What we’re about
Microsoft User Group Ghana is a community group led by Abou Conde focusing on Microsoft technologies.
The purpose of the user group is to share real-world experiences and information about the latest product offerings from Microsoft and network with peers within the same market space. The community hosts the group for the community.
We run periodic events; our events are posted on Meetup.
Everyone is welcome. Whether you are just trying to start in IT, a seasoned professional, coming alone or with colleagues, you are welcome. Everyone from any background is welcome at our events, and the organizing team aims to help further the careers of our attendees.
We would love it if you presented a session. If you are an aspiring speaker or have done it many times before, we would love you to speak. All attendees value real-world knowledge. We are happy to coach you if you've never said at a user group before.
MICROSOFT USER GROUP GHANA CODE OF CONDUCT
INTRODUCTION
Microsoft User Group Ghana is a community group led by Abou Conde focusing on Microsoft technologies. The purpose of the user group is to share real-world experiences, and information about the latest product offerings from Microsoft and network with peers within the same market space. The community hosts the group for the community.
The Tech Industry and its society, specifically I.T. professionals change the world. To be ethically responsible, they give thought to a broad spectrum of the impacts of their activities, consistently supporting the greater good.
This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct discerns the sense of D.O. and DON'T's of the community.
The Code is designed to inspire and guide the ethical conduct of all MUGGH members, including current and prospective members, speakers, sponsors, and anyone who uses MUGGH platform in an impactful way. The Code includes principles formulated as statements of responsibility, based on the understanding that the community and Microsoft is always the primary consideration. Each principle is supplemented by guidelines, which provide explanations to assist MUGGH members in understanding and applying the principle.
Section 1 outlines fundamental ethical principles that form the basis for the remainder of the Code. Section 2 addresses additional, more specific considerations of members responsibility. Section 3 guides members who have a leadership role.
Commitment to ethical conduct is required of every MUGGH member, and principles involving compliance with the Code are given in Section 4.
The Code as a whole is concerned with how fundamental ethical principles apply to a community conduct. The Code is not an algorithm for solving ethical problems; but instead it provides a basis for ethical decision-making. When thinking through a particular issue, a member may find that multiple principles should be taken into account, and that different principles will have different priority to the issue. The entire community members benefit when the ethical decision-making process is accountable to and transparent to all.
1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES (Ethical Principles)
1.1 Contribute to the community and to a member well-being, acknowledging that all members are stakeholders in community.
This principle, which concerns the quality of life of all people, affirms an obligation of MUGGH members, both individually and collectively, to use their skills for the benefit of the community, its members, and the environment surrounding them. This obligation includes promoting fundamental human rights and protecting each individual's right to autonomy. An essential aim of MUGGH members is to minimize negative consequences of computing and/or technology, including threats to health, safety, personal security, and privacy.
MUGGH members should consider whether the results of their efforts will respect diversity and / or will be used in socially responsible ways. They are encouraged to actively contribute to community by engaging in pro bono or volunteer work that benefits Microsoft Technology.
1.2 Avoidance of Harm
In this document, "harm" means negative consequences, especially when those consequences are significant and unjust. Examples of harm include unjustified physical or mental injury, unjustified destruction or disclosure of information, and unjustified damage to property, reputation, and the community. This list is not exhaustive.
Well-intended actions, including those that accomplish assigned duties, may lead to harm. When that harm is unintended, those responsible are obliged to undo or mitigate the harm as much as possible. Avoiding harm begins with careful consideration of potential impacts on all those affected by decisions.
A member has an additional obligation to report any signs of risks that might result in harm.
1.3 Offensive Activities.
MUGGH members will not publish, post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or other unlawful material or discussion. This includes, but is not limited to, child pornography, bestiality, incest, illegal drugs, software piracy, discriminatory/racist statements or images and harassment.
1.4 Fairness & No disrespectful Behaviour
The values of equality, tolerance, respect for others, and justice govern this principle. Fairness requires that even careful decision processes provide some avenue for redress of grievances.
MUGGH members should foster fair participation of all people, including those of underrepresented groups. Prejudicial discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender identity, labor union membership, military status, nationality, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other inappropriate factor is an explicit violation of the Code. Harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying, and other abuses of power and authority, is a form of discrimination that, amongst other harms, limits fair access to the virtual and physical spaces where such harassment takes place.
The use of information and technology may cause new, or enhance existing, inequities. Technologies and practices should be as inclusive and accessible as possible and MUGGH members should take action to avoid creating systems or technologies that disenfranchise or oppress people. Failure to design for inclusiveness and accessibility may constitute unfair discrimination.
1.5 No Plagiarism
Respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and computing artifacts. MUGGH members may only post their own original work or work that they have written and /or verbal permission to post.
