Ethical Decision Making in IT

This assignment analyzes an ethical dilemma faced by Hardeep, an IT Manager, regarding choosing between two ERP system providers. It examines the relevant Australian Computer Society (ACS) codes of ethics, including 'Honesty,' 'Professional Development,' and 'Professionalism,' to determine the most ethical decision. The analysis highlights the importance of prioritizing public interest, maintaining professional conduct, and avoiding conflicts of interest in IT management.

Running head: ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Ethics Professionalism and Governance
Name of the Student
Name of the Organization
Author note

1ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Table of Contents
Step 1: Analysis of the concequences...........................................................................................2
Step 2: Analysis of the action........................................................................................................2
Step 3: Decision.............................................................................................................................2
Recommendation...........................................................................................................................3
Reference List................................................................................................................................4

2ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Step 1: Analysis of the concequences
It is evident from the given scenario that, Hardeep’s friendship with Mandeep is causing
ethical dilemma for Hardeep. If Hardeep choose company B for Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) System, Mandeep and his organization will be benefited. However, both Hardeep’s
organization and Company B will suffer a loss if Mandeep’s Company is given preference. While
choosing company B, inspite of getting a better offer from Company A will not only enhance the
overall cost of Hardeep’s company, but it will also impose a negative impact on Company A’s
business. On the other hand, the friendship of Hardeep and Mandeep and professional career
of Mandeep might get severely affected if Hardeep chose Company A over Mandeep’s
company. Providing facility to Mandeep’s Company on the basis of personal relation will not
only violate the act of ethics, fairness, equality and honesty but is also illegal. Moreover, both
Hardeep’s organization and Company A will suffer a loss if priority is given to Company B.
Hence, Hardeep should accept the offer of Company A since it will be ethical and justified act.
Step 2: Analysis of the action
According to The Primacy of the Public Interest, an ideal citizen should always place
the interest of the common mass before his/her personal interest (White 2005). It can thus be
understood that an employer is supposed to serve the interest of Organization in spite of serving
his personal interest. Another ACS Code of Ethic, ‘Honesty’ states that an individual must
maintain honesty while representing his/her knowledge, services, products and skills. Therefore
it can be clearly understood that accepting a non-profitable offer on basis of personal
relationship while disallowing a capable offer falls under the act of dishonesty. Fourthly,
according to the code, ‘Professional Development’, an individual must enhance his/her own
professional development along with his/her colleagues and employees. Being an IT Manager it
is the duty of Hardeep to choose the deserving offer letter for handing over the project and
hence he needs to choose Company A (ACS CODE OF ETHICS 2018).
Finally the code ‘Professionalism’ states that professional actions including
maintenance of dignity and respect for all individuals in the society must be conducted in order
to maintain professionalism (acs.org.au 2014). This code also contradicts the option of Harpeet
to hand over the project to Mandeep’s Company since the act will be unprofessional.
Step 3: Decision
The Australian legislation on professional ethics states that any unethical and
unprofessional activity conducted by an individual is punishable (Lsc.sa.gov.au. 2018).
Therefore it can be understood that choosing Mandeep’s company unethically over Company A
will create legal issues for Hardeep. In order to solve the mentioned ethical dilemma, the first
step taken by Hardeep should be accepting the offer made by Company A. Along with that,
appropriate action should be taken against Mandeep for his unprofessional behavior. According
to the acs.org.au (2014), Hardeep should refrain from conducting any action that may tarnish his
image. Being a manager, he should protect and promote the professionalism in his organization.

3ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Recommendation
The above decision will not only ensure preservation of professional morality and ethics,
but will also save Hardeep and his organization from any legal issue. In order to maintain
commitment of friendship with Mandeep, Hardeep should meet him personally and make him
understand the ethical dilemma and the legal issues that he might have faced if he had chosen
Mandeep’s organization for the project.

4ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Reference List
ACS CODE OF ETHICS. 2018. [ebook] Australian Computer Society. Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 21
Feb. 2018].
acs.org.au (2014). ACS Code of Professional Conduct Professional Standards Board Australian
Computer Society. [ebook] Available at: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-
documents/ACS%20Code-of-Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf [Accessed 23 Feb. 2018].
White, T.I., 2005. Resolving an ethical dilemma, pp.4-6

5ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GOVERNANCE
Appendix
Chosen Codes of Ethics
The Primacy of the Public Interest
Honesty
Professional Development
Chosen clauses of Professional practices
a) A well informed, calm, objective and knowledgeable stance should be taken on the
professional work that would in turn complement the engagement and enthusiasm of the
employee.
b) Appropriate actions should be taken against employees who perform behaviors that are
contrary to this code.
c) Attempts should be taken by managers to ensure minimized diversity in the workplace along
with ensuring opportunities for advancement, employment remuneration and other working
conditions on the basis of performance and skills of employees without stereotyping and
prejudicing.
d) The corporate actions of the Society are subject to this Code and every manager should
ensure that the ACS and the employees meet this obligations.
e) It is illegal to influence any employee to take any action that would involve violation of this
Code.