Role Play Activity:

Objective: To help students understand the importance of adhering to ethical principles when working as
an IT consultant, and to identify potential ethical dilemmas that may arise in this field.

1. Create groups of 4-6 and assign each group a scenario description.

2. Give each group some time to read and discuss their scenario, paying particular attention to the
ethical principles involved and the different options for resolving the dilemma.
3. Ask each group to perform a role play that demonstrates how they would handle the scenario in
an ethical manner. Each group should have at least one person acting as the IT consultant and
other members of the group can play the role of the business owner, a colleague.
4. After each role play, have the class discuss the ethical principles involved and the different options
that were presented. Encourage students to identify any additional ethical dilemmas that may
have arisen during the role play and to consider alternative ways of resolving the situation.
5. Conclude the activity by emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior in the field of IT and
encourage students to always prioritize ethical principles when working with clients and
colleagues.
Title: The Software Piracy Dilemma

Scenario: You work as an IT consultant for a small business that relies heavily on a specific software
program to manage their operations. The software program is expensive and the business has been
struggling financially, making it difficult to justify the cost of purchasing a legal license for the software.
One day, the business owner asks you if there is any way to get the software program without paying for
a license. They suggest using a pirated version of the software that they found online. They argue that the
cost of getting caught and fined for using pirated software would be lower than the cost of purchasing a
legal license. They also argue that without the software, the business could go under and all employees
could lose their jobs.

Ethical Dilemma: As an IT consultant, you are faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to comply
with the business owner's request to use pirated software to save costs. On one hand, using pirated
software is illegal and violates the professional code of ethics in IT. It could also harm the software
company's revenue, and contribute to the wider problem of software piracy. On the other hand, refusing
to comply with the business owner's request could harm the business and its employees, who rely on the
software to manage their operations. It could also harm your relationship with the business owner and
potentially lead to the loss of future business.

Title: The Trade Secret Dilemma

Scenario: You work as an IT consultant for a software company. Your company has developed a proprietary
software program that gives them a competitive advantage in the market. The software program contains
several trade secrets that are closely guarded by the company. One day, a potential client asks you to reveal
the trade secrets of your company's software program, in exchange for a significant contract. The potential
client argues that they need to know the details of the program in order to ensure that it will work with
their existing systems. They also argue that your company will benefit from the contract and that revealing
the trade secrets will not harm anyone.

Ethical Dilemma: As an IT consultant, you are faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to disclose
your company's trade secrets to a potential client in order to secure a contract. On one hand, trade secrets
are an important form of intellectual property that provide companies with a competitive advantage.
Revealing them without permission violates the professional code of ethics in IT and could harm your
company's reputation and financial wellbeing. On the other hand, refusing to disclose the trade secrets
could lead to losing a significant contract, which could also harm your company's financial wellbeing and
potentially lead to layoffs or other negative consequences for employees.
Title: The Whistle Blowing Dilemma

Scenario: You work as an IT professional in a large corporation. You have recently discovered that one of
your colleagues has been engaging in unethical practices, such as falsifying data, in order to meet
performance targets. You are concerned about the potential harm that this could cause to the company
and its clients, and you believe that it is your duty to report this behavior to your manager. However, you
are also worried about the potential consequences of whistle blowing, such as losing your job, being
ostracized by your colleagues, or facing legal action.

Ethical Dilemma: As an IT professional, you are faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to blow
the whistle on your colleague's unethical behavior. On one hand, whistle blowing is an important
mechanism for exposing wrongdoing and protecting the interests of the company and its stakeholders. It
is also considered a professional duty in many fields, including IT. On the other hand, whistle blowing can
have serious personal and professional consequences, and it can be difficult to predict the exact outcome
of your actions.

Title: The Misrepresentation Dilemma

Scenario: You work as an IT consultant for a software company. Your company has been asked to develop
a new software program for a potential client. During the initial meeting with the client, they mention that
their competitor is also developing a similar software program and ask if your company can guarantee that
their program will be completed before the competitor's program. You know that your company is capable
of completing the project within the requested timeframe, but you also know that making such a
guarantee may be misleading or misrepresenting the actual situation to the client.

Ethical Dilemma: As an IT consultant, you are faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to make a
guarantee to the potential client that your company will complete the project before the competitor's
program, even though doing so may be misrepresenting the actual situation. On one hand,
misrepresenting the situation could lead to the potential client choosing your company over the
competitor, resulting in a financial gain for your company. On the other hand, making such a guarantee
may be misleading and unethical, and could lead to negative consequences for your company's reputation
and legal liability.