The Information and Technology sector is rapidly growing, and there is the equally increased use

of technology in work places. In as much as there is need to embrace technology and as well
appreciate the advantages it comes with such as making work easier and faster. Technology such
as computers in work places, have proven to cause ethical and moral dilemmas. Below is an
analyses of some of the moral and ethical dilemmas experienced in organizations, giving real life
examples and possible solutions to Managers on how to deal with such challenges.

PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Privacy is both a legal and moral right bestowed to every Individual. However, Information and
Technology has constantly denied many individuals this right through accessing people’s private
information and date without their consent or approval.

Privacy can be loosely defined as freedom from unauthorized intrusion. This can be intrusion
from other individuals, organizations and even the Government. Breach to privacy in
Organizations has been fueled by the use of web cookies in accessing some sites, the ability to
google a user’s profile among other factors such as the low cost of accessibility.

Real Life Example: Registering for events using apps such as the Whova app, some private
information that comes with the email that was used in the registration is made available to all
and sundry against the will of an individual. Exposing one to such publicity is prone to make that
information land in the hands of frauds and possible cyber bullies who can go to the extreme end
of impersonation.

Managers of such Organizations planning events, could provide training facilities to their
employees in relation to the Terms and Conditions of the systems they use. They could also
encourage use of platforms for privacy preference to automatically communicate a user’s privacy
preference to a web site ensuring a safe internet environment.

Managers should also check their systems to ensure that data provided is not readily available to
any third party.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PLAGIARISM

Intellectual property refers to intangible property that is the result of creativity and includes
copyrights, patent and trade secrets.

Computers in organizations, have defeated the objectives of safeguarding intellectual property

rights by the use of copying and pasting other people’s work. This is also linked closely to
plagiarism which refers to using other people’s work without referencing.

Real Life Example: In Organizations, especially the Information and Technology sector, when a
developer comes up with an amazing application or system, more often than not, the company
takes credit for his/her work. However the reality is that the developer is the creator of the
system and thus the sole owner of that system.

Real Life Example: Sometimes due to the pressure to deliver at the work place, employees
would more often than not directly copy information from the internet and present to their
Managers in order to meet deadlines

Managers can remove unethical clauses in contracts such as”…any ideas generated by
employees in this firm are solely owned by the company…”” or “ In the event an employee
seizes to become a member of the organization, all ideas initially created or generated remain to
be owned by the company..”.

Managers can educate their employees on the importance of acknowledging other people’s work,
thus eliminating possible ethical dilemmas like how to deal with employees who plagiarize.

Managers can inform its employees and potential employees on the Intellectual Property Policies
of their Company. They can also advice and allow its employees especially developers to register
their intellectual Property through the copyright Registration.
HEALTH ISSUES, APPRECIATING BOUNDARIES AND MORAL DUTY TO THE
ENVIRONMENT

Life has a lot of values enriched in culture, institutions, individuals and even homesteads.

The issue of boundaries, some organizations would send emails, make calls and teleconference
services to their employee’s way past working hours or despite the Monday to Friday work
schedule would send invitations to their employees to attend work related programs. As a result,
individual’s boundaries as to private space and time has been overlooked.

The moral obligation to take care of the environment is also put at risk by the rapidly growing
information and technology sector which leads to the massive electronic waste in dumpsites such
as Kayole thus causing environmental damage to the water and soil.

Lastly is the issue Ergonomics at the work places. Desks and furniture’s at the work place need
to put the user in mind having regard to the probability of causing health hazards such as back
pains, headaches and migraines, to fatigue and generally laziness at work. Which raises the
question of is it ethical for Mangers to exert such pressure on their employees.

Real Life Example: Some Organizations send emails past official working hours and put
pressure of employees to reply and keep up with the contents of the email, if not then it directly
affects their appraisal.

Real Life Example: Some Information Technology Organizations dump their obsolete
computers and other electronic devices directly to dumpsites, or through garbage’s that end up in
landfills.

Real Life Example: Employees report constant fatigue, back pain and migraines at work as a
result of using computers, a keen analysis of this shows these effects are directly linked to the
office desks that are in use.

Managers need to set out clear guidelines as to work schedules and should not demand of
employees to perform duties or reply to work emails during non-working hours. This has proven
to affect employee’s daily lives.
Managers should also ensure that office desks are well designed to fit the needs of its employees.

Managers can also ensure that their companies have access to WEEE centers services and
correctly disposes off its electronic waste.

ACCOUNTABILITY

In the event an illegal activity, cybercrime or access to pornographic materials is reported in an

organization, managers are often posed with the question of who is to blame.. The burden falls
squarely in an organization to deal with such matters, making managers in an ethical dilemma of
whom to hold accountable.

Real Life Example: In Organizations, some co-workers can device spams and create offensive
ads that have indecent content and plant it on another co-workers computer in order to cause
embarrassment and derail them in their efforts and duties at work.

Managers can ensure their organizations have proxy servers that block websites that have
indecent content such as pornography.