Cloudbleed

For this assignment, you will write a medium size paper (~1250 words) about a recent (within
the past 5-8 years or so) and specific incident related to a software or computerized system
failure, or a systemic failure of a company to act for the public good. You may not use one of the
examples discussed in class, assigned readings, or videos. (A list of such examples is given at
the end of this assignment.) Instead you will need to find one on your own. (It isn’t difficult to find
one. A Google search on software and failure, or looking through recent news articles of some
prominent technology companies will give you more than enough material.) Make sure that the
incident you choose is recent. Anything from more than 10 years ago is not likely to be
approved.
Once you have chosen the subject, 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 to 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 ACM Code of Ethics and
Professional Conduct had been followed.
Using the Four Main Principles of the code, pick at least one “sub-principle” from each of the
first three Main principles and discuss in detail how each of those sub-principles are pertinent to
the failure. In other words, you will pick at least one sub-principle from General Ethical
Principles, at least one sub-principle from Professional Responsibilities, and at least one
sub-principle from Professional Leadership Responsibilities. You will then analyze how each
sub-principle is relevant to your chosen software/system failure. As part of this discussion, relate
whether the parties involved attempted to follow the chosen sub-principles and if not, give the
reasons why. (It should be assumed that if the failure was related 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.
Typical papers will include at least 2-3 references (not including the ACM Code of Ethics).
Ensure that your paper includes proper references and citations of all your sources. The
specific format for citations is up to you (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.) but all references and
quotations must be cited. As part of your submission, your paper will be run through
Blackboard’s SafeAssign. An Honor Code violation may be submitted if it is found that
there was an egregious disregard of properly referencing sources, or if portions of your
paper were copied from other sources.
Finally, place the number of words in your paper (NOT counting citations) at the top of the page,
where you have placed your name and CS 110 class section. Remember that the minimum
target word count is 1250 words.
It is highly encouraged that you look at the grading rub

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