What are two outcomes of adherence to a professional code of ethics for individuals, their profession, and society as a whole? Choose 2 answers.

A professional code of ethics serves as a foundational framework for individuals within a profession. Its primary functions are to guide behavior and establish a common set of expectations. This leads to consistent decision-making (B) by providing a reliable moral compass for navigating complex ethical dilemmas. By outlining specific duties and standards of conduct, the code also promotes standardized business practices (A) across the profession. This uniformity helps ensure a baseline level of quality and integrity in services, which in turn builds public trust and reinforces the profession's credibility, benefiting the professional, the profession, and society at large.

C. Assured employer integrity: A professional code governs an individual's conduct but cannot guarantee or assure the ethical behavior of an entire organization or employer.

D. Faster career advancement: While unethical behavior can derail a career, adherence to a code is a baseline professional expectation and does not guarantee accelerated advancement.

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1. ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (2018). The introduction states, "This Code...is intended to serve as a basis for ethical decision making in the conduct of professional work." This directly supports the outcome of consistent decision-making. The document as a whole, by setting universal principles for all members, inherently promotes standardized practices. (Source: ACM Committee on Professional Ethics, Preamble, https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics)

2. Harris, C. E., Pritchard, M. S., & Rabins, M. J. (2017). Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases (5th ed.). Cengage Learning. In Chapter 2, "Responsibility in Engineering," the authors discuss that professional codes "provide a framework for ethical judgment for a professional" (p. 35). This supports consistent decision-making. They also note that codes are a "commitment to standards" that allow the public to know what to expect from members of the profession, which aligns with standardized practices.

3. Bynum, T. W. (2011). The Role of a Professional Code of Ethics in Information Technology. In T. W. Bynum & S. Rogerson (Eds.), Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility (pp. 79-86). Wiley-Blackwell. Bynum explains that a key function of a professional code is to "provide a guide to the ethical decisions" its members have to make. He further elaborates that codes help to "specify the standards of the profession," thereby creating uniformity and predictability in professional conduct.