Transcript Professional Bodies - pros and cons


Help you understand how to
(e.g. BCS).

In the last few lessons you have looked at:
› What a professional body is
› What kinds of activities do professional bodies undertake

What you now need to understand is what pros
and cons there are when you sign up to a
professional body.
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Some of which include:
› Recognition of experience
› Career development opportunities
› Member discussions
› Knowledge and information services
› Financial benefits
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Organisations who sign up to a professional body can
include the professional body’s logo on their
documentation to prove membership.
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This gives them a degree of respect within their industry.
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Organisations can also have email addresses which
include the professional body’s extension.
› This provides instant recognition.
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For example, my school email address uses the
Leicestershire suffix 
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Members have access to help when seeking a
new job.
› They can get ‘insider information’ about possible jobs in
other organisations which are also members.
› A bonus of this is that they know that jobs they are
applying for also follow the same code of conduct.

Possibility of some free training sessions are
available.

Individuals can upload CVs to the professional
body’s website where employees can look at them
and ‘head hunt’.

Members can participate in discussion forums
about topics that relate to them.

Members can join focus groups or interest groups
allowing them to meet with like minded people.
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Online and face-to-face conferencing can take
place.

Members can keep up to date in their industry
through online publication written by industry
experts such as:
› Books
› Journals
› Magazines
› Newsletters

Members have access to market research which is
carried out by the professional body on behalf of
the members.

Discounts on training courses, hardware and software.
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Free legal helplines for advice on problems that could
result in legal battles.

Professional bodies can often provide advice and
discounts on indemnity insurance for those who work
freelance or own their own company.

Indemnity
› 1. (Business / Insurance) compensation for loss or damage;
reimbursement
› 2. (Business / Insurance) protection or insurance against future
loss or damage
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Some of which include:
› Cost of membership
› Restricted by code of conduct
› Work-life balance can be effected
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Usually quite expensive and usually paid annually
(every year).
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It is important to weight up the costs against the
benefits!

Although the code of conduct is morally and
ethically correct…
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It can hinder progress.
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This means that an organisation that is not
restricted by the same code of conduct can gain
an advantage over those member organisations
by following unethical procedures.

Those individuals who abide by the code of
conduct may have to take on extra responsibilities.

This can be in the form of:
› Ensuring they keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
› Ensuring the work with clients more closely.
› Working within the environmental guidelines.
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All these additional things can have an impact on
the amount of work they have to do compared to
those who don’t follow the code of conduct…and
perhaps get paid more for it too!
1.
Describe two reasons why an ICT professional would want to
join a professional body.
› [4 marks]
2.
Describe two disadvantages of ICT professionals belonging
to a professional body.
› [4 marks]
3.
Explain the advantages to a teacher of belonging to the
BCS.
› [6 marks]
4.
Describe the disadvantages to a self-employed programmer
of belonging to the BCS.
› [6 marks]