Firestone Case Study: 7101ICT Professional Issues Assignment Report

This report presents an in-depth analysis of the Firestone case study, focusing on the ethical and professional issues surrounding the development of the 'Reaper' database. The report examines various factors, including legal, professional, employee, personal, and intrinsic elements, and their impact on decision-making within the organization. It explores the importance of ethical considerations in web technology, data privacy, and employee conduct. The analysis covers the prioritization of ethical factors, the decision-making process, and the lessons learned from the course, including technology ethics, the role of an ethical technologist, the ACS Code of Professional Conduct, and the ethical implications of the information age and AI. The report emphasizes the significance of maintaining ethical standards to ensure business success and protect stakeholder interests. It also provides a reflection on the course content, highlighting key concepts and their practical applications in the context of the case study.

PROFESSIONAL ISSUES ASSIGNMENT: PART 2

Table of Contents
1. Introduction:........................................................................................................................2
2.1 Legal factors.....................................................................................................................2
2.2 Professional factors..........................................................................................................3
2.3 Employee and Social factors............................................................................................4
2.4 Personal Factors................................................................................................................4
2.5 Intrinsic Factors................................................................................................................5
2.6 Prioritisation.....................................................................................................................6
2.7 Decision...........................................................................................................................7
3. Discussion...........................................................................................................................7
4. Conclusion on Analysis8
5. Lesson learnt from the course.............................................................................................9
5.1. Technology Ethics.......................................................................................................9
5.2 The Ethical Technologist..................................................................................................9
5.3 Habits of the Effective Technologist..............................................................................10
5.4 ACS Code of Professional Conduct..........................................................................11
5.5 Ethical Issues of the Information Age.......................................................................11
5.6 Thinking Machines....................................................................................................12
5.7 The Common Denominator.......................................................................................12
5.8 AI and Human Potential............................................................................................13
5.9 Final Comments (optional)........................................................................................13
6. Conclusion........................................................................................................................13
6 References.........................................................................................................................15

1. Introduction:
Ethics may sound an attributive word reflecting certain components or principles existing
within individual helping as guidance to behaviour. But in recent business world it will be
seen that application of morality and ethics play a huge role in the entire operation of an
organizational system. Ethics is basically concerned with the moral judgement that an
individual has regarding the right and wrong, good or bad associated with activities,
behaviour within the business organisation. Any decision taken within the company derives
its importance and features from the cultural environment of the company. This is what make
ethics important component in decision making process where the individual thinking
regarding right and wrong for the company’s overall growth and profit are taken into account.
Business organisation that reflect proper ethical behaviour combined with corporate social
responsibility distinctly brings success for the business. This happens because the customers
believe in the farms services to be of better quality, the employees within the organisation
sustain their motivation and tenure in the organisation. It is also beneficial to attract investors
as well as help in keeping the price of the stocks of the company much higher giving the farm
overall a very e an important market position.
This report presents a discussion focusing on the important role that ethics play in the
decision making within various domain of a business organisation. How application of ethics
help in determining the effective operation of legal, professional, social, personal,
employment related factors are further analysed and discussed. The discussion is wrapped
with a reflection of knowledge derived and conclusion.
2. Analysis
2.1 Legal factors
Legal factors these are external factors it shows, how the law affects the way businesses
operate and customers behave. While creating a web technology (Reaper) we have to look
around us before we start a web technology. All the things are legally organised or legally
processed. It includes many things like website design, web page development software,
Registering our domain name, copyright issue, trademark issues and most importantly
policies. All the factors are important but in a web technology the main legal factors are

trademark, copyright and policies. Trademark or its met tags should not contain any others
known trademark or words, so that there is no confusion between two companies or between
two similar trademarks. Copyright means that all rights, title and interest in the copyright of
all content created by a content creator is assigned to one organisation so that other
companies could not frame one organisation in any types of copyright issue. Now here an
important legal factor Policies, it does have two types Privacy policy and Terms of Use. This
privacy policy describes that what personal information is taken from you when you visit this
site then it also shows that how the information is used and shared with whom (Amit and
Zott, 2015), it also shows us that how to rectify any errors and make changes to the personal
information that was initially provided there. Terms of use it is also an important policy but
we don’t read these policies we just to the end and click on I agree and then ok. So these are
some legal factors which an organisation has to maintain.
2.2 Professional factors
It demonstrates their capability in their chosen professional areas, to operate effectively in
work and community situations and to be aware of their environments. It can be relevant to
both large and small organizations. These professional issues not only need appropriate
technical knowledge, skills and experience but also require a broad understanding of the
context in which they are operating like in which they are working (Lurie and Mark, 2016).
One should always be faithful towards the organization. As they are working with Reaper
(web technology) ethical issue relating to the misuse of computer and the internet and the
information related with the customers identity. As a worker of the organization, there should
be good relationship between you and your client (Wirawan, 2018). Being in an organization
we have to deal with many things and in that situation we have to act our best like bring our
best foot forward. Managers and directors always look for these types of people for their
organisation which is best for business.

