Ethics in IT: Overview

• Ethics in Information Technology is an overview of ethics

Learning Objectives

• Determine ethics
• Recognize trends that have increased the likelihood of unethical behavior
• Learn Corporate social responsibility and why fostering good business ethics is important
• Determine what measures organizations can take to improve their business ethics.
• Discover how to include ethical considerations in decision making
• Determine trends which have increased the risk that information technology will be used in an unethical manner

Defining Ethics

• Ethics constitutes a code of behavior defined by the group to which an individual belongs
• Morals are personal principles upon which an individual bases decisions about what is right and wrong
• Virtue is a habit that inclines people to do what is acceptable
• Vice represents a habit of unacceptable behavior

Relationship Between Ethics and Morals

• Morals are individual beliefs of what is right and wrong with core personal beliefs
• Ethics are a group code incorporating traditions, culture, education, religion, gender, age, life experiences, virtues, and vices

Integrity

• Integrity involves acting in accordance with a personal code of principles
• It includes extending the same respect and consideration that one expects to receive from others
• Integrity is applying the same moral codes in all situations
• Consistency can be elusive in situations that conflict with one's moral standards
• Inconsistency also arises if one applies moral standards differently depending on the situation or people involved

Morals, Ethics, and Laws

• Morals are personal principles used to determine what is right and wrong
• Ethical acts align with an individual's beliefs of what is right
• Ethics represent a code of behavior that is defined by the group to which an individual belongs
• Laws constitute a system of rules, enforced by a set of institutions, and they indicate restrictions
• Legal acts are actions that conform to the law

Business World Ethics

Trends that have increased the risk of unethical behavior:

• Complex work environments spanning diverse cultures make it more difficult to apply principles and codes of ethics consistently
• A Challenging economic climate has increased pressure on organizations to maintain revenue and profits
• Heightened vigilance by employees, shareholders, and regulatory agencies has increased the risk of financial loss and lawsuits for businesses that act unethically

Bathsheba Syndrome

• The Definition applies to the moral corruption of those in power
• It Refers to the biblical story of King David, who became corrupted by his power and success
• Corruption by those in power is often facilitated by a tendency for people to look the other way when their leaders behave inappropriately

Misconduct Responsibility

• The percent amounts can vary
• Non-managers account for 40%
• First-line managers 17%
• Middle managers 19%
• Senior managers 24%

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• An organization addresses the impacts of its actions on stakeholders, consumers, employees, the community, the environment and suppliers
• Supply chain sustainability maintains present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs

Reasons to Foster Corporate Social Responsibility and Good Business Ethics

• Foster Corporate Social Responsibility and Good Business Ethics to gain the goodwill of the community
• Foster CSR and good business ethics to create an organization that operates consistently
• Foster CSR and good business ethics to foster good business practices
• Foster CSR and good business ethics to protect the organization and its employees from legal action
• Foster CSR and good business ethics to avoid unfavorable publicity

Reducing Unethical Behavior Risk

• The Goal is a reduced ethics risk
• Well-implemented programs, and a strong ethical culture are required
• Improved ethics leads to reduced pressure for misconduct and a decrease in observed misconduct
• Improved ethics enhances reporting of misconduct, and reduced retaliation for reporting

Successful Ethics Program

• Characteristics of an ethics program include willingness to get advice about related issues
• Successful Programs enable employees to feel prepared to handle situations that could lead to misconduct
• Successful Programs ensure employees are rewarded for ethical behavior
• Successful ethics programs do not reward success obtained through questionable means and feel positive about their company

Corporate Ethics Officer

• Corporate compliance officers provide organizations with vision and supervision regarding business conduct
• Ideally, it involves a senior-level manager who reports directly to the CEO
• Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with ethical procedures
• Responsibilities include creating and maintaining the ethics culture envisioned by corporate authority
• Serving as the key contact person for ethics issues is another

Standards Set by Board of Directors

• Board conduct should adhere to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity
• Boards should set standards for company-wide ethical conduct and ensure compliance with laws and regulations
• Create an environment in which employees can seek advice about business conduct, raise issues and report misconduct

Corporate Code of Ethics

• The Corporate code of ethics highlights an organization's key ethical issues to
• It identifies the overarching values and principles, which is vital to decision making
• Organizational code of ethics should apply to directors, officers and employees as well as focus them on areas of ethical risk
• Code should offer guidance to employees in order for them to recognize and deal with ethical issues
• Code of ethics provide mechanisms for reporting unethical conduct and it fosters a culture of honesty and accountability

Social Audit

• The information gathered in an audit can be shared with employees, market analysts, customers, suppliers, government agencies, investors, and the community
• An organization Reviews ethical and social responsibility goals, and communicates its goals for the upcoming year

Ethics Training

• The comprehensive education program encourages ethical behavior and the application of codes in real life
• Ethical Training goals are to encourage proper reporting of misconduct, to demonstrate effective reports, and to reassure proper feedback

Employee Evaluation

• Performance is often measured on treating others fairly and with respect and operating effectively in a multicultural environment
• Accountability for personal and business practices is important
• Employees Should Develop themselves and others
• Honesty and Integrity with employees and customers is expected

Decision-Making Process

• The decision making process includes problem-solving steps, such as developing a problem statement which includes concise details without assumptions
• Identifying Alternatives and Enlisting Aid
• Choose an alternative that will consider the impact and be defensive
• Implement the decision with a transition plan and Evaluate the results of implementing it

Ethical Data Concerns

• Data Ethics is a concern about citizen surveillance by governments
• The monitoring of email and internet access at work
• The downloading music and movies, identity theft by hackers, plagiarism by students and spyware used to track users

Types of Ethics

• Ethics is code of behavior defined by the group to which one belongs
• Morals are Personal principles upon which an individual bases decisions about right and wrong
• Integrity is when a Person acts in accordance with a personal code of principles
• Laws are a system of rules that tells us what we can and cannot do
• Code of ethics is a statement of the principles and core values essential to one's work
• Ethical activity may be legal but still not be ethical

Increased Unethical Behavior

• Complex Work Environments makes it harder to comply to the codes of ethics, and organizations may resort to unethical behavior to maintain profits in an uncertain economic climate

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Corporate Responsibility ensures organizations take responsibility for the actions of their supply chain and work to meet current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs
• Business ethics and CSR helps to gain community, create organizational consistency, foster business practices, protect from legal action, and avoid unfavorable publicity

Improving Business Ethics

• To Improve Business Ethics appoint a corporate ethics officer, set high ethical standards, establish code of ethics, require employees to participate, include criteria in evaluations, and create ethical work environment

5 Step Ethical Decision Making

1. Define the problem
2. Identify alternatives
3. Choose an alternative
4. Implement the decision
5. Monitor the results

• Incorporate the laws, guidelines, and principles for better decision making

High Risk of Unethical Manner

• Increased Data Ethics is caused by the growth of social networks, the data that gets stored, information systems usage and an underemphasis on current values

Explore ethics in information technology, including trends increasing unethical behavior. Learn about corporate social responsibility and fostering good business ethics. Discover measures to improve business ethics and include ethical considerations in decision-making within IT.