Ethical Dilemma in IT Management: Website Links Case Study Analysis

This case study examines an ethical dilemma involving Sally, an IT manager, and Han, a web developer, concerning a government tourism website containing problematic links. The analysis utilizes the McDonald’s Framework to identify the moral conflict, relevant stakeholders (Sally, Han, the tourism department), and values from the ACS code of ethics, including honesty, professionalism, and competence. The study references sections of the Corporations Act 2001, emphasizing the importance of acting diligently and in good faith. It concludes that Sally should take responsibility for the website's faults, ensuring ethical conduct and safeguarding the interests of the tourism department. Desklib offers more solved assignments and past papers for students.

Running Head: SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
Assignment Cover Sheet
Subject Name: Professional Environments
Assignment Name/Number:
Date of Submission:
Participant Name:
ACS Member Number
Email Address:

1SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
Declaration:
I declare that the assignment is based on my own work and that all material previously written or
published in any source by any other person has been duly acknowledged in the assignment. I
have not submitted this work, or a significant part thereof, previously as part of any academic
program. In submitting this assignment I give ACS permission to copy for assessment purposes
only.

2SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
Australian Computer Society Professional Code of Ethics
As an ACS member, you must uphold and advance the honor, dignity and effectiveness of being
a professional. This entails, in addition to being a good citizen and acting within the law, your
conformance to the following ACS values (www.acs.org.au 2018).
The Primacy of the Public Interest
You will place the interests of the public above those of personal, business or sectional interests.
The Enhancement of Quality of Life
You will strive to enhance the quality of life of those affected by your work.
Honesty
You will be honest in your representation of skills, knowledge, services and products.
Competence
You will work competently and diligently for your stakeholders.
Professional Development
You will enhance your own professional development, and that of your staff.
Professionalism
You will enhance the integrity of the ACS and the respect of its members for each other.

3SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
For the purpose of solving the ethical dilemma the following steps re to be undertaken in
accordance with the Mcdonald’s Framework
Step one: Recognizing the moral conflict
Sally is the IT manager and she had given the HAN the responsibility of developing the website
for government department of tourism. However She faces a ethical dilemma.In this situation the
ethical Dilemma that has been identified is whether Sally should take responsibility for the fault
of the website that exposed of the operations of the government or whether she should blame
HAN the public servant who was in charge of developing the tourism website.
Step Two: Identifying the relevant stakeholders
The main stakeholders involved in this given scenario are: Sally, Han, the tourism
department of the government. It can be said that Sally in this given scenario had a fiduciary duty
to the government as she is employed as the IT manager. By virtue of being the IT manager she
has the responsibility of checking the operations of he website. However the website had been
developed by Han and therefore Sally impose the liability of the website on Han.
Step three: Values involved
The values of ACS code of ethics that are involved in this given scenario are (acs.org.au 2018):
 Honesty
 Professionalism
 Competence
The values of ACS code of conduct that are involved in this given scenario are (Acs.org.au
2018):

4SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
Code 1.2.3.c) Honesty
Code 1.2.1.a) Primacy of public interest
Code 1.2.4f) Competence
Code 1.2.1e) Primacy of Public interest
Code 1.2.1 c) Primacy of Public interest
Step Five: Assessing similar situations
The sections of the 180-183 of the Corporations Act 2001 state that the officers of every
organization must act in a fair and diligent way and must act in good faith. Thus in accordance
with the Corporations Act 2001 she must take responsibility of her actions.
Step Six: Discussing the decision with relevant people
In this case Sally can discuss the dilemma with the relevant stakeholders and which include
senior managers, colleagues, friends and family members
Step seven: Analysis of the decision in accordance with legal and organizational rules
Thus in this case it can be stated that Sally must take responsibility of the fault of the website.
Step Eight: The comfort level of the decision
In this case Sally must take the responsibility of the fault of website as it would assure her that
she acted fairly and in the best interests of the tourism department

5SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA
Bibliography
ACS Code of Professional Conduct Professional Standards Board Australian Computer Society.
(2014). 1st ed.
Australian Computer Society Professional Code of Ethics
Corporation Act 2001
Acs.org.au. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-
documents/Code-of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 30 Mar. 2018].
Acs.org.au. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-
regulations/Code-of-Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf [Accessed 30 Mar. 2018].