BN201 - Professional Issues of IT: Ethical and Social Implications

This report delves into the ethical, social, and legal issues within Information Technology. It analyzes two case studies, exploring ethical dilemmas and applying theories such as social contract theory, Kantian evaluation, utilitarianism, and deontology. The report examines the ACS code of professional conduct, highlighting key ethical values and their application in real-world scenarios. It discusses the responsibilities of IT professionals, the importance of public interest, and the impact of ethical decisions on stakeholders. The analysis covers topics like software development, data privacy, and the potential consequences of unethical practices. The report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of ethical considerations in the IT industry and offers insights into navigating complex professional challenges. It also examines the implications of cost factors, security measures, and the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines to maintain consumer trust and protect sensitive data. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of ethical conduct and the ACS code in the workplace.

ICT
development
s and ethical,
social, and
legal issues

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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Case Study 1..........................................................................................................................................2
Question 1: ethical issues related to this case and affected stakeholder..........................................2
Social contract theory....................................................................................................................2
Kantian evaluation.........................................................................................................................2
Question 2: ACS code of professional................................................................................................2
Case study 2...........................................................................................................................................3
Question 1.1: Ethical issues...............................................................................................................3
Utilitarianism.................................................................................................................................3
Deontology....................................................................................................................................4
Contract theory.............................................................................................................................4
Question 2: ACS code of professional conduct..................................................................................4
The primacy of public interest.......................................................................................................4
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
The objective of this report is to analyse the ethical, professional and code of practice for
information communication technology. In which there are two case studies will be discussed and
identify the ethical issues related to these cases and the ACS code of professional conduct to these
case studies. The first case study is based on the software development organization and second
case study is based on information and communication technology.
Case Study 1
Question 1: ethical issues related to this case and affected stakeholder
Social contract theory
This kind of ethical theory involves the rights of the rational agents and in the given scenario, the
rational agents are the organization selling software packages to the consumers [3]. It is very
reasonable for the consumer to expect the right to be informed all about the data and software
package when they decide to purchase these packages [4]. Moreover, the organization did not
explain their consumers about bugs in the software package which they may encounter. Since the
organization’s decision to retail these software systems that have numbers of bugs was ethically
wrong because it violated the consumer’s rights to be informed.
Kantian evaluation
According to this evaluation process, an organization may provide products and items with some
error to consumer [5]. If any consumer faced such kind of issue in the software’s then they can take
action and stop using the products. Hence, the proposed rule is self-defeating and it would be wrong
to act according to this rule and regulation. Due to selling wrong products consumer can suffer from
any issue and problem by using bug software’s and the organization treated its consumers as a mean
to an end. So, the action of the organization is wrong and consumers should ensure that they check
the quality of the product before buying them.
Question 2: ACS code of professional
In the given scenario, the moral rule might be "My organization is the first company that provides
the software packages which incorporates the modern tax laws and fugues”. If consumers do not
encounter and find-out any issue in the software data package they can save their time for
determining the tax liability. Moreover, the organization should focus on the quality of the product
by which they can increase their productivity and efficiency of their business. Due to bugs and error,

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it is the high chance that consumer will face few issues for determining the tax ability and they will
be penalized by the taxation authority [9]. The company should identify the key factors associated
with the bugs and solve such kind of problem immediately because of its impact on the trust or
organization, market share and make a big loss [8].
There are major four ACS codes of ethics values and ideals which are the following:
 Competence
 Honesty
 Social implications
 Information technology profession
For a given scenario, there are following ACS code of ethical can be conducted:
 According to my opinion, I must give value for money and cost in the products that I supply
which can help for growing businesses
 The company must accept the responsibility for consumer work and identify the issues and
problem associated with the software package.
 Employees must not be associated with the fraud and dishonest practices
Case study 2
Question 1.1: Ethical issues
There are numerous key factors which are influencing decision making which are described below:
Utilitarianism
This state that if any action produces a better outcome which is morally right and it is completely
based on the principle of consequence [2]. According to this principle, an action will be evaluated as
the right action entirely that depend on the consequence process [7]. There are many factors which
influence decision making which are the following:
 Because of the cost factors, the private office has decided to opt for the less privacy system.
CEO, manager, and director of the organization agree that less security system will do
because the company cannot afford the high level networks and computers.
 Diana knows which low security process consumers in client machines may be able to find
out a way to access their personal data files and the possibility of online access from
criminals that will make unhappy. Moreover, the organization of Diana will lose their trust in

