Source code theft: techie's laptop seized.  This was the first news item I captured this morning in my morning companion. I was shocked as this took place in IT industry in which I work and at Hyderabad, where I work.

It is reported in the said news item that a software engineer by virtue of his role and rank copied source codes of some IT products of his former employer and left the company to join a competitor and started freely selling similar products with some modifications.

Immediately, the issue of integrity struck me. I started seriously thinking about integrity and what factors constitute integrity.

When we say integrity of a person is well established, we mean s/he is very honest and hence reliable.  It is a very basic qualification in any relationship and engagement. It is a societal norm. Without integrity, one cannot get any opening in any employment.  May be for this reason only, back ground check is insisted upon in IT industry.

If one were truthful to oneself to begin with, s/he would not indulge in such characterless activities. In such an event, s/he would not resort to such short cuts to make some extra money and garner glory. This may arise only when the individual is avaricious.  If the individual places importance on values, then s/he would be truthful and would not indulge in such activities.  Truthfulness starts and remains with the individual.

Next is trust worthy. When one places faith and confidence in another individual and when the latter decides to ditch the former, s/he would feel very badly let down. This arises purely on account of lack of trust. Invariably they happen because the trust was originally misplaced. Once again this lack of trust happens because the person on whom the trust was placed and hence expected to play by rules established, has other intentions, to indulge in undue enrichment at the cost of the person who has placed such trust. In the case of trust, it is a play between two or more individuals

Well. Finally taint free. We all know what taint is. It is a stain, dirt and contamination. If ones track record is not exemplary and carries societys disapproval, we say one is tainted. Taint free is a qualification for critical positions and for positions of trust. Taint freeness should not only be held by the individual but also exhibited by the individual and seen by others. Hence it has a larger societal acceptance and place

Thus integrity involves the processes starting with the individual (truthfulness), then goes into the relationship of the individual with other individual (trust worthy) and then finally to societys acceptance (taint free)

Thus integrity is all about being truthful, trust worthy and taint-free

It is important to clarify that organizations are also required to have integrity in addition to our individual.

Do you agree?