IT Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Issues and Responsibilities

This report provides a comprehensive overview of ethical, legal, and regulatory issues within the IT industry, focusing on professional responsibilities and their implications for Pad Podiatry Clinic (PPC) and Xero. The report begins with an introduction to IT standards and professional self-assessment, including a personal development plan to improve skills. It then critically evaluates current ethical issues such as data breaches, copyright infringement, and data mining concerns, and their impact on Xero. Furthermore, the report examines the legal and regulatory issues affecting IT, including discrimination and contracting processes. Recommendations for PPC and the role of staff in meeting ethical and regulatory requirements are discussed, culminating in a conclusion that summarizes the key findings and recommendations. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical working practices for IT development and the influence of legal issues on business performance and professionals' working abilities.

ETHICAL, LEGAL AND REGULATORY
ISSUES AND PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES IN IT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
Standards applied to working as professional within IT.............................................................1
Professional self-assessment.......................................................................................................2
Personal development plan.........................................................................................................2
PART 2............................................................................................................................................3
Critical evaluation on current ethical issues in IT industry.........................................................3
Importance of ethical IT working practices for development within IT organisation................5
Ethical issues regarding data mining...........................................................................................5
Influence of ethical issues on Xero.............................................................................................6
Impact of legal issues within Xero..............................................................................................6
PART 3............................................................................................................................................7
Evaluation on current legal and regulatory issues to IT within Xero.........................................7
Contracting process related to IT development..........................................................................8
Influence of legislation on human computer interactions.........................................................10
Recommendations for PPC.......................................................................................................10
Role of staff for ethical and regulatory requirements...............................................................10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................12

INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1: Self assessment table.........................................................................................................2
Table 2: Personal development plan................................................................................................3

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Business ethics..........................................................................................................4
Illustration 2: Process for contracting..............................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Information technology industry is growing at higher rate in Australia which works for
both software and data processing system. However, for this function, it is essential to get aware
with issues occurring within IT sector including professional, ethical and regulatory. This report
is based on creating understanding with professional responsibilities and ethical as well
legislation for Pad Podiatry Clinic (PPC). This clinic of Australia provides health and social care
services to wide range of patients worldwide. In this regard, importance of IT in services and
required skills for recording and maintaining data has been discussed. Moreover, self-assessment
as of professional responsibilities including strengths and weaknesses can also be identified.
Along with this, influence of ethical issues and legal regulatory within Xero will be introduced
which is software company working for clouding systems. Overall, ethical and regulatory issues
occurring within IT and professional responsibilities can be understood in this assignment.
PART 1
Standards applied to working as professional within IT
Different standards are used for professional practice including staff performance,