2.3 Employee and Social factors
Reaper is an integrated demographic database with a web front end that gathers information
i.e. name, address, age, occupation, marital status, hobbies, annual income, etc, from people
entering competitions with the incentive of winning a holiday for two in Fiji, for example. So
it us who have to take care of the customers and other employee who are in lower orders or
post. As it deals with the information of a customer, it’s important that by any means the
information should not be disclosed to anyone by any means or by any employee. The
employee should not misuse the information given to them or in future it will give a great
impact on social and society people will not reveal their identity in any kind of web sites and
technology (Buil, Catalán and Martínez, 2016). There is also one thing in a society or people
now-a-days are attracted towards offers various kinds of offers so reaper deal with packages
for the last 25 years, Firestone business which includes Reaper (we technology) has been and
will be creating promotional campaigns (win a car, a boat, a holiday and much more). In
addition to helping clients through obtaining the demographic information is a potential
income stream for Firestone. The organization Firestone organize many events for the society
so they can encounter many people form the society and it was also important for the
organization that the people should not know about the reason behind giving those packages
so the employee must not disclose any kind of information into the society. An employee
Sophie was hired and her contract of engagement in which her payment terms were agreed,
she also signed a legally binding Non-Disclosure Agreement, mostly all the employees have
to sign.
2.4 Personal Factors
Being working for this organization firestone I should have some qualities so that they have
hired me for these posts or given a job to me. For us our background details play an important
role in getting a job and sometimes experience always plays a great role in getting a job. One
should always be sincere towards his work and responsible for the thing what we have done.
The relationship between an employee and the society (peoples) should be simple and they
should know what you are trying to say. Richard Blaine, the senior partner and co-founder of

Firestone, and Alex McLaren, the 32 year old Firestone executive in charge of the project
should also be responsible towards their personal issue should not impact the relationship
between them and employee. Their personal issue can be impactful for the organization and
can also impact the moral of the employee. Our personal factors also depend on our
environment with whom we are living with our surrounding and thus our environment also
plays an important role in our nature. Since our personal factors are those acquired from
social environment play a great impact in getting a role in that organization. The personalities
are of great importance though the degree of different candidate can vary but their
personalities state their presence of mind their character and it play an important (Brečić,
Mesić and Cerjak, 2017). Being an employee more than 50% of the work are done by us so
our presence of mind and strong minded people are needed for the company these is where
personal factors are needed.
2.5 Intrinsic Factors
As we go through the case study we found out that there is an organisation name Firestone, in
that firestone organisation there is web technology going on Name (Reaper ) that contains the
information of all the customers even their client and employees so if anything happen the
blame would be on the co-founder and executive manager of the project And Sophie Ryder
who is a self-employed IT Development Consultant, recently hired by a mid-sized advertising
agency, so for avoiding this problem the head of the organisation have to play an important
role in recruiting the employees so that no illegal problems or ethical problem arise and
workers can work peacefully. But as we go through the case study we have found out that
somewhere in the organization the employees were not given their money of the work they
are doing, as a employee I should advise that this should not be done or else there could be
problem with the employee and they may come up with some unethical way and some money
related policies. The relationship between a higher post and lower post should not impact on
their work any jealousy. Illegal way of promoting business or giving offers that is not
acceptable in anyways must not be acceptable by clients or any other companies which are in
race (Bammens, Notelaers and Van Gils, 2015). They will need to find a way of overtaking
the organisation in some legal manner. So it’s important that there should not be any intrinsic
factors affecting the organisation.

