NZCS Releases IT Code of Practice for New Zealand

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. (NZCS)

30 November 2009

For Immediate Release

The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today announced the release of a new IT Code of Practice for those working in IT in New Zealand, an educational tool outlining acceptable and good practice for IT professionals and organisations.

A Code of Practice defines acceptable and good practice within the IT profession and wider sector and forms a cornerstone of the education and learning of professional delivery.

The Code of Practice will be heavily promoted as a base guideline of practice for IT professionals, organisations, and in fact anyone involved in the delivery of IT services in New Zealand.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today “The Code is available to anyone operating in IT in New Zealand, including individuals and organisations, whether IT companies or organisations with an in-house IT capability”.

“The Code covers key practices common to all disciplines within IT, such as conflicts of interest, competency, methods and tools, workload and representation, as well as key practices around project and relationship management, security, change management and other specific areas. There's also a section on Education and Research, as well as business-related IT practice”, Matthews said.

The Code, put together by an NZCS team over the last 6 months, draws on the work of the Society’s international partners around the world combined with material that is specific to New Zealand's environment.

 “NZCS strongly recommends that all those involved in IT study the Code of Practice and adopt the principles contained throughout their organisation. The code will be made available to all of New Zealand and, whilst NZCS members should be exemplars of the Code, all those working within IT should consider it”, Matthews said while releasing the Code.

“Additionally, the Code may be used free of charge (with suitable attribution) by NZCS Educational Partners in the development of tertiary courses - this stuff is important and we strongly encourage the tertiary community to use the Code to help embed a culture of professional practice in the IT professionals of the future”, Matthews said.

“The release of this Code, shortly after the release of IT Professional Certification, is historic. NZCS made a statement at the end of last year that 2009 will be the year that the first planks are laid to building a true IT profession in New Zealand, and I'm very proud of the fact that, whilst still in the early days, we've delivered on that promise. 2009 will be remembered as the year that IT started to mature into a true profession”, Matthews concluded.

The new Code of Practice can be downloaded at www.nzcs.org.nz/practice.

ENDS

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