1.6 Privacy & Confidential Violations.
The responsibility of respecting privacy applies to MUGGH members in a particularly profound way. Technology enables the collection, monitoring, and exchange of personal information quickly, inexpensively, and often without the knowledge of the people affected.
MUGGH community should only use personal information for legitimate ends and without violating the rights of its members and Microsoft . This requires taking precautions to prevent re-identification of anonymized data or unauthorized data collection, ensuring the accuracy of data, understanding the provenance of the data, and protecting it from unauthorized access and accidental disclosure.
Only the minimum amount of personal information necessary should be collected in a system. The community and it members may get access to certain non-public information during Global Boot Camps Program or other events and are expected to honor their confidentiality obligations with respect to such information.
2. ACCOUNTABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY
2.1 Members are fully responsible and liable for anything they say (whether orally or in writing) or do. This includes any actions taken based on advice or information received in online forums or elsewhere, how a member conducts themselves, and interactions with other communities, Microsoft and the general public.
2.2 Strive to achieve good experience in Microsoft Technology and Solutions.
MUGGH members should insist on and support high quality work from themselves, speakers and other trainers .
2.3 Professional competence starts with technical knowledge and with awareness of the social context in which work may be deployed. Upgrading skills should be an ongoing process and might include independent study, attending conferences or seminars, and other informal or formal education. While attending these conferences and seminars, MUGGH members should act professionally and be respectful of their colleagues, MUGGH staff and the host organization(s).
2.4 Know and respect existing rules.
"Rules" here include local, regional, national, and international laws and regulations, as well as any policies and procedures of the Microsoft Organization. MUGGH members must abide by these rules and constitution. Any member who decides to violate a rule must consider potential consequences and must accept responsibility for that action.
2.5 Foster awareness and understanding of Microsoft technology, related technologies, and their consequences.
3. LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
Leadership here implies a formal designation. In this section, "leader" means any member of community who is a member of the leadership team. A learder is a mentor and should highly hold all outline ethics. While these principles apply to all MUGGH members, leaders bear a heightened responsibility to uphold and promote them within the community.
3.1 Ensure that the public good is the central concern
People—including users, colleagues, and others affected directly or indirectly—should always be the central concern of the community. The public good should always be an explicit consideration when evaluating tasks associated with research, requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, validation, deployment, maintenance, retirement, and disposal. MUGGH leaders should keep this focus no matter which methodologies or techniques they use in the practice.
3.2 Articulate, encourage acceptance of, and evaluate fulfillment of social responsibilities by members of the community.
MUGGH affects broader society and leaders should accept the associated responsibilities. Therefore, leaders should encourage full participation of MUGGH members in meeting relevant social responsibilities and discourage tendencies to do otherwise.
3.3 Resource & Member Management.
Leaders should ensure that they enhance, not degrade, the quality of Microsoft Solutions. Leaders should consider the personal and professional development, accessibility requirements, physical safety, psychological well-being, and human dignity of all members and/or personnel. Appropriate human-computer ergonomic standards should be used when organizing events.
3.4 Articulate, apply, and support policies and processes that reflect the principles of the Code.
Leaders should pursue clearly defined community policies that are consistent with the Code and effectively communicate them to members . In addition, leaders should encourage and reward compliance with this code of ethics, and take appropriate action when it is violated. Designing or implementing processes that deliberately or negligently violate, or tend to enable the violation of, the Code's principles is ethically unacceptable.
3.5 Create opportunities for members of the community to grow.
Educational opportunities are essential for any association . Leaders should ensure that opportunities are available to MUGGH members to help them improve their knowledge and skills in Microsoft profession , In the practice of ethics, and in their technical abilities. These opportunities should include experiences that familiarize MUGGH members with the rich content and solutions of Microsoft technology.
3.6 Monitoring and Evaluation
As the level of adoption changes, the ethical responsibilities of the community are likely to change as well. Continual monitoring of how society and members are using the platform will allow the community to remain consistent with their ethical obligations outlined in the Code. When appropriate standards of care do not exist, MUGGH leadership team (leaders) have a duty to ensure they are developed.
4. COMPLIANCE
4.1 Uphold, promote, and respect the principles of the Code.
The future of technology depends on both technical and ethical excellence. MUGGH members should adhere to the principles of the Code and contribute to improving them. MUGGH members who recognize breaches of the Code should take actions to resolve the ethical issues they recognize, including, when reasonable, expressing their concern to the person or persons thought to be violating the Code.
4.2 Treat violations of the Code as inconsistent with membership in MUGGH.
Each MUGGH member should encourage and support adherence of the code.
MUGGH members who recognize a breach of the Code should consider reporting the violation to the MUGGH leadership members, This may result in remedial action or remedial measures that may include, but are not limited to, member censure, suspension or expulsion.
</a>
