Write about a recent incident related to software or computerized system failure

Write about a recent incident related to software or computerized system failure

For this assignment, you will write  about a recent (within the past 10 years or so) incident related to a software or computerized system failure. Your paper will discuss the original purpose of the software or system as well as the causes and effects of the incident. Note that the reasons for the failure may not necessarily be the result of incorrect coding (i.e. bugs). It may also be the result of operators failing to use the software as directed, administrators failing maintain the software/system appropriately, or poor decisions by management. Or it may be some combination of all those factors along with other external factors.

After discussing the software system, its failure, and the effects of that failure, your paper will address how the problems might have been avoided if principles of the Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (SECPP) had been followed. Pick two or three of the “Eight Principles” in the SECPP and discuss in detail how those principles are pertinent to the failure. As part of this discussion, relate whether the parties involved attempted to follow those principles and if not, give the reasons why. (It should be assumed that if the failure was due to one or more of the principles chosen, then someone did not follow those principles.) If, as part of your research, you cannot discover the specific reasons the principles were not followed, speculate why those principles may not have been followed.

Finally, draw conclusions regarding whether the parties adherence to those principles might have avoided or mitigated the circumstances (and effects) of the failure. Defend your conclusions by stating how and why adherence to the principles might or might not have avoided the failure.

 

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Software Failure and Professional Responsibility

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