Information Systems Report: Ethical Issues in E-business

This report provides an in-depth analysis of ethical considerations in information systems, particularly within the context of e-business. It uses the case study of Colin & John, a small business facing challenges in managing information and adapting to the digital landscape, to illustrate key ethical dilemmas. The report examines critical issues such as data privacy, accuracy, accessibility, system quality, and the quality of life in an information-driven society. It explores how these ethical concerns arise in the collection, management, and dissemination of information, especially concerning customer data and the impact of technology on business practices. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of addressing these ethical issues to ensure the successful implementation of information systems and the sustainable growth of businesses in the digital age. The report also suggests ways for the company to develop an information system to minimize the challenges and expand their services worldwide, while also considering the ethical issues.

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................4
4. References..............................................................................................................................5

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1. Introduction
E-business is the short term of the Electronic Business. This refers to the method to
utilize the technologies of digital information also the communication for supporting or
streamline the processes of the business from the preparation to the implementation (Paradice
et al. 2018). It is mainly referred to the processes of the business of online stores or any other
companies which are internet based.
2. Discussion
In the given case study, the Colin & John is the small business company that prepare
and also supplied the pre-packed home supplies for the local customers like bath and toilet
supplies, cleaning accessories and many more things (Kushwaha et al. 2016). Now a days,
the business in this field has grown so this company faces difficulties to run the operations
perfectly with their prevailing PC and the software. They faced the difficulties in the
managing information of the price, details of the home supplies, communicating with the
consumers from the other regional towns also the suppliers. Also there is a competitor of this
company came in the market who sold their products locally as well as provide their service
for the Australian wide consumers (Martin and Murphy 2017). For this reason the company
Colin & John want to move the business to the e-business and provide their service
internationally.
There are many ethical issues are noticed in managing the information systems which
are as follows:
I) Privacy:
The privacy of data of the customers gathered for the business of e-commerce of the
organization named Colin & John is an ethical issue if data is breached. Ethics are the branch

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of the philosophy which deals with determination of the right and wrong (Paradice et al.
2018). There are numerous ethical matters present in the information system which is
developed for this Colin & John Company.
The ethical issues in the information systems have been specified original insistence
by increase of the Internet also electronic commerce (Kushwaha et al. 2016). The internet
also the digital firm technologies create this easier than ever to accumulate, incorporate, also
distribute the information, unchecking new concerns about suitable use of the information of
consumer, safeguard of the personal privacy also protection of the intellectual property (Min,
Ku and Kim 2017).
On the other hand, the data might be encrypted This is the methodology for ethically
manage one of the most important challenge of the information system which is the collection
of consumer data for communication with consumers as this is a business requirement as
provided in this case study.
II) Accuracy:
The accuracy signifies the validity, exactness and genuineness with the information
that is concentrated for the generality of the information about entities also the organizations
enclosed in information systems, a special care must take to safe against all errors also for
correcting the identified mistakes (Singh 2019). Problematic questions persist whenever
inaccurate information is shared between the computer systems. The legal accountability
concerns related with the information.
III) Accessibility:
The accessibility deals with the privilege or right for obtaining the information or data
from additional source. What data does user have a right to achieve from the government or

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any business organization computer systems? What information or data does any
organization own?
IV) System quality:
The standards of the data also the system should be protected from the individual
rights. The quality of the system needs to be high so that this cannot be harmful for the
society (Martin and Murphy 2017). The safety of the society need to store in the mind before
developing the information system.
V) Quality of life:
The values should be well-maintained in the information also knowledge based
society. The organization needs to be protect the society from the violation (Nelkin 2017. The
organization first examine that the proposed information system support the cultural values
also the practices or not. After this examination, the organization can take the decision to
develop the information system.
VI) Access:
The organization needs to give the access of the collected information by the
proposed information system. Also select a person who has access privileges. A admin needs
to be selected for this system who is responsible for ensuring that the right people have the
right access?
3. Conclusion
From the above report, it can be concluded that to implement an information system
for the business, there are some ethical issues may arise. This ethical issue are identified in
the above also discussed. So the Colin & John Company can develop an information system

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to minimize their challenges in their business and also spread their service worldwide for
gaining profit after recognizing all the ethical issues for their developing information system.

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4. References
Kushwaha, P.K., Bibhu, V., Lohani, B.P. and Singh, D., 2016, February. Review on
information security, laws and ethical issues with online financial system. In 2016
International Conference on Innovation and Challenges in Cyber Security (ICICCS-
INBUSH) (pp. 49-53). IEEE.
Martin, K.D. and Murphy, P.E., 2017. The role of data privacy in marketing. Journal of the
Academy of Marketing Science, 45(2), pp.135-155.
Min, W.K., Ku, J.H. and Kim, N.J., 2017. Ethical Role of Information System Based on
Online Technology: Consumer's Perspective on Online Information of Ethic Management of
a Travel Agency. International Information Institute (Tokyo). Information, 20(7B), pp.5085-
5092.
Nelkin, M.B., 2017. How Do I Know if it is An Ethical Issue? Helping Registered
Dietitian/Nutritionists Identify Ethical Issues in Practice. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics.
Paradice, D., Freeman, D., Hao, J., Lee, J. and Hall, D., 2018. A Review of Ethical Issue
Considerations in the Information Systems Research Literature. Foundations and Trends® in
Information Systems, 2(2), pp.117-236.
Singh, D., 2019. Ethical Dilemmas on Data Privacy and Security for Social Media’s Users.
Available at SSRN 3395616.