About Us
Mission
ICCA's mission is to support the success of independent computer consultants in providing professional services to their clients.
Through chapters, educational conferences and programs, government and vendor relations activities, publications, and electronic forums, ICCA members encourage high standards of performance in the industry, increase understanding of computer resources within the client community, and enhance recognition of the computer consulting profession as a valuable and important resource for today's computer dependent society.
Code of Ethics
These are the ethical standards that the ICCA upholds as essential not only for its members but for the computer consulting industry as a whole.
- Consultants will be honest and not knowingly misrepresent facts.
- Consultants will install and use only properly licensed software on their systems as well as the clients' systems.
- Consultants will divulge any potential conflicts of interest prior to accepting the contract or as soon as possible after the conflict is discovered.
- Consultants will only represent opinions as independent if they are free from subordinated judgment and there is no undisclosed interest in the outcome of the client's decision.
- Consultants will ensure that to the best of their knowledge they can complete the project in a professional manner both in terms of skill and time.
- Consultants will keep the client informed of any matters relating to the contract even if the information is unfavorable, or may jeopardize the contract.
- Consultants will safeguard any confidential information or documents entrusted to them and not divulge any confidential information without the consent of the client.
- Consultants will not take advantage of proprietary information obtained from the client.
- Consultants will not engage in contracts that are in violation of the law or that might reasonably be used by client to violate the law.
- ICCA member firms, their principals and employees will uphold the principles of the ICCA and not commit acts discreditable to the ICCA.
Standards & Practices
The ICCA finds that the following are standards and practices that are expected of quality computer consultants by their peers. Consultants are not required to comply with these standards in all cases and specific circumstances must be tempered by good judgment.
- Consultants will use a letter of intent or written contract for all substantial engagements.
- Consultants will insure that issues of ownership and use of the work product are clear before starting the contract.
- Consultants who are unable to professionally complete part or all of the contract, will be forthright and will offer to aid the client in finding resources to complete the contract satisfactorily.
- Consultants will strive to avoid improprieties, as well as the appearance of improprieties.
- Consultants will either attempt to transfer the knowledge to the client or else suggest that the clients secure a backup source of long term support.
- Consultants will devote a significant portion of time in continuing education.
- Consulting firms who use subcontractors can use a non-compete clause to restrict the subcontractors from working directly with their clients for a specified period of time. If the prime contractor uses a non-compete clause in their contracts, the term of the non-compete should be one year or less.
- Consulting firms will not compel independent computer consultants to work as employees when they prefer to work as independent contractors.
- ICCA member firms, their principals and employees will promote ethical behavior to member and non member consultants as well as the industry in general.
