Information Technology Ethics Report 2022

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Information Technology Ethics
Student Details:

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Introduction
Ethics plays a crucial role in the case of professionals since it guides their behaviour
which allows them to act ethically while taking decisions and discharging their duties.
Professionals have to make sure that they comply with necessary moral values and ethical
principles when they face ethical dilemmas in their workplace (Kernaghan, 2014). The
purpose of this report is to analyse “Scenario 2: Development Methodology” in order to
understand the key ethical dilemmas rose in this scenario. This report will analyse these
challenges by applying the “code of ethics” which are given by the “Australian Computer
Society (ACS)”. Recommendations will be given in this report based on the analysis of this
case by applying ethical principles that assist in ensuring professional conduct to determine
which the most ethical scenario is in the given case.
Background
In the given case, it is shown that a “junior developer” receives a call directly from a
client of the company. In this call, they had a conversation regarding the software which the
company is developing and the certain amendments are requested during this call by the
client. While talking on the call, the junior developer tells the client that the company will
include those changes in the final software. The junior developer did not consulted regarding
the request for amendments with the senior developer to confirm whether these changes are
feasible or not within the given budget and deadline (Al-Saggaf, 2016). He also confirmed
the client that the software will be delivered on time without confirming the same from senior
authority due to which he “override his positional hierarchy”.
ACS Code of Ethics
In order to evaluate this case, the guidelines given by ACS relating to ethical conduct
of professional can be applied. These policies are given in order to make sure that
professionals are able to make ethical decisions when they face similar challenges and it
allows them to maintain the “honesty, integrity and dignity” of this profession (Ferguson,
Thornley & Gibb, 2016).
1. Public interest as a priority

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The member of ACS being a professional make sure about looking towards the best
interest by putting forward instead of taking care of the business, personal and sectional
professional’s interest (Fleischmann, Robbins & Wallace, 2019).
2. Quality of life enhancement
There is a need of taking necessary steps being an ACS member for the promotion of
life quality in relation to the people who are getting affected by their work (Ficuciello,
Tamburrini, Arezzo, Villani & Siciliano, 2019).
3. Honesty
In the workplace, no presence of honesty of professionals results in none of an
individual among pubic maintains the trust where it is essential to keep maintaining their
honesty while working (Henderson, Johnson & Auld, 2013).
4. Competence
While working, diligence and competency show a major duty of professionals of
“ICT (Information and communication technology)” to make sure that they are taking care
and maintaining the stakeholders’ interest (Ferguson, Thornley & Gibb, 2016).
5. Development of professional
It is essential being an ICT professional to keeping an eye on members to know their
engagement in practices for their own development along with their staff members’
development as well (Fleischmann, Robbins & Wallace, 2019).
6. Professionalism
In the ACS, it is important for maintaining integrity for providing respect in public of
members where the achievement can be based on discharging the duties of ICT professionals
in relation to professional manner respectively (Strong et al., 2014).
Ethical dilemma
Based on the analysis, it is seen that the principles given by ACS are not followed
properly by the parties which raised ethical concerns. It is seen that the decision made by the
junior developer to confirm to the client of the company that amendments which are