healthcare organisations, satisfying patients with healthcare services and so on. However, for
improving safety and security of patients and staff members as well, some standards and values
are determined. Including this, Emergency Nurses Association and American Heart Association
and others work for building up patients' trust as well establishing professional guidelines
(Saario, Räsänen and Hall, 2016). Along with this, it emphasises on improvement in clinical
practices as well, to achieve satisfaction of care takers at maximum level. Therefore, for
recording and maintaining patients and workers' healthcare services, IT software are used. For
instance; Microsoft office, DBMS and so on. However, performance of PPC can be identified to
generate variety of ideas for improvements at higher level.
Thus, for working as professional within IT industry for PPC, several standards are
identified regarding patients' welfare and improving nursing on large scale. Including this,
professional guidelines are provided for specific area and nursing practices (Safaeian and et.al.,
2014). Hence, different practices and standards are provided for improving healthcare and
maintaining records effectively.
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Professional self-assessment
Being IT technician, I worked for PPC related to computer operations and software for
maintaining data regarding patients' medical services and staff performance. It is useful for
appropriate administration and management of the entity and decision making for its
improvement (Hubbard, 2014). In this regard, some essential qualities and skills are required for
IT technician as communication, knowledge of data maintaining and mining and so on.
However, self-assessment on my skills can be identified as:
Table 1: Self assessment table
Strength:
 Knowledge of using software and
aware with recent trends in IT culture
and affairs.
 Effective communication skills
 Clarity in work and strong working
ethics
 Advisory tactics and good
understanding for dealing with issues
Weakness:
 Poor problem-solving skills
 Lack in management skills and
interpersonal skills
I analysed that I have appropriate knowledge of software and systems used for IT as well
good communication skills for sharing information effectively (Owen, 2014). Inducing this, I
am poor in managing skills and solving problems. However, it is needed to improve these skills
for maintaining records and planning regarding involving professionalism.
Personal development plan
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I can improve problem solving skills through critical thinking as analysing issues
effectively. However, appropriate solutions can be adopted for dealing with issues and solving
them patiently. Including this, by reading books and using internet, watching videos, I can learn
to handle pressure with pace, which will encourage me for better performance (Steinbock and
et.al., 2013). Likewise, management skills can be improved through multitasking and
implementing determined planning for increasing strength and reducing weaknesses. In
accordance to this, for my personal development, I can follow up below mentioned plan as:
Table 2: Personal development plan
Plan Activity Time frame
Analysing skills and
knowledge
At first, I would like to evaluate positive
and negative points. As in terms of
professionalism and knowledge of using IT
and personal skills.
1 week
Preparing planning For improving management and problem-
solving skills, I would like to plan for using
tools such as reading books, using internet
and so on.
1 week
Implementing plans In this process, all determined plans are to
converted into actions as of implementation.
2-3 weeks
Performance evaluation Critical evaluation in performance as well
changes in performance and IT skills'
improvements.
1 week
PART 2
Critical evaluation on current ethical issues in IT industry
In IT sector, several issues occurred during exchanging and maintaining data as well
access of online links and so on (Cohen and et.al., 2016). In accordance to this, issues occurred
ethically can be identified as:
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 Disclosing confidential data:
It is an issue of disclosing privacy of data for PPC which is confidential such as; financial
position, patients' records etc. However, this ethical issue are occurred due to increase in theft of
information which is not good for the entity.
 Cyber security related (Data hacking):
Cyber security includes safety tools as software used for data recording including
accounting systems (Hallowell and et.al., 2015). In this regard, data hacking issue are occurred
which remains unethical for PPC. It is analysed that IT industry of Australia is suffering from
this issue at most in current era which is required to be controlled over.
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Illustration 1: Business ethics
(Source: Ethics for business, 2016).

