Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a key ethical issue raised by information systems in recent corporate scandals?
What is a key ethical issue raised by information systems in recent corporate scandals?
What principle guides ethical decisions regarding information systems?
What principle guides ethical decisions regarding information systems?
Which company was fined $185 million due to unethical practices involving unauthorized accounts?
Which company was fined $185 million due to unethical practices involving unauthorized accounts?
What incentive structure contributed to the unethical practices at Wells Fargo?
What incentive structure contributed to the unethical practices at Wells Fargo?
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Which of the following is a method through which contemporary information systems challenge individual privacy?
Which of the following is a method through which contemporary information systems challenge individual privacy?
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What consequence did employees face for failing to meet performance targets at Wells Fargo?
What consequence did employees face for failing to meet performance targets at Wells Fargo?
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Why is accountability in information systems an important consideration for ethical practices?
Why is accountability in information systems an important consideration for ethical practices?
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What significant impact have information systems had on laws regarding individual rights?
What significant impact have information systems had on laws regarding individual rights?
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What is one of the primary ethical concerns raised by information systems?
What is one of the primary ethical concerns raised by information systems?
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Which concept represents the impact of information technology on social structures?
Which concept represents the impact of information technology on social structures?
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What can delay the response of social and political institutions to issues raised by IT?
What can delay the response of social and political institutions to issues raised by IT?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the five moral dimensions of the information age?
Which of the following is NOT one of the five moral dimensions of the information age?
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Why do rapidly declining data storage costs raise ethical issues?
Why do rapidly declining data storage costs raise ethical issues?
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What technology trend is associated with increased dependency on computer systems?
What technology trend is associated with increased dependency on computer systems?
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In what aspect does ethical understanding play a crucial role regarding information systems?
In what aspect does ethical understanding play a crucial role regarding information systems?
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What does the term 'system quality' refer to in the context of the information age?
What does the term 'system quality' refer to in the context of the information age?
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What is one way to legally protect intellectual property for the life of the author plus 70 years?
What is one way to legally protect intellectual property for the life of the author plus 70 years?
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Which of the following is NOT a challenge to intellectual property rights?
Which of the following is NOT a challenge to intellectual property rights?
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What are the main aspects that the online industry promotes concerning privacy?
What are the main aspects that the online industry promotes concerning privacy?
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What does the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) make illegal?
What does the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) make illegal?
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Which of the following tools is used to enhance online privacy?
Which of the following tools is used to enhance online privacy?
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What does the Utilitarian Principle suggest regarding ethical actions?
What does the Utilitarian Principle suggest regarding ethical actions?
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In an opt-in model of privacy, what is required from the user?
In an opt-in model of privacy, what is required from the user?
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What is the essence of the Risk Aversion Principle?
What is the essence of the Risk Aversion Principle?
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How long does a patent grant the creator an exclusive monopoly on their invention?
How long does a patent grant the creator an exclusive monopoly on their invention?
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Why is the Ethical 'No Free Lunch' Rule important in ethical decisions?
Why is the Ethical 'No Free Lunch' Rule important in ethical decisions?
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Which of the following is NOT a technical solution mentioned for privacy protection?
Which of the following is NOT a technical solution mentioned for privacy protection?
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Which organization is an example of a professional code of conduct?
Which organization is an example of a professional code of conduct?
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In the example of monitoring employees, which interests conflict?
In the example of monitoring employees, which interests conflict?
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What does privacy imply in the context of individual rights?
What does privacy imply in the context of individual rights?
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Which of the following best describes the role of professional codes of conduct?
Which of the following best describes the role of professional codes of conduct?
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How does Facebook manage user information despite providing useful services?
How does Facebook manage user information despite providing useful services?
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What is the main purpose of Nonobvious Relationship Awareness (NORA) technology?
What is the main purpose of Nonobvious Relationship Awareness (NORA) technology?
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Which principle supports the idea that actions should be acceptable for everyone if they are to be deemed right?
Which principle supports the idea that actions should be acceptable for everyone if they are to be deemed right?
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In ethical analysis, accountability refers to which of the following?
In ethical analysis, accountability refers to which of the following?
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Which of the following is NOT a step in the five-step ethical analysis?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the five-step ethical analysis?
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Responsibility in ethical terms is best described as:
Responsibility in ethical terms is best described as:
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Which of the following is a potential ethical dilemma involving data sharing?
Which of the following is a potential ethical dilemma involving data sharing?
