ACS Assignment Cover Sheet

Subject Name:Professional Environments (Module 1 – Assignment 1)

Assignment Name/Number: Assignment 1 – Professionalism, Ethics and Governance

Module 1 - Assignment 1 – Case Study (Response Template)

Section 1 – The White Framework

Student Instructions: Fill in the Table below using short sentences or dot points to make a list in
each section. You must fill out all three table cells under Issues/Results prior to marking it as
complete. You should input 350-500 words into this section.

Step 1:

Analyze - The Consequences

George refusal to Gagan would have some consequences.

1. George will not get the contract for the next time.

2. Due to George refusal , Gagan may face any inquiry by the higher management

3. The employees may get satisfied with the refusal of the George because they may feel
privacy of their issues and problems. The feeling of being secure may result in the better
performance of the employees resulting more revenue for the company and better for the
growth of the company.

4. George will get repute in the market that, he keeps the matters confidential of the people and
take care of their privacy.

5. In this way, the repute will pay back George in long run and he will get more business in the
market on the basis of this good repute.

Step 2:

Analyze - The Actions

After the refusal of George to Gagan may results in:

1. The higher management may initiate an enquiry against the Gagn, who is senior vice
president.
2. If the higher management is convinced by Gagan then George may not be successful in
getting the contract for the next time.

3. If higher management is not convinced by Gagan then, he may face some action against him.

4. Gagan may be fined on the basis of enquiry against him or he may be terminated from his job
or he may be admired on the basis of his stand.

5. Due to ethical dilemma, employees may not get training on time, which results in the loss of
the company.

6. If there is any union of employees, then it might be possible that if the decision is against
George then there might be any protest against Gagan by the union.

7. The protest might be harmful for the repute of the company and in longer run will reduce the
revenue of the company.

8. The employees might get training on the decision of higher management if the decision of the
higher management is in favour of George.

Step 3:

Make A Decision

There should be an enquiry by the higher management of the ethical dilemma. If the higher
management is convinced by Gagan statement then, George has to face the consequences. He
might not be successful in getting the contract for the next time which results in monetary loss of
George and may damage his company repute. If the higher management is not convinced by
the reasoning of Gagan, then Gagan has to face the consequences whether he might be
terminated or he might get fined or get appreciation from the higher management. So, the
decision should be implemented by the committee not by any individual.

Section 2 – The Governance and Regulatory Environment

Part 1 - ACS Code of Professional Conduct Analysis

Identify the appropriate ACS Code of Professional Conduct values along with the relevant
sub-paragraph topics by number and sub-paragraph (e.g. 1.2.6 (g) – endeavour to extend public
knowledge and understanding of ICT). Group each by value and appropriate corresponding
sub-paragraphs relevant to your case study.
Case Study:

ACS Code of Professional Conduct Value & Section: 1.2.?

1.2.1. The Primacy of the Public Interest

e) endeavour to preserve the integrity, security, continuity and utility of ICT;

f) respect the intellectual property of others; and

g) endeavour to preserve the confidentiality and privacy of the information of others.

ACS Code of Professional Conduct Section: 1.2.?

1.2.3. Honesty

a) reject, and will not make, any offer of bribery or inducement;

b) not knowingly mislead a client or potential client as to the suitability of a product or service;

c) distinguish between your professional and personal opinions and advice;

ACS Code of Professional Conduct Section: 1.2.?

1.2.5. Professional Development

c) encourage your colleagues, employees and students to continue their own professional
development; and

d) Support education, training and professional development in ICT that reflects the diverse
needs of individual professionals and their various career paths.

ACS Code of Professional Conduct Section: 1.2.?

1.2.6. Professionalism

a) take a calm, objective, informed and knowledgeable stance on your professional work,
complementing your enthusiasm and engagement in it;
b) take appropriate action against members who engage in behaviours contrary to this Code;

c) confront attempts to limit diversity in the workplace, and ensure that opportunities for
employment, advancement, remuneration and other working conditions are based on the actual
skills and performance of employees, free of stereotypes and prejudices;

d) note that the corporate actions of the Society are subject to this Code, and you should do
whatever you can to ensure that the ACS and its officers meet this obligation;

e) neither require, nor attempt to influence, any person to take any action which would involve a
breach of this Code;

f) refrain from any conduct or action in your professional role which may tarnish the image of the
profession or detract from the good name of the ACS;

g) endeavour to extend public knowledge and understanding of ICT;

h) co-operate in advancing ICT by communication with other professionals, students and the
public; and

i) have pride in your profession, and protect and promote professionalism in ICT

Section 2 – The Governance and Regulatory Environment

Part 2 – Legislative and International Standards Analysis

Identify the appropriate Australian Legislation (e.g. Fair Work Act; Privacy Act). Identify and list
relevant Australian/International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical
Commission (AS ISO/IEC) (e.g. AS ISO/IEC 38500:2016). Provide at least four items in each
category in the boxes below.

Case Study.

Australian Legislation

1. Privacy Act 1988

2. Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012

3. Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012

4. Safe Work Australia Act 2008

AS/ISO/IEC Standards

According to “ ACS Code of Professional Conduct”

1.

1.2.2. The Enhancement of Quality of Life

2.

1.2.3. Honesty

3.

1.2.5. Professional Development

4.

1.2.6. Professionalism

Section 3 – Justifying a Decision and Recommending Appropriate Action

Make short text responses to the five (5) questions in the spaces provided. Each response
should be between 50 - 80 words (Total not to exceed 400 words).

1. What were the most important professional ethics issues/dilemmas for you in your scenario?
(Reference at least two core issues)

There may be more than two professional ethics issues or dilemmas here. Only two core issues
are discussed here:

1. Gagan approach in the dilemma. He wants to get personal information of the employees as
he may use for personal liking or disliking.

So, there is privacy issue of the employees.

2. George approach in the dilemma. He want to hide the personal information or names of the
employees on the basis of personal grounds. His approach may affect the efficiency of the
company and public trust.

2. What do you believe are the most appropriate decisions to be made here for management,
organisation and employees?
The most appropriate decisions for the management should be to take the ethical dilemma
seriously and make a committee to see the matter and make serious, decisions for the Gagan.
The organization should arrange trainings and make appropriate laws so that these issues may
not arise in future. The employees should stand for their rights and do attend the trainings for
their professional growth.

3. Who is responsible for taking what action here and why? (Name names!)

Gagan is responsible for the ethical dilemma because his demand is not ethical and his
announcement for the future is not professional whereas George answer is well and ethical on
the privacy grounds. Because, everybody has privacy and need not to be opened in public.

If possible, Gagan should not continue to work for the company in future.

4. What can be done, or what strategies can be implemented to ensure that a similar situation
does not occur again?

There may be two approaches for the future.

1. The company should arrange professional trainings continuously so that the employees may
learn the professional ethics.

2. The company should penalize the employee on the basis of professional ethics.

The company may :

a. Send inquiry notice to the concerned employee and accordingly fine the employee
OR

b. Terminate the services of the employee.

5. What did you learn from reading this scenario?

A person should take stand for the professional ethics. I think George is doing well. No doubt,
he may not be successful in getting the contract for the next time but his repute may increase
and other companies may hire him because he can’t be “approached or influenced” and this
good repute may payback him in future.

Module 1 - Assignment 1 – Case Study (Response Template)