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the market and they might compromise their future contract which is one of the common
ethical issues faced by this company.
Deontology
According to the principle of deontology, an action is morally true if employees follow their duties
perfectly [1]. There are several factors involved in this case study which are the following:
 It is observed that it is her responsibility to design and implement a system as needed by the
consumers. By which, Diana should design a process and system as per consumer request to
improve the security of their data and information.
 Due to the cost factor, personnel organization has decided to opt for the less security system
and it is the responsibility of the CEO and management team to develop and implement a
system as per the demand of consumers.
Contract theory
According to this theory, the social contract is divided into major two kinds such as legal and moral
contract [7]. Legal contracts are external but moral contracts are internal and the following factors
are evaluated from the given scenario:
 Diana included in the design and implementation process of the network and she has a legal
contract to design the process.
 She believes that the data and information which will be stored by the consumers on DBMS
are extremely sensitive and they require high level security devices and networks. Her moral
value cannot allow to design and implement the less security system because it can impact
on consumer sensitive data.
Question 2: ACS code of professional conduct
The ACS code of professional conduct involves major four values for professional for example,
approach, do to right, collaboration and goal high which can help to resolve the issue of dilemma [6].
There are following rules and regulation code involves in the ACS code:
The primacy of public interest
Companies and professional should focus on public priority rather than personal, business and
sectional interest. There are following points should do for addressing the primacy of the public
interest:
 Evaluate the impact of consumer work
 Describe the conflict between social obligation and professional work

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 Provide advice to stakeholders if ant conflict occurs in the business
 With respect to the given scenario, this code of conduct applies in the following way:
 She had advised few options to the consumer for making a decision on the degree of
security to produce a better security system
 She believes the information of consumers is extremely sensitive for which they require a
more secure system. She wants to preserve continuity, integrity, and utility of the ICT by
advising the consumers
 For the security of the consumer data she wants to preserve the confidentiality and privacy
of the stakeholder's information
Conclusion
This report is completely based on the ethical issue and the ACS code of ethics and the reader can
understand the concept of the ACS code of ethics in the workplace. In which there are two case
studies discussed and identified the ethical issues associated with the organizations and relate ACS
code of professional conduct to both given scenario. For finding ethical issues there are several
theories are involved such as social contract theory, Kantian evaluation, deontology, and
utilitarianism.

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References
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governance (II): Compliance, reputation, and reciprocity," Journal of business ethics, vol. 75,
no. 1, 2007, pp.77-96.
[4]. M., Gray, “Moral sources and emergent ethical theories in social work,” British Journal of
Social Work, vol. 40, no. 6, 2009, pp.1794-1811.
[5]. M.P., Landman, J., Shelton, R.M. Kauffmann and, J.B., Dattilo, “Guidelines for maintaining a
professional compass in the era of social networking,” Journal of Surgical Education, vol. 67,
no. 6, 2010, pp.381-386.
[6]. O.K., Burmeister, “Professional ethics in the information age,” Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society, vol. 15, 4, 2017, pp.348-356.
[7]. P., Schouten, “The materiality of state failure: Social contract theory, infrastructure and
governmental power in Congo,” Millennium, vol. 41, no. 3, 2013, pp.553-574.
[8]. R. Shafer-Landau, Ethical theory: an anthology(Vol. 13). John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
[9]. T.M., Jones, W. Felps and, G.A., Bigley, “Ethical theory and stakeholder-related decisions:
The role of stakeholder culture,” Academy of Management Review, vol. 32, no. 1, 2007,
pp.137-155.