2.6 Prioritisation
Factor Related Issue
1 Ethics policy determination Inconsistent manner of
ethical policy adherence
2 Finding talents with technical and
Web development
Workers should be highly
skilled and should have a
subject (computer in their
studies)
3 Their investment in making the web
Technology.
If we don’t make an
investment list then it
would be a problem
4 No of workers Its moistly not an important
priority as it is an technical
work so 1 person can do
lots of things
5 Misuse of the company names and
Its value.
Person uses organisation
names to gain advantages
and names .people having
higher position in a society
is like an alpha.
6 Degree mostly needed MCA or MBA These students coming
from technical, IT and
management branch are
given high priority than
others

2.7 Decision
The first and foremost important factor within the organisation is justified to be ethics policy
termination since there has been an issue in ethical consideration of the organisation. By
evaluating the table provided there can be a clear understanding of the factor that investment
in making the web technology success is proved to be important. Potential investor if do not
agree on supporting the organisational process may relate to the related issue of investment
making. The factor of finding talent within the organisation to deal with technical issues
within the web development process Is placed at this second important factor of the priority
list. In the case of finding talents within the organisation for technical web development,
there can be a situation which leads to inappropriate fulfilment of skilled workers
organisation. The consideration of understanding the importance of company name and value
has been placed at 5th important factor. Since the understanding of the trademark must be
kept on a serious note. As a worker for that company I must say that in my working
experience till now is one of a good organisation as a youth I must say people are now
attracted towards these types of company ( IT, web development, sociology ). These are now
trending in towards society due to their works progress and what mostly important is that the
packages now available for the client, employees and customers. Peoples are attracted
towards it because deep down a company knows what to or what not to and it make peoples
lean towards them. A organisation like these also deals with difficulties like technical issue,
web page problems, sites not opening and some employees who misuses these types of
company and make the company marketing go lower in .
3. Discussion
The entire scenario of Firestone Associates reflects violation of ethics, law of company in
various aspects. The Reaper which was a project to be handled by Sophie Alex and Richard
was a marketing database system mostly dealing with the information of the client your
potential customers. A firm that makes its employee sign non disclosure agreement to avoid
loss and theft of information or even passing on information to any other business
organisation, it’s one of the most senior founder tell the client list to an institution without

even doing any research totally based on a random phone call. This has been a major dilation
of professional Ethics. Keeping in view consequence of this action, it can be said that action
has been detrimental for the social security demeaning the social ethics. Another attention
grabbing situation was when Alex does not remain satisfied the position of reaper but also
goes on making his own agency, exploiting the client base, resources of Firestone, violating
intellectual property right of Firestone and also forming a strategic relationship with Sophie
to gain benefit in his own favour. This is not only violation of ethics but also declination of
basic morality and immense lack of professionalism as well as personal moral judgement.
Every aspect of the ethical violations in the case study has been an important aspect requiring
attention. It not only Open the eyes of layman while giving proper implication of ethics in a
healthy and effective business but also leads us towards certain consequences that may take
place due to following this kind of an ethical and professional action in a business over the
time. The role of the organisation irrespective of operational domain or industry is to serve
the society meeting its needs and giving them good quality of service. What happen in
Firestone Associates clearly reflects how personal motive, benefits And reckless decision
making without having proper business acumen and mass social welfare can be detrimental
for not only the society it was serving but also towards its own personal growth and
development. The reputation of the firm reaching to the local as well as global market was
quiet long lasting then its whimsical unethical and selfish acts executed by some of the higher
authority members. Needless to say, it has disappointed note of the customers of Firestone
Associates whose personal data even though was promised to be protected, in reality it was
made openly unsecured and sold to third parties. The entire scenario reflects violation of law
and ethics on various grounds leading to declination of its quality of service, brand image as a
whole.
2. Conclusion on Analysis
From the above concept of understanding reviews related to legal, professional and
Employment factors there has been well aware in an organisational development opportunity.
By properly understanding the case study provided we have understood and enabled others to
evaluate the personal factors and the intrinsic factors that needed to be gathered for preparing
a Priority list that help in decision-making process for the future development of business
work.

