[BSDCert] code of ethics

[christiaan]

Evan Leibovitch wrote:

> patrick coeman wrote:
>
>> I was thinking BSD was a operating system. If I read some of the info on
>> the links you give and you wish to adopt these for BSD cert it is more a
>> 'belief' or a some church or so. I don't see what this has to do for a
>> OS certification.
>>  
>>
> While this project is called "BSD Certification", its purpose is not 
> to evaluate or certify software. As such it is not an "OS 
> certification" in the strictest sense. It is to evaluate and certify 
> practitioners who use BSD platforms to accomplish various tasks.
>
> As such, it is relevant to ask whether such an evaluation should be 
> limited to simple technical awareness, or whether it extends to 
> character and ethics. Ethical components of skills certification exist 
> in many fields, but are relatively rare in IT. You can't become a 
> lawyer, doctor, teacher  or engineer in most countries, not matter how 
> good your technical skills, if you do not abide by a code of conduct.
>
> It is not obvious that an ethical component belongs (or doesn't 
> belong) in a BSD practitioner certification. However, it's a totally 
> valid question for debate and resolution. And while many ethical codes 
> can be tied to religion, most professionally-based codes of this kind 
> are not.
>
> At its heart, the debate over whether or not to have an ethics code 
> goes to a deeper question related to the certification: whose interest 
> is it designed to serve?
>
> If the primary purpose of the certification is to serve the public 
> interest (including those who contract or hire certified people), then 
> an ethical code is completely appropriate and desirable (though its 
> composition will inevitably be controversial). If the primary purpose 
> is mainly to serve the direct interests of the certifiers and 
> certified people, then an ethics code is unwarranted and likely an 
> obstacle.
>
> - Evan
>
>
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The debate of a code of ethics is laudable but IMHO in not as much of a 
priority as a business plan. Maybe the questions should really be is who 
is going to sponsor the costs of publishing beta exams and a 
psychometrician?

Given the commercial demand for Linux certification which made 
psychometric testing financially viable.  Is psychometric testing  going 
to be a financially viable option for BSD?

Many lessons can be drawn from the LPI but is developing the business 
plan of BSD certifcation along similar lines as the LPI really feasible 
for the BSD? IMHO sponsorship is a double edged sword. For what an 
organisation is given it may well have to sacrifice more in the 
potential revenue streams in the longer term.

Chris