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The Slippery Slope Rule suggests that an action is unethical if:
The Slippery Slope Rule suggests that an action is unethical if:
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What is a primary concern regarding mobile device growth in relation to ethics?
What is a primary concern regarding mobile device growth in relation to ethics?
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Which of the following does NOT contribute to poor system performance?
Which of the following does NOT contribute to poor system performance?
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What is a significant negative social consequence of computing systems?
What is a significant negative social consequence of computing systems?
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Which is considered the most common source of business system failure?
Which is considered the most common source of business system failure?
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What aspect makes flawless software economically unfeasible?
What aspect makes flawless software economically unfeasible?
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Which of the following is an example of computer abuse?
Which of the following is an example of computer abuse?
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What is a potential impact of the rapid rate of technological change on businesses?
What is a potential impact of the rapid rate of technological change on businesses?
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How does increased dependence on computer systems affect organizations?
How does increased dependence on computer systems affect organizations?
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Which of these is NOT typically viewed as software liability in service models?
Which of these is NOT typically viewed as software liability in service models?
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Flashcards
Information Systems Ethics
Information Systems Ethics
Principles guiding right and wrong in technology use.
Wells Fargo Fraud Case
Wells Fargo Fraud Case
A scandal involving unauthorized accounts created without consent.
Ethical Judgment Failures
Ethical Judgment Failures
Instances where organizations made poor moral decisions.
Cross-Selling Program
Cross-Selling Program
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Individual Privacy Challenges
Individual Privacy Challenges
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Accountability in Information Systems
Accountability in Information Systems
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Intellectual Property Issues
Intellectual Property Issues
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Corporate Incentives and Ethics
Corporate Incentives and Ethics
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Ethical questions in Information Systems
Ethical questions in Information Systems
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Intense social change
Intense social change
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New opportunities for crime
New opportunities for crime
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Emotet
Emotet
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Model for ethical thinking
Model for ethical thinking
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Five moral dimensions of the information age
Five moral dimensions of the information age
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Technological trends raising ethical issues
Technological trends raising ethical issues
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Legal gray areas
Legal gray areas
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Nonobvious Relationship Awareness (NORA)
Nonobvious Relationship Awareness (NORA)
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Profiling
Profiling
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Responsibility
Responsibility
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Accountability
Accountability
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Liability
Liability
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Due Process
Due Process
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Five-Step Ethical Analysis
Five-Step Ethical Analysis
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Golden Rule
Golden Rule
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Utilitarian Principle
Utilitarian Principle
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Risk Aversion Principle
Risk Aversion Principle
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No Free Lunch Rule
No Free Lunch Rule
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Professional Codes of Conduct
Professional Codes of Conduct
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Real-world Ethical Dilemma
Real-world Ethical Dilemma
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Privacy
Privacy
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Challenges to Privacy
Challenges to Privacy
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Information Rights
Information Rights
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Opt-in model
Opt-in model
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Intellectual property
Intellectual property
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Trade secret
Trade secret
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Copyright
Copyright
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Patents
Patents
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Trademarks
Trademarks
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Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
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Challenges to intellectual property rights
Challenges to intellectual property rights
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System Quality
System Quality
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Sources of Poor Performance
Sources of Poor Performance
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Dependence on Computer Systems
Dependence on Computer Systems
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Computer Crime
Computer Crime
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Computer Abuse
Computer Abuse
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Negative Social Consequences of Systems
Negative Social Consequences of Systems
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Data Quality
Data Quality
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Flawless Software
Flawless Software
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Study Notes
Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems
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TU4: Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems, taught by Prof. Dr. Paul Drews
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Course is part of Information Systems: Theory & Practice
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Intro Case: Smartphone as Big Brother's Friend
- Explores how smartphones collect and sell location data.
- Highlights management challenges in data strategy and privacy.
- Examines potential business solutions like enhanced customer service and increased revenue.
- Presents ethical dilemmas of invading privacy.
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Learning Objectives:
- Identify ethical, social, and political issues raised by information systems.
- Explain principles of conduct for ethical decision-making in information systems.
- Discuss how contemporary information systems challenge privacy and intellectual property.
- Analyze the impact of information systems on laws related to accountability, liability, and everyday life.
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Ethical, Social, and Political Issues Raised by Information Systems
- Recent cases of failed ethical judgment in business (Volkswagen AG, Wells Fargo, General Motors, Takata Corporation).
- Information systems sometimes used to manipulate decisions and evade public scrutiny.
