The concept of Professionalism has been widely accepted as a key issue for all CEPIS member societies. Since 2007, the CEPIS Professionalism Taskforce has been engaged in a range of deliberations, consultations, and meetings to build the foundations for a coherent strategic approach to the topic. This survey aims to outline the foundations of such an approach, by proposing a definition of Professionalism and elaborating the benefits of Professionalism. The survey also offers an opportunity to comment on characteristics and benefits of Professionalism and to rank their importance. This feedback is important to provide a validated position on the most important elements of Professionalism, based on the input of key European stakeholders.

What is IT Professionalism? The Taskforce has developed a description of Professionalism, as being the exhibition of six common characteristics that are required to be demonstrated by an individual if they are to be described as a “Professional”: This definition is specific enough to allow consensual progress toward common goals while broad enough to encompass different emphases that existing across the member societies of Europe. It is important to highlight the clear distinction between the IT Professional and others who work in IT, referred to as the IT practitioner. A practitioner need only derive his or her living from the sector and may or may not possess other attributes, whereas a professional must draw together all of the common characteristics. It is important that the IT Profession can clearly articulate the benefits of being an IT Professional, and offer suitable opportunities to IT practitioners to gain sufficient appreciation of the common characteristics to allow them, where appropriate, to progress to being someone who meets all the requirements of being IT Professional.