Professional and Ethical Practices: Analysis on Whistle-blower Claims Accounting Shenanigans at SuccessFactor

Professional and Ethical Practices 1
Analysis on Professional and Ethical practices and “Whistle-blower Claims Accounting
Shenanigans at SuccessFactor” case
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Professional and Ethical Practices 2
Executive summary
The professional and ethical practice is a fundamental aspect to business organizations
and essential in achieving the missions of the organization to lead the professions of investment
globally by a promotion of the highest standards of ethics as well as professional excellence for
the ultimate benefit of the organization and the society at large. High standards of professional
and ethical practice are essential in maintaining the public trust and in financial markets as well
as investment professionals. The Professional and Ethical Practice, since there creation, have
played a critical role by promoting organization members and played the role of measuring the
ethics of professionals around the globe regardless of cultural difference, job functions, and local
laws and regulations. As such all organizations should abide by the codes and are also urged to
notify their employers of this responsibility.
In this report, we seek to analyze the case study in “Ethics in information technology”
about the whistleblower claiming accounting shenanigans at SuccessFactors Corporation.
However, before getting into the case study, it is imperative to explore the meaning of
professional ethics in communication technology. The professional ethics include the principles
and core values that are essential in the work of a particular occupational group as stated by
Reynolds (2015). These codes spur organizations towards acting with integrity, respect,
diligence, competence and an ethical manner with public including clients, prospective clients,
colleagues, and employers in the investment profession as well as other stakeholders in the
global capital market. The codes of ethics enable an organization to use a reasonable care as well
as independent professional judgment when carrying out investment analysis, making
recommendations concerning the investments, taking the investment action as well as engaging
in other activities regarding investment.

Professional and Ethical Practices 3
Table of Contents
Executive summary...................................................................................................................................2
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................4
Case........................................................................................................................................................5
Why SuccessFactors was not hurt by the alleged improper accounting................................................7
Why the organization should encourage the non-GAAP financial measures.......................................8
The measures management team should consider dealing with improper accounting of multiplier
contracts.....................................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................9
Recommendation.....................................................................................................................................10
Reference list............................................................................................................................................11

Professional and Ethical Practices 4
Introduction
Ethics and professionalism involve the moral issues that arise due to the specialist
knowledge attained by professionals and how the professionals should govern the use of this
knowledge in a particular organization which they work for. The aspect of ethics and
professionalism is comprised of what should or should not be done at work. It also consumes a
better part of a professional’s life (Becher, 2018, pp. 74). Ethics and professionalism are not
only crucial in the field of information technology, but it is also as well a critical aspect in other
fields. Ethical and professional behavior, competence in IT, software skills, certification, and
knowledge are some of the fundamental aspects of ethics and professionalism in IT (Stichler, and
Hauptman, 2009, pp. 36-67). A professional is considered to have ethics and professionalism if
he or she adopts the conducts of all his dealings in the workplace as well as another environment.
This document seeks to explore ethics and professionalism and how they are applicable in the
field of information technology with the help of “Whistle-blower Claims Accounting
Shenanigans at SuccessFactors” scenario in “Ethics in Information Technology.”
Professionalism applies to the manner in which an individual conducts himself or herself
in the workplace and demonstrates loyalty to the organization which he or she works for. This is
a crucial aspect of any organization and has been a cornerstone of Intel’s business (Reynolds
2015). In professionalism, members of the organization must understand and adhere to rules and
regulations and laws of the organization and professional associations governing their
professional activities. For instance, on the off chance that conflict occurs, the members of the
organization must adhere to the more strict laws as well as rules and regulations pertaining to
conflicts. Professionalism laws guide organizations members in market manipulations as well as
material nonpublic information among other areas concerning integrities of capital markets