Table of Contents Introduction Introducing STC Ethical Guidelines Making the STC Ethical Guidelines Your Own Ethics and Industry Practices Consulting in the 3-Ring Circus Resolving Ethical Disputes Quality Conclusion

Introduction

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“Every art and scientific enquiry, and similarly every action and purpose, may be said to aim at some good.” — Aristotle on Ethics

Writing, like any art, is a study in compromise. We all aim at perfection and we all make compromises. What you compromise on is a reflection of your professional ethics. As an independent consultant, you will learn that a high standard of professional ethics is an essential ingredient of doing good work.

This chapter deals with some of the issues and some of the circumstances that define a person's professional ethics. The purpose of this discussion is not to lecture you on personal morals. Rather, the focus of this chapter is to provide you with a framework you can use in your professional life to set and keep to your own standards of ethical excellence.