How can practitioners begin to develop a holistic view and behavior?
First, they should join a professional society that helps to keep its members current. Second, they need to be aware of what’s going on in the world. Maybe the most important aspects of being a professional are not only being technically adept, but being aware of one’s place in society. I see some students who don’t read even the weekly news outlets, let alone the daily ones. Awareness of our context is part of being a well-rounded individual. You have to read more than simply the trade papers. Find out what society thinks is important. ACM, the IEEE Computer Society, Usenix, SIAM, and others put resources into producing journals and conferences designed to keep their members aware of what’s going on in their fields. With a profession, you’re expected to set aside time for continuing education, for going to conferences and seminars, for finding out how others do things. These are simple steps, but they’re a start. The position of Privacy Officer is becoming a corporate staple. We’re al