 Copyright infringement:
It is an ethical issue in current time for IT sector in Australia such as; copying music,
article and other equipment which are copyrighted. However, personal security on uniqueness of
products and services gets disclosed is unethical for any company. With understanding the
concept in terms of PPC, it can be analysed as in respect of fear for copying equipment used for
healthcare services during surgery and treatments (Mikal, Hurst and Conway, 2016). Therefore,
copyright infringement is also ethical issue appeared mostly in IT sector.
Importance of ethical IT working practices for development within IT organisation
It is essential for working on IT sector for development regarding cyber security and
safety of data. Including this, working practices for IT professionals and organisation as Xero. It
will be effective security of data and transferring it using appropriate software. In addition to
this, patients' security with medical and treatments as well sharing diseases would be secretive
(Fernando and et.al., 2015). However, proper security in terms of Microsoft offices, DBMS and
other software can secure and safe. Besides this, it is for reducing pressure on IT experts
regarding job and privacy on restricted online links of the company. Likewise, professionalism
of IT professionals can be improved in respect of cyber security and securing confidential data.
However, working practices of performers can be increased for enhancing knowledge related to
software including clouding and accounting systems.
Therefore, ethical considerations are essential for IT development and improving
working practices of its experts. In addition to this, it will be resulted to secure data during
maintaining records and exchanging data effectively (Reardon, 2015). Thus, developing ethical
working practices among IT professionals is able to build up trust with PPC and improving
professionalism at maximum level. Hence, data security and critical evaluation of software used
for data recording can be identified impact on security and professional attitude of an individual
performer in wide range.
Ethical issues regarding data mining
Data mining refers as a system of computer science which is related with extracting data
from maintained records. It is considered as an essential process for determining any specific
information for further decision making. For example; analysing the number of patients in PPC
suffering from cancer this data mining process work efficiently. Including this, software used for
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data mining process are as; database management system (DBMS) as file Maker Pro, Access or
open office, MS Visual Studio and so on (Petcu and et.al., 2014). Therefore, data mining process
is essential for collection, analysis of performance of PPC and Xero. In addition to this, under
this process, cluster analysis and individual performance can be identified for health and social
care services in terms of patients and their treatments. Besides this, it is machine learning and
business intelligence for maintaining data and further decision making for the entity efficiently.
It also includes knowledge diversity in database management system for computer system
software and support systems for sharing data from one professional to another. Hence, it is
required for IT professional to data mining with security and knowledge of cyber crime.
However, ethical issues occurred during data mining are as; misuse of data, disclosing
privacy, unsafe during cluster analysis and so on. Therefore, these issues are required to be
considered for mining data as well maintaining records of PPC for further analysis.
Influence of ethical issues on Xero
Xero as software company of Australia, different ethical issues are obtained during
maintaining and transferring data. For example; confidentiality of data can be lost which is
unethical for the organisation as well its misuse impact on performance and professionalism
negatively. In addition to this, occurrence of ethical issues impact on business performance and
cyber security adversely (Axelrod and et.al., 2013). However, accounting system of Xero can be
mismanaged by disclosing its pricing strategies and other secret information. Similarly, other
competitive entity can take advantage of its secured information which is not effective for Xero
to improve performance. Likewise, data hacking and fraud during mining process is not efficient
to build up trust with IT professionals. Therefore, negative impact is analysed on company's
performance due to disclosing confidential data as well mismanaged cluster analysis. Hence, IT
working practices are required for its professionals to safe and secure information and
maintaining trust with organisation's confidentiality.
Impact of legal issues within Xero
Legal issues are occurred within Xero such as; tax litigation, legal disputes, copyright and
patent issues, discrimination, immigration audits and immoral behaviour of employees.
However, all these issues impact on organisation's performance and legacy negatively. For
instance; maintaining and providing information of company, providing wrong suggestions to
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clients and customers regarding data protection and clouding system. Including this, misuse of
data and working against entity's rules and regulation also term as illegal (Saario, Räsänen and
Hall, 2016). However, going against employees' rights and responsibilities is also a legal issue
within workplace. Therefore, occurrence of all of these issues impact on business performance of
Xero adversely. Likewise, its confidential data remain misused which is not effective for its
continuing and maintaining position in market. Thus, legal issues impact on business
performance and professionals' working ability as remain difficult to build up trust with IT
experts regarding their performances.
PART 3
Evaluation on current legal and regulatory issues to IT within Xero
In current era, some legal issues are occurred regarding information technology withing
Xero can be identified as:
 Discrimination:
During hiring, recruiting and selecting new employees, discrimination is identified in
context to gender, age, education and others. It is legal issue for any company to discriminate
employees regarding salary, working timings, health and other benefits etc (Cohen and et.al.,
2016). Similarly, do not care for workers' protection equally impact on their satisfaction with
company's policy as well its performance negatively.
 Copyright and patent issues:
Misusing unique products and services of a company remains illegal and occurs issue for
entity. For instance; in terms of product development and competitiveness within companies,
competitive entity efforts to use unique featured products of another organisation (Owen, 2014).
Therefore, legal issue occurred regarding marketing and business operations of an entity.
 Dissatisfied clients:
The legal issue regarding providing wrong information and suggestions to clients and
customers for data hacking occurs legal issue. In addition to this, they get dissatisfied which
impact on performance of Xero (Reardon, 2015). Thus, wrong information and recording them
wrongly impact on further business operations adversely.
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Contracting process related to IT development
For contract between two or more parties in terms of developing information technology
remain effective for reducing legal issues as well (Mikal, Hurst and Conway, 2016). However,
for IT development within Xero, below mentioned process is to be followed on for contracting
as:
 Selecting contract:
At first, agreement is identified for which business parties are to entering into valid
agreement. It is created on the basis of business conditions and requirements of the contract
parties.
 Contracting necessary information:
In this stage, all necessary information are discussed regarding contract and its validity
(Safaeian and et.al., 2014)herefore, favourable and all aspects of contract are recognised for its
success and fulfilling the requirements.
 Choosing negotiator:
It is essential to entering into contracting in consideration of third party as negotiator. It is
beneficial for solving out cases and protecting frauds (Steinbock and et.al., 2013). However,
involvement of negotiator is beneficial for fulfilling requirements of contracts as well
requirements of information discussed between contract parties.
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