Professional and Ethical Practice in the Workplace

This article discusses the importance of ethical practice in the workplace, particularly in the IT industry. It covers key ethical issues and risks associated with cybercrime, as well as privacy and anonymity concerns. The author emphasizes the need for IT professionals to obtain certification on ethical behavior and to follow guidelines set by professional organizations. The article also provides references for further reading.

University
Professional and ethics practice
By
<Name>
Date
<Lecturer’s name and course number>
1
<your name> 2018

Professional and Ethical Practice
Ethics involves a code of behavior to be applied when interacting with people during business
processes and in the usual social life. Ethical practice revolves around integrity and professional
accountability (Sam 2018). In the world we are today it is essential for business and individuals
to act in accordance with accepted moral code. Moral ethics dictates what we should do and what
we should deviate from doing. What the public is expected to act is categorized as virtue.
Velasquez et al (1988) argued that virtue ethics are ideals that enable human beings to act in a
manner of dedication and reflection on the good to others. Integrity is a virtue that refers to using
good moral principles in all circumstances. In a reflection on ethical virtues, it is important to
comprehend the relationship between morals, laws and ethics. Corporate social responsibility
(CSR) is the duty of business managers in taking appropriate responsibility to safeguard and
protect the interests and welfare of the customers and society (Mark Schwartz, 2011).
Practice of ethical issues at work
Professional ethics is a set of guidelines that controls business interactions in any working
environment. For Instance, an IT firm requires rigid ethics due to the risks associated with
cybercrime. A key question arises as to what ethical issues an IT profession should follow and
what cyber risks may arise if an ethical code is ignored?
It is useful to check on professional organizations that advice on ethical issues such as the
Australian Computer Society. Software privacy (Business Software Alliance) for instance
advocates for authorized and copyright of software. IT workers should apply ethical issues when
dealing with employers, suppliers and clients in aspects such as: software privacy; keeping trade
secret; avoid whistle-blowing; avoid conflict of interest; rejecting goods and services obtained
through fraud; misrepresentation of material facts; avoid breach of contract; information
security; avoid professional malpractices; and obligation to protect others from unethical risks.
It is thus necessary for IT professionals to obtain certification on ethical behavior from Cisco
Certifications. The IT world is a risky area as cybercrimes rate has increased. A lot of cybercrime
events are exposed in the IT field ranging from: virus, worm, Trojan horse, spam, denial-of-
service, rootkit, and phishing. As an IT worker there are several actions one can take in case
there is threat or risk in line of work.
Spams are frequent when it comes to shopping cart. Online users will ask for a deposit or
irrelevant payments so as to process a purchase. In such a case one should refer to the Spam Act
2003 and Criminal Code Act. Risk assessment is a powerful tool in assessing the eminent danger
perpetrated by computer frauds. Establishing a security policy in an IT firm is a major concern;
similarly, educating the employees and contract workers about protecting the privacy of their
2
<your name> 2018

passwords. Conducting a computer forensic audit is a procedure that can detect any frauds in an
Information System.
Key Privacy and Anonymity Issues
These involve risk management, protection of information from unauthorized access and include:
protection against data breaches; electronic discovery; consumer profiling: workplace profiling;
camera surveillance; use of vehicle event data recovery; and installation of stalking app.
3
<your name> 2018

References
Sam, A. (2018). Workplace Ethics & Behavior. Chron. Available
at:https://smallbusiness.chron.com/workplace-ethics-behavior-5239.html
Velasquez et al. (1988). Ethics and Virtue. MARKULA CENTER FOR APPLIED ETHICS.
Available at:https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/ethics-and-
virtue/
Mark Schwartz. (2011). Google books. Available at:https://books.google.co.ke/books?
id=guf4qEFG6O0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Corporate+social+responsibility&hl=en&sa=X&
ved=0ahUKEwj2xbmsutjcAhVM4YUKHdj5DN0Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=Corporate
%20social%20responsibility&f=false
4
<your name> 2018