Ethical Decision Making in Business Scenarios

The assignment presents a detailed business scenario requiring students to analyze an ethical dilemma. Tasks include identifying all stakeholders involved, pinpointing the ethical issues at play, exploring various options to resolve them, and selecting the most suitable solution. Justification for the chosen option must be based on relevant academic literature. The assignment emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world business situations.

Scene one: Early Launch
Assignment 1: Doing Ethics Technique
Your Name
Student Number
Word Count: 1000

EARLY LAUNCH
Q1. What's going on?
In the video titled, Early Launch, it is shown that a software developer company is to
deliver a project, named Willis Project, a month early before the deadline. The program
director asks the project manager to work on it and deliver the project without encryption
(Youtube.com. 2017). This is because there is a lot of pressure from the CEO of the company
as the project worth three million dollars. The program director thinks if the project is
delivered early, Willis may sign the next contract with them. In reply to that, the project
manager said that he spoke to the senior developer of the company, Jason, regarding the
encryption, who thinks it is vital to encrypt the project in order to prevent unauthorized
accessibility. The program director rejects the proposal of encryption and said that if they
deliver the project before deadline then Willis may show up with their new contract, which
he thinks is very beneficial for their company and its associates. He further added that
encryption can also be done after the delivery of the project which won’t create much
problem (Borowski 2013).
Q2. What are the facts?
The software developer company wishes to deliver the Willis Project, a month before
the deadline, in order to gain more contracts from the company. The program director
suggested the project manager to deliver the project without encryption. The project
manager insisted on encryption as he spoke to the senior developer of the company, Jason,
who thinks it is vital to encrypt in order to prevent unauthorized accessibility. The program
director instantly rejects the idea of encryption, in the hope of getting more contracts from
the Willis Group, which he thinks is advantageous for the company as well as the associates,
as they would get lucrative bonuses. He also added encryption won’t create much problem
as it can be done later also after the delivery of the project (Vasant Raval 2017).
Q3. What are the issues(non-ethical)?
The fundamental issues are delivering the Willis project without encryption in order
to gain more contracts from them but at the same time it will harm the company’s security.
The early delivery of the project may be beneficial for the company as they may get more
profitable projects as well as the associates will receive bonuses and incentives
(Youtube.com. 2017).
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
Moreover, the project manager insists on encrypting the project, as it prevents
unauthorized accessibility. Encryption is basically a process of encoding the project in a way
so that only the authorized people would be able to access it. It not only prevents
unauthorized interference but also helps maintaining the secrecy of customers’ personal
information. Therefore, delivering project without encryption is risky and company may face
severe consequences which include security issues (Bose 2012).
Q4. Who is affected?
A project without encryption is risky for the company, its associates and also the
customers who will use the software. It will question their security issues. Encryption needs
to be done for any project in order to prevent unauthorized accessibility (Markham &
Buchanan 2012). The program director insisted to submit the project beforehand in order to
receive more contracts from the company. This idea backfired, as the company got affected.
The company and its associates’ personal information got leaked, along with several
customers who used the software as encryption was not done. This drew the attention of
media, questioning the Willis Group (Ciulla 2014).
In order to gain more contracts, companies may undertake certain wrong policies,
which causes harm to a huge number of people. Companies may suffer severe losses as
their reputation gets marred and they may end up getting no contracts at all (Schwalbe
2015).
Q5. What are the ethical issues and their implications?
The main issue is delivering the Willis project early, without encryption, in order to
get more contracts from the group. According to the program director, the project’s net
worth is three million dollars, which would bring in huge profit for the company. Along with
that the company’s associates would also get lucrative bonuses, which is advantageous for
the company itself (Bose 2012). At the same time, it has a dark side also. Early delivery of
the project will lack encryption and can cause great damage to the company, its associates
as well as the users. Therefore, here lies the ethical dilemma, whether to think about the
company’s and its associates’ benefits or the security at large. Moreover, it will hamper the
company’s image as it may end up suffering severe consequences (Markham & Buchanan
2012).
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
Q6. What can be done about it?
Encryption is a major issue as it helps in maintaining the secrecy of customers’
personal information. Encryption, if not done, can expose thousands of people’s sensitive
information. The company would have to face the questions then. The program director
must agree to the project manager’s proposal of encrypting the project and convince the
CEO also (Margetts 2012). Not only the company will be able to deliver the project on time,
but at the same time it will help them deliver a stable and secured product which will reflect
the company’s image. It will save the company in the long run as they will gain trust from
other companies as well. Moreover, they would get more and more contracts from the
Willis group and from other companies as well (Ali & Green 2012).
Q7. What are the options?
The options to this are listed as follows:
1) The project manager may agree to the program director and submit the project early
before the deadline without encryption, in order to gain more profit. It will end up
