage to property, reputation, and the environment.

HARM

• starts with careful consideration of potential impacts on those likely to be affected.

• When harm is an intentional part of the system, everyone involved must ensure that the harm is ethically justified and minimized. 

• To minimize harm, follow generally accepted protocols unless there is a justified ethical reason to do so otherwise.

AVOID HARM

To avoid harm, it is also an additional obligation to report any signs that might result in damages.

(T/F) TRUE

• Transparency and disclosing a system’s relevant capabilities, limitations, and potential risks of a system to the appropriate person is important.

• Making deliberately false or misleading claims, data falsification, offering or accepting bribes, and other ill-intentioned conduct are violations and should not be tolerated.

• A professional must appropriately represent an organization's policies or procedures and should not speak on their behalf unless authorized to do so.

BE HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY

• Discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, disability, and other related factors concerns this ethical responsibility.

• Harassment, such as sexual harassment, bullying, and forms of abuse of power and authority, is a form of discrimination that limits fair access to the virtual and physical spaces in the workplace.

• The workplace should be as inclusive and as accessible as possible to avoid developing systems or technologies that disenfranchise or oppress people.

BE FAIR AND ACT NOT TO DISCRIMINATE

• Communication technology enables the collection and exchange of personal information resulting in an increased potential for privacy violations of individuals and groups.

• Maintaining the privacy and integrity of personal data is necessary, including taking precautions to ensure data accuracy and protection from unauthorized access or disclosure to inappropriate individuals.

• Moreover, only the necessary amount of personal information should be collected

RESPECT PRIVACY

To respect privacy, retention and disposal periods must be clearly defined and enforced, and only collect information for a specific purpose with the consent of the individual.

(T/F) TRUE

Protection of confidential information such as trade secrets, client data, financial information, and research data is an ethical responsibility. It is advised to thoughtfully consider whether such information is consistent with the law.

HONOR CONFIDENTIALITY

Excellence is one of the most important obligations of a professional. It is encouraged to strive for quality and be aware of the severe adverse consequences of a poor-quality system. The dignity of everyone at work, including the clients and users, should be respected throughout the process.

STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND DIGNITY

It is best to participate in setting appropriate levels of competence to achieve high standards. Upgrading technical knowledge and competence are achieved through independent study, attending seminars or courses, and involvement in professional organizations.

ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

Sharing technical knowledge with the public by encouraging the understanding of computing is a responsibility that shows the impacts of information systems and their limitations. This implies an obligation to counter and disprove any false views related to the systems.

IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF COMPUTING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Honoring one’s commitments is aligned with integrity and honesty. This includes ensuring that system elements function as intended. The principle here is the acceptance of personal accountability for professional work no matter the results. On occasions that other responsibilities may take greater priority, ethical judgment should be the final guide in deciding whether to proceed or not.

HONOR CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Trespassing and unauthorized use of a computer or communication systems are prohibited.

• Organizations have the right to restrict access to their systems forbidding one’s use of someone’s computer system, software, or data files.

• Access must-have appropriate approval before using system resources, including but not limited to communication ports, file space, other system peripherals, and computer time.

ACCESS COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATION RESOURCES ONLY WHEN AUTHORIZED TO DO SO

includes accessing communication networks and computer systems, or files associated without explicit authorization to do so.

TRESPASSING

Employees communicate differently. Some may tend to respond to emails and messages in a matter of minutes, while others take days. Many do not even respond to them at all.  This lack of communication and the absence of coordination between employees can pose a challenge to an organization’s harmony and success.

COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES

Communication challenges can be avoided when the willingness to drop personal pride and ego to address the problem is present and setting aside personal problems to achieve the common goal of the company is apparent.

(T/F) TRUE

• The chance of feeling demotivated is always present despite the desire to work.

• It is why needing support, encouragement, and motivation from time to time is essential.

• In a desk job, the need for motivation is always reoccurring as people get tired of doing the same work every day.

LOW EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION

To address low employee motivation, it is advised to reach out to HR or anyone in charge to create activities and seminars to boost workplace morale. It is also effective to find alternative techniques and untried solutions, allowing creativity and making employees more focused.

(T/F) TRUE

• In almost every workplace, there are always unhappy employees that feel frustrated or those that are unwilling to welcome change and new activities.

• These issues can result in bringing others down due to constant complaints and negativity.

• Once the conflict intensifies, reaching out to HR or anyone in charge is ideal. 

