GROUP 2

AN OVERVIEW OF ETHICS
• INCLUDING ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DECISION MAKING

• ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

  What approach can you take to ensure ethical
decision making?
 What trends have increased the risk of using
OBJECTIVES information technology in an unethical
manner?
 INCLUDING
ETHICAL
CONSIDERATION IN
DECISION MAKING

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 1. DEVELOP A PROBLEM STATEMENT

 A problem statement is a clear, concise description of the issue that needs to be

addressed.

 Most critical step in decision-making process

 Example of a good problem statement:

“Our product supply organization is continually running out of stock of finished
products, creating an out-of-stock situation on over 15 percent of our customer orders,
resulting in over $300,000 in lost sales per month.”

 Examples of poor problem statements:

“We need to implement a new inventory control system.” (possible solution, not a
problem statement).

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 1. DEVELOP A PROBLEM STATEMENT
(cont’d)
 A good problem statement answers the following questions:

 What causes people to think there is a problem?

 Who is directly affected by the problem?

 Is there anyone else affected?

 How often does it occur?

 What is the impact of the problem?

 How serious is the problem?

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

  During this stage of decision making, it is ideal to enlist
the help of others, including stakeholders, to identify
2. IDENTIFY several alternative solutions to the problem.
ALTERNATIVE  During any brainstorming process, try not to be critical
S of ideas.

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 3. EVALUATE AND CHOOSE AN
ALTERNATIVE

 Evaluate them based on numerous criteria, such as effectiveness at addressing

the issue, the extent of risk associated with each alternative, cost, and time to
implement.

 Evaluate by weighing laws, guidelines, and principles

 Consider likely consequences of each alternative

 Alternative selected must:

 Be ethically and legally defensible
 Be consistent with policies and code of ethics
 Take into account impact on others
 Provide a good solution to problem Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition
 APPROACHES TO ETHICAL
DECISION MAKING

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 VIRTUE ETHICS APPROACH
 Focuses on concern with daily life in a community

 People guided by virtues to reach “right” decision

 More effective than following set of principles/rules.

 PROBLEM
The definition of virtue cannot be worked out objectively; it depends on the
circumstances—you work it out as you go.

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 UTILITARIAN APPROACH

 The utilitarian approach to ethical decision making states that you should choose the
action or policy that has the best overall consequences for all people who are
directly or indirectly affected.

 PROBLEM
 Measuring and comparing values is often difficult

 Predicting resulting benefits and harm is difficult

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 FAIRNESS APPROACH

 The fairness approach focuses on how fairly actions and policies distribute benefits
and burdens among people affected by the decision.

 The guiding principle of this approach is to treat all people the same.

 PROBLEM
 Decisions can be influenced by personal bias, without the decision makers
even being aware of their bias.

 Others may consider the decision unfair.

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 COMMON GOOD APPROACH

 The common good approach to decision making is based on a vision of society as a

community whose members work together to achieve a common set of values and
goals.
 Implement systems that benefit all people.

 PROBLEM
 Consensus is difficult

 Some required to bear greater costs than others

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

  Efficient, effective, timely implementation
4.  Communication is key for people to accept
IMPLEMENT change
THE  Transition plan made easy and pain-free
DECISION

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

  Monitor the results to see if the desired effect was
achieved.
5. EVALUATE  observe its impact on the organization and stakeholders
THE  Return to “Develop problem statement” step if further
RESULTS refinements may be needed.

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

 ETHICS IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
 The growth of the Internet, the ability to capture and store vast amounts of personal data,
and greater reliance on information systems in all aspects of life have increased the risk
that information technology will be used unethically.

 Public concern about the ethical use of information technology includes:

 E-mail and Internet access monitoring
 Downloading in violation of copyright laws
 Unsolicited e-mail (spam)
 Hackers and identify theft
 Students and plagiarism
 Cookies and spyware

Ethics in Information Technology, Fourth Edition

THANK YOU!
GROUP 2