Software Engineering Education, Personal Development and Hong Kong

Abstract

This chapter reports a substantial difference between the “pass” rate of applicants for corporate membership of the British Computer Society interviewed in Hong Kong and their counterparts in Britain. It is suggested that this is not due to any bias of the local interviewers, but that there may be differences in attitudes about what constitutes “responsibility” as a component of “professionalism” in the two communities. This applies especially in areas relating to decision-making, the maintenance of levels of personal working knowledge, and a willingness to provide organized training. Cases are compiled which illustrate several aspects of related issues. Conclusions are drawn that an understanding of the concept of responsibility within the scope of professionalism may vary between communities of significantly different sociological backgrounds. In turn this may mean that established professionals can not always move easily from one community to another without a period of readjustment.