ACS Code of Ethics: James Case Study

This case study explores the ethical dilemma faced by James regarding the disclosure of interview data in accordance with the ACS Code of Ethics. It discusses the interested parties, values and principles involved, and provides options and recommendations for James. The case study also examines the legal and organizational rules and the potential benefits and burdens of different courses of action.

Running head: ACS CODE OF ETHICS
ACS Code of Ethics: James Case Study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
MacDonald Framework..........................................................................................................2
1. Recognizing the Moral Dimension..................................................................................2
2. Who Are the Interested Parties? What are their relationships?.......................................2
3. What Values or Principles are involved?.........................................................................2
4. Sketch out options -- not just actions, but courses of action............................................2
5. Weigh the Benefits and the Burdens...............................................................................2
6. Look for Analogous Cases..............................................................................................2
7. Discuss with Relevant Others.........................................................................................2
8. Does this Decision Accord with Legal and Organizational Rules?..................................3
9. Am I Comfortable with this Decision?.............................................................................3
References............................................................................................................................. 4

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MacDonald Framework
1. Recognizing the Moral Dimension
James has got the contract by a Web design consultancy organization to interview
the staff for ascertaining their current knowledge. The organization have conducted this this
training for understanding the weaknesses and shortcomings of employees. According to the
contract, James is not supposed to disclose the data to anyone and keep them private.
However, after the interviews, a senior Vice President has wanted to know about the result.
James is in moral and ethical dilemma regarding the situation that whether he should
disclose the data or not.
2. Who Are the Interested Parties? What are their relationships?
The interested parties in the case study include organizational management such as
all the interviewees, senior management, senior Vice President and even James. They are
affected in this scenario (Peters, 2015). The relationship between them is that all of them are
parts of same company.
3. What Values or Principles are involved?
ACS code of ethics and ACS code of professional conduct can be used for analysing
the case study. The first code of ethics is professionalism. As James was being instructed
according to contract to not to share the data, he can be referred to as unprofessional is he
does so. The clause relevant for professionalism is undertaking correct actions against all
individuals, who are being engaged in unethical behaviour.
The next ACS code of ethics is honesty. He should not share the result with his
senior VP as it would be making him dishonest (ACS Code of Professional Conduct. 2019).
The clauses relevant for honesty are distinguishing between professional and personal
advice and opinion and to qualify professional opinions based on limited experience and
knowledge.
The third ACS code of ethics is professional development. James will be
professionally unethical if he would disclose the data. The clauses relevant for professional
development are encouraging staff to continue professional development as well as
providing support for training.
4. Sketch out options -- not just actions, but courses of action
The first course of action is to inform the higher authority about his ethical dilemma.
As he is following a contract, he should not violate the rules under any circumstance.
Furthermore, a discussion with senior VP would be better for making him understand his
situation and reason for not violation of Privacy Act 1988. These are the major
recommendations to James.
5. Weigh the Benefits and the Burdens
Major benefit of James case study would be that the organization will be knowing
about staff weaknesses (Durkheim, 2018). Furthermore, the other employees might also
know about these private data. Burden on James would be that as James is a part of the
contract for not sharing data, he is in dilemma that senior VP has asked about them.
6. Look for Analogous Cases
Few relevant analogous cases in this particular case scenario are provided below:
a) Organizational management must disclose the interview results with senior VP as
he belong to management.
b) James must not be forced under any condition for maintaining data privacy.

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7. Discuss with Relevant Others
James should discuss the issue of senior VP with his higher authority, who have
given him the contract and have instructed to not to share the data.
8. Does this Decision Accord with Legal and Organizational Rules?
James would not have the ability to maintain organizational rules and data privacy
law as the senior VP has asked him for interview results (Ross, 2013). The Australian
legislation of Privacy Act 1988 would be violated if he shares the data.
9. Am I Comfortable with this Decision?
No, I am not comfortable with the decision as it is violating all clauses and rules of
ACS code of ethics and professional conduct, which are professionalism, honesty and
professional development. If James violates these values, he will become unethical.

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References
ACS Code of Professional Conduct. (2019). [online]. Accessed from
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Professional-
Conduct_v2.1.pdf [Accessed on 03 Apr. 2019].
Durkheim, E. (2018). Professional ethics and civic morals. Routledge.
Peters, R. S. (2015). Ethics and Education (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.
Ross, D. (2013). Foundations of ethics. Read Books Ltd.