Ethical Issues in the Software Quality Assurance Function

The responsibility for correct execution of software, as well as its fitness in any given setting, becomes increasingly complex, especially when the software impacts life and death. This paper addresses the role of the software quality assurance (SQA) function and explores the ethics of the SQA organization as the last point of contact between the software manufacturer and the consumers of the software application. We explore the range of potential ethical issues, possible mitigation strategies, and responsibilities to disclose findings to both software manufacturers and consumers of software applications.