Professional Issues in Information Technology (2nd Edition)

Relevant to all sizes of organisations, this book addresses the social, legal, financial, organisational and ethical issues faced by IT professionals. It is designed to accompany the BCS HEQ ‘Diploma in IT’ core module: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice. This new edition takes into account the social and legal implications of the substantial changes to legislation and technology over recent years, for example cloud computing, the Digital Economy Act and the Equality Act. 8.3 APPLYING DCF TO A SIMPLE INVESTMENT PROJECT8.4 ASSESSMENT OF A SOFTWARE PRODUCT PROPOSAL; 8.5 PITFALLS OF DCF; FURTHER READING; 9 HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES; 9.1 WHAT ARE HUMAN RESOURCES?; 9.2 THE LEGAL CONTEXT; 9.3 RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION; 9.4 STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT; 9.5 REMUNERATION POLICIES AND JOB EVALUATION; 9.6 APPRAISAL SCHEMES; 9.7 REDUNDANCY, DISMISSAL AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES; 9.8 CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT; 9.9 HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING; FURTHER READING; 10 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION; 10.1 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION; 10.2 WHAT IS DISCRIMINATION? Cover; Copyright; CONTENTS; LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES; AUTHOR; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; ABBREVIATIONS; USEFUL WEBSITES; PREFACE; 1 LAW AND GOVERNMENT; 1.1 WHAT IS THE LAW?; 1.2 CRIMINAL LAW AND CIVIL LAW; 1.3 WHERE DOES THE LAW COME FROM?; 1.4 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN THE UK; 1.5 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES; 1.6 THE LAW ACROSS BORDERS; FURTHER READING; 2 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION; 2.1 THE CONCEPT OF A PROFESSION; 2.2 ROYAL CHARTERS; 2.3 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT; 2.4 EDUCATION; 2.5 THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE; 2.6 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; 2.7 REPRESENTING THE PROFESSION 10.3 DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF SEX10.4 DISCRIMINATION ON RACIAL GROUNDS; 10.5 DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF DISABILITY; 10.6 DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF AGE; 10.7 AVOIDING DISCRIMINATION; FURTHER READING; 11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS; 11.1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; 11.2 COPYRIGHT; 11.3 EXAMPLES OF COPYRIGHT CASES INVOLVING SOFTWARE; 11.4 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; 11.5 PATENTS; 11.6 TRADE MARKS; 11.7 DOMAIN NAMES; FURTHER READING; 12 SOFTWARE CONTRACTS AND LICENCES; 12.1 WHAT IS A CONTRACT?; 12.2 LICENCE AGREEMENTS; 12.3 OUTSOURCING; 12.4 CONTRACTS FOR BESPOKE SOFTWARE 5 FINANCING A START-UP COMPANY5.1 WHY CAPITAL IS NEEDED; 5.2 THE BUSINESS PLAN; 5.3 SOURCES OF FINANCE; 5.4 GEARING; FURTHER READING; 6 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING; 6.1 DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS; 6.2 THE BALANCE SHEET; 6.3 THE PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT; 6.4 THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT; 6.5 THE OVERALL PICTURE; FURTHER READING; 7 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING; 7.1 PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION; 7.2 BUDGETS AND OVERHEADS; 7.3 COST OF LABOUR; 7.4 ALLOCATION OF OVERHEADS; 7.5 CASH FLOW FORECAST; FURTHER READING; 8 INVESTMENT APPRAISAL; 8.1 INVESTMENT PROPOSALS; 8.2 THE TIME VALUE OF MONEY 2.8 MEMBERSHIP GRADES2.9 RESERVATION OF TITLE AND FUNCTION; 3 WHAT IS AN ORGANISATION?; 3.1 THE ROLE OF ORGANISATIONS; 3.2 COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS; 3.3 LIMITED COMPANIES; 3.4 SETTING UP A COMPANY; 3.5 THE CONSTITUTION OF A LIMITED COMPANY; 3.6 DIRECTORS; 3.7 TAKEOVERS, MERGERS AND OUTSOURCING; 3.8 NON-COMMERCIAL BODIES; FURTHER READING; FURTHER READING; 4 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF ORGANISATIONS; 4.1 ORGANISATIONAL MODELS; 4.2 STRUCTURING PRINCIPLES; 4.3 DEPTH OF STRUCTURE; 4.4 CENTRALISATION; 4.5 SETTING UP A STRUCTURE IN PRACTICE; 4.6 JOB DESIGN; FURTHER READING This book addresses the social, legal, financial, organisational and ethical issues relevant to IT professionals. It is designed to accompany the BCS HEQ 'Diploma in IT' core module: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice. This new edition covers the social and legal implications of recent changes to legislation and technology Configuration management is the tracking, recording and monitoring of the elements of a business IT system and any changes and developments. Invaluable to IT professionals and to technology-savvy business managers who need to use automated business services, this revised edition is updated to reflect latest IT service management practice. 12.5 CONTRACTS FOR CONSULTANCY AND CONTRACT HIRE