DIFFICULT PEOPLE

if conflict with difficult people is manageable, communicate properly to understand and acknowledge each other’s feelings. It is advised to practice kindness by going easy on treating and handling others.

(T/F) TRUE

Skill enhancement is too essential to be ignored. Employees need to improve their performance to keep pace with new technologies. Otherwise, they risk becoming outdated and dispensable. Seeking out seminars and training is encouraged even if they are not initiated by the company to avoid the feeling of becoming stagnant.

LACK OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

• Work is good for mental health, but a poor workplace can lead to physical and mental health problems.

• Taking time off work is valid when dealing with mental health challenges.

• Creating a personal space outside of work is necessary, as life should not just be focused on work.

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

________ and __________ at work are one of the most reported problems that have a substantial adverse impact on mental health, such as depression and anxiety.

HARASSMENT AND BULLYING

In mental health challenges, employees should also spend weekends doing hobbies, or just merely resting or focusing on activities to improve mental health and personal growth.

(T/F) TRUE

It is a condition where moral conflict arises in the workplace where moral standards are challenged.

ETHICAL ISSUE

Having issues with a superior is one thing and reporting it is another. Issues can come in any form, from manipulating numbers in a report to spending company money on inappropriate activities.

UNETHICAL LEADERSHIP

These can occur subtly in the form of bullying and accepting inappropriate gifts from suppliers. The best way to address this is by dealing with the superior and how it affects the team’s productivity. If it escalates, HR should be involved to mitigate it.

UNETHICAL LEADERSHIP

Superiors who easily dismiss bribery or data manipulation are at risk of disrespecting and putting their employees at risk. It is encouraged to lead with respect to the code of ethics as well as taking into consideration of everyone’s mental and physical wellness.

TOXIC WORKPLACE CULTURE

In toxic workplace culture, with the mindset of hiring someone ________, a toxic culture can be worsened by repopulating the company with like-minded personalities with toxic mentalities.

CULTURALLY FIT

• Discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, disability, and other related factors has not just credoss an ethical line but also a legal one.

• Companies are vigilant in avoiding costly legal and public backlash related to discrimination and harassment.

• Disengaging conversations that lead to discrimination and harassing territory is a good start. Never show enthusiasm with “jokes” with malicious intent, and as always, talking to HR is the best solution.

DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

Discrimination and Harassment leads to more subtle ways of committing these offenses, from seemingly “harmless” off-color jokes to a more common ____________

GROUP THINK MENTALITY

• Companies often set goals that are unrealistic, even unattainable, to motivate employees.

• While not unethical in and of itself, it is how leaders and employees go about reaching the goals that raise ethical red flags.

• Making sure that a goal is attainable should be practiced as well as setting up a good timetable and plan for its execution.

UNREALISTIC AND CONFLICTING GOALS

In Unrealistic and Conflicting Goals, ____________ can put heightened pressure on their employees, causing them to cut corners or breach ethical or legal guidelines just to obtain them.

UNREALISTIC OBJECTIVES

It is a problem between two (2) feasible options wherein neither is acceptable from an ethical perspective. These are complicated challenges that cannot easily be solved, making the ability to find the ideal solution critical to everyone.

ETHICAL DILEMMA

The biggest challenge with ethical dilemmas is that?

it never offers an obvious solution that would comply with ethical norms.

Here are some approaches to solving ethical dilemmas:

• REJECT THE DILEMMA

• VALUE THEORY APPROACH

• FIND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

Situations must be carefully analyzed as in some cases; ethical dilemmas can be logically refuted.

REJECT THE DILEMMA

Determine an alternative that offers the greater good or the lesser evil than the other.

VALUE THEORY APPROACH

Problems can be viewed through a different lens, resulting in alternative solutions.

FIND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

can be addressed based on simply adhering to the provided code of ethics. The ethical decision-making process for this should occur quickly, leading to an easier resolution, since the conflict between principles is not present.

ETHICAL ISSUE

exists when two (2) or more ethical principles or standards conflict with each other.

ETHICAL DILEMMA

This is an example of what?

when an employee purposely deceives the company by not disclosing all relevant capabilities, limitations, and potential problems of a system. The solution is easy as it is a clear ethical violation.

ETHICAL ISSUE

This is an example of what?

the employee and his transparency may lead other involved co-workers  to be taken down with him. It would directly “harm” others, and it is an ethical responsibility to avoid harming others.

ETHICAL DILEMMA

_______________, such as sexual harassment, bullying, and forms of abuse of power and authority, is a form of discrimination that limits fair access to the virtual and physical spaces in the workplace.

HARASSMENT