Information Technology Ethics- A Case Study

This case study discusses an ethical dilemma faced by an Iranian woman working in the IT industry in Australia. It explores the relevance of the ACS Code of Ethics and ACS Code of Professional Conduct in addressing the dilemma. Recommendations for resolving the dilemma are also provided.

Information Technology Ethics- A Case Study
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
ACS Code of Ethics.......................................................................................................................................3
The Primacy of the Public Interest...........................................................................................................3
Enhancement of Quality of Life...............................................................................................................3
Professional Development.......................................................................................................................3
ACS Code of professional Conduct..............................................................................................................3
The Primacy of Public Interest.................................................................................................................4
Enhancement of Quality of Life...............................................................................................................4
Competence............................................................................................................................................4
Professional development.......................................................................................................................4
Professionalism.......................................................................................................................................4
Guide to Moral Decision making.................................................................................................................4
Recognition of moral dimension..............................................................................................................4
Identification of interested parties and their relationship.......................................................................4
Values or principles involved...................................................................................................................4
Options of actions....................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation of benefits and burdens.........................................................................................................5
Search for similar cases...........................................................................................................................5
Discussion with others.............................................................................................................................5
Legality of the decision............................................................................................................................5
Decision with level of comfort.................................................................................................................5
Other regulations........................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................................5
References:..................................................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
This case study is related to an ethical dilemma of one Iranian woman employed in IT industry of Australia
with concern to her religious belief. The woman got an employment with the condition of sharing her
workplace with a man of different religion and culture. We have to discuss this dilemma in the context of
ACS Code of ethics and ACS Code of Professional Conduct. For recommendations, A Guide to Moral
Decision Making by Chris MacDonald will be considered as the support for effective guidance to
recommend future steps for the Iranian woman to communicate with respective authority to come out
from this dilemma.
ACS Code of Ethics
This code of ethics is fixed by Australian Computer Society and is applicable for the professionals working
in Australia in the ICT sector. There are six codes of ethics fixed for the ICT professionals by ACS:
 The Primacy of the Public Interest;
 The Enhancement of Quality of Life;
 Honesty;
 Competence;
 Professional Development;
 Professionalism.
Out of the above six ethics, three will be discussed in relevance to the case study of ethical dilemma
caused to the Iranian woman.
The Primacy of the Public Interest
This code of ethics demands prioritizing professional demand for public interest above interest of
personal, business or specific sections. Through this code of ethics, the incumbent should prioritize the
deliverables for the interest of the public. The ethical dilemma cited in the case study is not adhering to
the public interest, as the requirement of job demands such alignment of job framework for better
deliverance to the stakeholders.
Enhancement of Quality of Life
This code of ethics demands enhanced level of quality of life of the affected stakeholders through
deliverance. The dilemma is more of personal discrimination of religious belief. As a member of ACS, the
incumbent should follow this ethics to ensure better deliverance to the stakeholders through execution of
job assigned to her with the organization setting, as fixed by the employer.
Professional Development
This code of ethics demands any such arrangement of work which may enhance the knowledge of the
professional through knowledge-sharing. In the case study, the incumbent is not comfortable with the
arrangement to work with a person who is not known to her. But this preference should not be prioritized
for better deliverance to the stakeholders through the job assigned to her. (Society, 2014)
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ACS Code of professional Conduct
The above six codes are fixed as the parameter to evaluate the code of professional conduct by ACS. Out
of them five will be discussed below for better understanding of deliverable by the professional.
The Primacy of Public Interest
ICT professional under ACS has to ensure public interest above other micro-level interests for personal,
business or sections.
Enhancement of Quality of Life
ICT professional under ACS has to ensure enhancement of quality of life for the stakeholders through
deliverance.
Competence
ICT professional under ACS has to ensure deliverance to meet the demands of stakeholders through
diligence and competence.
Professional development
Professional development of ICT professional under ACS is to be confirmed through knowledge-sharing
with colleagues and experts.
Professionalism
This code of conduct ensures integrity of ACS and mutual respect between the members of the ACS.
With the above five codes of conduct, the dilemma of Iranian woman should be focused on the
professional conducts, as prescribed by the ACS. The case study of ethical dilemma focused for the
incumbent should be considered with these codes of conduct to fix her priority in her workplace without
highlighting the religious belief. She has to prove her loyalty to the profession through the five codes of
conducts to be followed for better deliverance to the stakeholders through her professional expertise.
(ACS, 2018)
Guide to Moral Decision making
The Iranian woman has ethical dilemma of working with a male colleague of different culture in her
workplace. To resolve the ethical dilemma, the woman should follow Chris MacDonald’s Guide to Moral
Decision Making (2010) and then decide how to proceed by communicating with the employer about this
dilemma. Step-wise guidance is provided in respect of this ethical dilemma: (MacDonald, 2010)
(University, 2017)
Recognition of moral dimension
The woman is facing religious problem, inherent to her culture, while working with a male colleague by
sharing workplace.
Identification of interested parties and their relationship
The case study features four interested parties- the woman, her colleague, the employer and the
stakeholders. Relationship between the woman and her colleague is totally professional to ensure
deliverance of coveted output through diligent and competent team-work culture and knowledge-sharing
to enhance knowledge-base of them. Employer and respective stakeholder are keener on level of
deliverance of professional service for their business and generated demand respectively.
Values or principles involved
The respective value involved in this issue is personal religious belief and culture.
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Options of actions
The woman may think of communicating with the employer about her ethical dilemma, stating clearly her
mental block and asking for suitable solution to resolve the issue.
Evaluation of benefits and burdens
The woman should evaluate the benefits of her employment and respective mental burden arising out of
it.
Search for similar cases
The woman should find other case studies with resemblance and apply her mind to find reasonable
solution.
Discussion with others
The dilemma should be discussed with other stakeholders to find amicable solution.
Legality of the decision
The decision should comply with organizational and professional regulations with ethical approaches.
Decision with level of comfort
The decision related to ethical dilemma should be comfortable for all the stakeholders and respective
family of the professional.
Other regulations
Australian Fair Work Act, 2009 and Equal Opportunity Act, 1984 ensure fair treatment for the employees
by the employer in workplace irrespective of any discriminating factors like sex or religion. (Government,
2009) (Australia, 1984)
Recommendations
The Iranian woman can consider following recommendations:
 Communicate with immediate supervisor stating the problem and asking for solution;
 Convince her spouse with legislative shield provided by the Australian government for the
expatriate employees;
 Thoroughly understand the work culture of Australian companies and respective regulations to
safeguard her religious belief;
 Evaluate the gain and burden of this employment opportunity and decide future course of action.
She should discretely analyze the situations and decide for further action related to her employment.
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References:
ACS, 2018. ACS Code of Professional Conduct. [Online] Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Professional-
Conduct_v2.1.pdf [Accessed 2 June 2019].
Australia, G.o.S., 1984. Equal Opportunity Act 1984. [Online] Available at:
https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/EQUAL%20OPPORTUNITY%20ACT%201984.aspx [Accessed 2
June 2019].
Government, A., 2009. Fair Work Act, 2009. [Online] Available at:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00512 [Accessed 2 June 2019].
MacDonald, C., 2010. A Guide to Moral Decision Making. [Online] Available at:
http://ethicsweb.ca/guide/ [Accessed 2 June 2019].
Society, A.C., 2014. ACS Code of Ethics. [Online] Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 2 June 2019].
University, M.S., 2017. 6-Step Guide to Ethical Decision-Making. [Online] Available at:
https://www.michiganstateuniversityonline.com/resources/leadership/guide-to-ethical-decision-
making/ [Accessed 2 junw 2019].
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