causing severe damage to the company’s reputation.
2) The program director may ignore the project manager’s recommendation of
encrypting the project. This may lead to a tussle between them. Officials may force
the project manager to leave the project, as he didn’t move from his decision.
3) The program director may agree to the project manager’s recommendation and talk
to the CEO regarding this, in order to convince him. Not only it will help them to
deliver the project on time, but at the same time they will be able to deliver a stable
and secured project. It will help the company have a good image and gain trust from
others as well (Youtube.com. 2017).
Q8. Which option is the best and why?
The best option is the third one, as it will be beneficial and advantageous for the
company. The program director should agree to the project manager’s proposal of
encrypting the project and then submitting it. It will cut the risk of getting personal
information leaked. At the same time, they will be able to submit a stable and secured
project to the Willis Group and that too, on time. This will help them gain trust from other
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
companies as well. The company will receive more and more projects, for their good image,
which in turn will increase their percentage of profits (Slade & Prinsloo 2013).
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
References
Ali, S., & Green, P. (2012). Effective information technology (IT) governance
mechanisms: An IT outsourcing perspective. Information Systems
Frontiers, 14(2), 179-193.
Borowski, A. (2013). Ethical problems in study of total
institutions. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 1,
14-18.
Bose, U. (2012). An ethical framework in information systems decision making
using normative theories of business ethics. Ethics and information
technology, 14(1), 17-26.
Ciulla, J. B. (Ed.). (2014). Ethics, the heart of leadership. ABC-CLIO.
Margetts, H. (2012). Information technology in government: Britain and
America. Routledge.
Markham, A., & Buchanan, E. (2012). Ethical decision-making and internet
research: Recommendations from the aoir ethics working committee
(version 2.0).
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage
Learning.
Slade, S., & Prinsloo, P. (2013). Learning analytics: Ethical issues and
dilemmas. American Behavioral Scientist, 57(10), 1510-1529.
Vasant Raval, A. (2017). Information Ethics: Information Technology and
Innovation Ethics. Isaca.org. Retrieved 9 August 2017, from
https://www.isaca.org/Journal/archives/2015/Volume-2/Pages/informa
tion-technology-and-innovation-ethics.aspx
Youtube.com. (2017). Scenario 3: Early Launch. YouTube. Retrieved 9 August
2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5M7ohdZ6qA
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
Do not remove the following marking sheet.
Marking Sheet
Criteria Standards
Marks
award
ed
Analysis
of the
ethical
dilemma
using the
Doing
Ethics
Technique
(DET)
(Value
70%)
HD: Answers all DET questions, lists all the facts, identifies all the non-
ethical issues, lists all the stakeholders, identifies all the ethical issues,
evaluates OTHER options can resolve them and selects the best option
from these and the already given and justifies why this option is the best
using supporting arguments based on the literature.(59.5-70)
DI: Answers all DET questions, lists all the facts, identifies all the non-
ethical issues, lists all the stakeholders, lists all the ethical issues and the
OTHER options can resolve them and selects the best option from these
and explains why this option is the best.(52.5-58.8)
CR: Answers all DET questions, lists most of the facts, identifies most of
the non-ethical issues, lists most of the stakeholders, lists most of the
ethical issues and OTHER options can resolve them and selects the best
option from these and makes an attempt to explain why this option is the
best.(45.5-51.8)
PS: Answers some of the DET questions, lists a few facts, identifies a few
non-ethical issues, lists a few stakeholders, lists a few ethical issues and
OTHER options can resolve them and selects the best option from these
but without explaining why this option is the best.(35-44.8)
FL: Answers a few DET questions but fails to list important facts, fails to
identify relevant non-ethical issues, fails to list important stakeholders,
fails to identify the ethical issues and evaluates the OTHER options can
resolve them and does not select the best option or does not explain why
the option selected is the best.(0-34.3)
Writing &
structure
(Value
20%)
HD: Language features and structures are used to convey meaning
effectively, concisely, unambiguously, and in a tone appropriate to the
audience and purpose with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation
errors.(17-20)
DI: Well developed skills in expression & presentation of ideas.Fluent
writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type.Grammar &
spelling accurate.(15-16.8)
CR: Good skills in expression & clear presentation of ideas.Mostly fluent
writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type. Grammar &
spelling contains a few minor errors.(13-14.8)
PS: The text contains frequent errors in spelling, grammar, word choice,
and structure, lacks clarity, and is not concise, but the meaning is
apparent to the reader with some effort.(10-12.8)
FL: Rudimentary skills in expression & presentation of ideas.Not all
material is relevant &/or is presented in a disorganised manner.Meaning
apparent, but writing style not fluent or well organised.Grammar &
spelling contains many errors.(0-9.8)
Referenci
ng
(Value
10%)
HD: Referencing is comprehensive, demonstrates academic integrity, and
conforms exactly to APA style conventions.(8.5-10)
DI: Very good referencing, including reference list and citations.High
quality references.(7.5-8.4)
CR:Good referencing, including reference list and citations. Good quality
references.(6.5-7.4)
PS:Referencing is comprehensive, mostly accurate according to APA style
conventions, and demonstrates academic integrity. Some minor errors or
Your Name

EARLY LAUNCH
omissions in style and formatting choices (e.g. italics, punctuation, etc)
don’t impact on the transparency and traceability of the source, or
demonstration of academic integrity.(5-6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) referencing. Poor quality (or no) references.(0-
4.9)
Total
Marks
Your Name