- Ethics defined as principles of right and wrong that guide individual moral choices.
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The Wells Fargo Fraud Case
- $185 million fine in 2016 for unauthorized accounts.
- 5,300 employees fired.
- Cross-selling program as central issue
- Aggressive goals and penalties for failing to hit targets as contributing factor.
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What Ethical, Social, and Political Issues are Raised by Information Systems?
- Intense social change, challenging existing power structures and obligations.
- New opportunities for crime, including new crimes that use informational systems.
- Cybercrime (recent security threat example: Emotet).
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A model for thinking about ethical, social, and political issues
- Society's response to new situations in rapidly growing digital world can be challenging.
- Developing new rules, laws, and social etiquette often takes time.
- Ethics is helpful in making decisions about legally gray areas.
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Ethical, Social, and Political Issues
- Five moral dimensions of the information age:
- Information rights and obligations
- Property rights and obligations
- Accountability and control
- System quality
- Quality of life
- Five moral dimensions of the information age:
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Key technology trends that raise ethical issues:
- Doubling of computing power every 18 months
- Increased organizational reliance on computer systems.
- Rapidly declining data storage costs leading to easy collection and storage of personal data.
- Networking advances and the Internet enabling data transfer across vast distances.
- Data analysis techniques leading to profiling and nonobvious relationship awareness (NORA). Combining data from different sources to identify connections between people.
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Basic concepts for ethical analysis
- Responsibility: accepting costs, duties and obligations in decision-making.
- Accountability: mechanisms for identifying parties responsible for results.
- Liability: allowing individuals and firms to recover damages resulting from failures.
- Due process: ensuring fair legal processes and appeals for decisions.
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Principles to Guide Ethical Decisions
- Five-step ethical analysis: Clearly describe facts, identify conflict and values, identify stakeholders, consider options and consequences.
- Candidate ethical principles include the Golden Rule, Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative, the Slippery Slope Rule, the Utilitarian Principle, the Risk Aversion Principle.
- "No Free Lunch" ethical principle, implying that resources and products have owners unless specified otherwise.
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Professional codes of conduct:
- Rules established by professional associations to govern behavior and regulate themselves in general societal interest. (Example: American Medical Association, American Bar Association, Association for Computing Machinery)
- Real-world ethical dilemmas like company interests pitted against worker well-being. (Example: Monitoring employees, Facebook's use of user data.)
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Challenges to Privacy and Intellectual Property (e.g., claims and issues regarding individuals' right to be left alone from surveillance and control over one's personal information.)
- Information rights within the Internet age.
- Legal frameworks (First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Privacy Act of 1974, and more).
- Fair information practices. (collection and use of information).
- Principles of FTC Fair Information Practices (Notice/awareness, Choice/consent, Access/participation, Security, Enforcement) to address issues in privacy.
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EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its requirements:
- Informed consent from customers
- No data transfers to countries without similar privacy protection.
- Enforcement with heavy fines.
- Right to be forgotten
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Challenges to Privacy and Intellectual Property: Internet challenges to privacy (cookies, web beacons)
- Security threats (spyware) and the use of data for behavioral targeting.
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Challenges to Privacy and Intellectual Property: Business practices in the United States using business practices based on opting out versus opting in.
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Challenges to Privacy and Intellectual Property: Technical solutions (email encryption, anonymity tools, anti-spyware tools, browser features)
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Challenges to Privacy and Intellectual Property: Property rights with intellectual property (intangible and tangible).
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Copyright and patents as protections for intellectual property from being copied.
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Challenges to intellectual property rights (digital media, ease of replication, transmission, alteration, and compactness).
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and its protection for copyrighted materials.
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Information Systems, Laws, and Quality of Life:
- Accountability, liability, and control relating to computer failures and who is responsible.
- System quality, including data quality and system errors and ethical challenges surrounding poor system performance.
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Information Systems, Laws, and Quality of Life: Quality
- Social consequences of information systems, balancing power, rapid change, boundaries of use, dependence and vulnerability, and ethical considerations of employment (reengineering, trickle-down technology), equality and access (digital divide), health risks (RSI, CTS, CVS)
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Tasks for this week:
- Read chapter 4 (including case studies), case study of Facebook Privacy; case questions.
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Contact information for Prof. Dr. Paul Drews.
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Description
This quiz examines key ethical issues in information systems highlighted by recent corporate scandals, including accountability, privacy concerns, and the impact of IT on social structures. Test your knowledge on the principles guiding ethical decisions in the corporate environment.