3. Lesson learnt from the course
3.1. Technology Ethics
Technology ethics refers to development as well as application of theory of ethics in the field
of electronic, mechanical, information technology. The broader concept revolves around
highlighting relationship of various technological aspects with the human well being and
values.
Technology ethics is an important aspect of production as it helps in assessing the
repercussions of certain advancement in technology and its effectiveness in that production
process (Jagger, Siala and Sloan, 2016). Application of ethics in technology helps in
developing a proper culture of responsibility, trust and integrity that confirms excellent use
and allocation of resources. It is also important in order to maintain confidentiality and
protection of information, promotion of privacy and elimination of unauthorised access
ultimately consolidating prevention of forgery and conflicts (Ferrell and Fraedrich, 2015).
Most efficient ways to handle ethical dilemma related to technology would be to create a
vigilance system within the workplace or the production domain. It is also important to let the
employees know about the related laws crew training and workshops. Employees are bound
to maintain the law and keep clothes check off the network security in order to avoid conflict.
5.2 The Ethical Technologist
Technological with its applications not only bring advancement but also evokes various
concerns related to security, health and safety, privacy etc.
Infringement of copyright:Information technology has revolutionized the access to artefact,
information from any corner of the world at a given time. The scope of sharing and accessing
easily has led to a risk of copyright infringement that people not only can access others work

but also violate their ownership on the credit of the creators which can be an issue for the
organiation.
Security: Information Technology Services deals with application of various computer
systems and networking based on internet. The incidents of hacking, Cyber crimes etc are
growing concerns in recent times. They expose the IT firm to huge risks of data loss, loss of
information, money etc. This can severely impact the business growth of the firm (Pedersen,
Rosati, Lauesen and Farsang, 2017).
Privacy Issues: Extensive use of Information Technology often leads to a major risk of
violation of privacy moving towards open and wide platform to share and exchange
information (Trilling, 2018). Lack of proper technical knowledge will impose a threat on the
production of the company making it exposed loss of privacy in important information,
business activities within the organisation etc.
Digital divide: opportunity information in shipping as well as Industries throughout the world
are huge. But this benefit is not equal all throughout the world as the less developed countries
cannot derive benefit at par with the developed countries having two limitation of resources,
lack of knowledge, proper training etc (Goworek et al. 2018).
5.3 Habits of the Effective Technologist
In order to these risks and threats associated with information technology it is important for a
company to have ethical Technologist who will not only try to provide the solution ethically
to a technological problem but also protect the entire system from any kind of contingencies.
Keeping in mind the increasing relevance of Technology in the business process today it is
important that the Technologies abide by effective habits make the operation seamless. An
effective technologist should ensure elimination of Technical jargon as much as possible
from the presentation of business true focusing on the code importance of applying certain
Technology in the business over following the trend blindly (Bryson and Winfield, 2017).
It is important for a Technologist to be aware of the company functioning Hein be present in
all the meeting and take part in the finance related decisions anything. Communication is one
of the important habitual aspects of the technologist that determine the effective application
of Technology within the business process (Goodyer and Frater, 2015). Making simplified
sophistication, having customer empathy and connecting with professional true emotional

intelligence are important practices for technologies to have in him. Competence of the
ethical technologist totally depends on is his skill sets and also the ability to impart those
knowledge to the Employees for its effective application (Cenkner, Sonnenberg, von Hauff
and Wong, 2017).
5.4 ACS Code of Professional Conduct
Any business organisation it is important for its employees to follow certain codes regarding
their conducts, ethics. ACS refers to certain code of professional conduct which is also the
part of regulation of the society. Employees Associated with information technology,
technology, community Technology services are called ACS members who are subjected to
follow this regulation of judiciously. This code of conduct has certain legal relevance
regarding the standards of the professional and any violation to this regulation can be claimed
as professional negligence (Goldberg, 2018). Some Important values associated with ACS
are: Placing Public interest as primary, enhancing the quality of life, competence,
professional development, honesty and growth of professionalism in behaviour. Rigorous
following of the codes of conduct specified in ACS adds on to the professional environment
of a business organisation consolidating its employee performance and ultimately its annual
growth (Habash, 2019).
5.5 Ethical Issues of the Information Age
Modern business phenomena is rightly the age of information where almost each and every
business companies are dealing with data information there collection, distribution storage
protection etc. installation of enormous computers, in wire wiring and has allowed seamless
and quick access share of information from any point of time and place in the world. This has
certainly highlighted major challenges coming from the system itself. Privacy is being the
most important issue that it is being disrupted because of ease in the information technology..
Infringement of the rights of the producer, creator a certain product, system, goods and
services has been another ethical challenge in this information age (Ferguson, Thornley and
Gibb, 2016). Cyber crime, hacking, cyber stalking, cyber theft etc has been extremely Serious
concern highlighting the importance of security in information technology system.