Ethical Analysis: The Untested System Dilemma - ITC506 Report

This report analyzes an ethical dilemma concerning the launch of an untested system, as presented in a scenario where a developer expresses concerns to a project manager about the system's readiness. The report utilizes the Doing Ethics Technique (DET) to dissect the situation. It identifies key facts, non-ethical issues, and stakeholders, including the affected users whose data security is at risk. The ethical issues of project delay and user privacy are highlighted, along with their implications. The report evaluates three options: launching the system, the developer's resignation, or the developer advocating for further testing. The recommended course of action is for the developer to actively challenge the management board's decision, emphasizing the potential risks associated with the untested system and advocating for a delay to ensure proper testing and safeguard the company's reputation and client relationships. The report concludes with a comprehensive list of references.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, Charles Sturt University
A Dilemma in IT: The Untested System
Assignment 1: Doing Ethics Technique
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Word Count: 962

The Untested System
ITC506 Assessment Item 1- Marking Sheet
Total Obtained Marks /100 & /15
Criteria Standards
Marks
award
ed
Analysis
of the
ethical
dilemma
using the
Doing
Ethics
Technique
(DET)
(Value:
70%)
HD: Answers all DET questions, lists all the facts, identifies all the non-
ethical issues, lists all the stakeholders, identifies all the ethical issues,
evaluates all the options that seek to resolve them and selects the best
option from these and justifies why this option is the best using
supporting arguments based on the literature.
DI: Answers all DET questions, lists all the facts, identifies all the non-
ethical issues, lists all the stakeholders, lists all the ethical issues and
options that seek to resolve them and selects the best option from these
and explains why this option is the best.
CR: Answers all DET questions, lists most of the facts, identifies most of
the non-ethical issues, lists most of the stakeholders, lists most of the
ethical issues and options that seek to resolve them and selects the best
option from these and makes an attempt to explain why this option is the
best.
PS: Answers some of the DET questions, lists a few facts, identifies a few
non-ethical issues, lists a few stakeholders, lists a few ethical issues and
options that seek to resolve them and selects the best option from these
but without explaining why this option is the best.
FL: Answers a few DET questions but fails to list important facts, fails to
identify relevant non-ethical issues, fails to list important stakeholders,
fails to identify the ethical issues and evaluates the options that seek to
resolve them and does not select the best option or does not explain why
the option selected is the best.
Writing &
structure
(Value
20%)
HD: Language features and structures are used to convey meaning
effectively, concisely, unambiguously, and in a tone appropriate to the
audience and purpose with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation
errors.
DI: Well developed skills in expression & presentation of ideas.
Fluent writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type.
Grammar & spelling accurate.
CR: Good skills in expression & clear presentation of ideas.
Mostly fluent writing style appropriate to assessment task/document
type. Grammar & spelling contains a few minor errors.
PS: The text contains frequent errors in spelling, grammar, word choice,
and structure, lacks clarity, and is not concise, but the meaning is
apparent to the reader with some effort.
FL: Rudimentary skills in expression & presentation of ideas.
Not all material is relevant &/or is presented in a disorganised manner.
Meaning apparent, but writing style not fluent or well organised.
Grammar & spelling contains many errors.
Referenci
ng
(Value
10%)
HD: Referencing is comprehensive, demonstrates academic integrity, and
conforms exactly to APA style conventions.
DI: Very good referencing, including reference list and citations.
High quality references.
CR: Good referencing, including reference list and citations. Good quality
references.
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The Untested System
PS: Referencing is comprehensive, mostly accurate according to APA style
conventions, and demonstrates academic integrity. Some minor errors or
omissions in style and formatting choices (e.g. italics, punctuation, etc)
don’t impact on the transparency and traceability of the source, or
demonstration of academic integrity.
FL: Sub-standard (or no) referencing. Poor quality (or no) references.
Total
Marks
Q1. What's going on?
In the given scenario, there is an ethical dilemma regarding the launch of an untested
system. As per the video, the developer tells the project manager that going live with the
developed system will not be possible on the date provided by the client. He also explains
that the main tester of the system has fallen sick and has been unable to test the system
within the required time (Al-Saggaf, 2018). He further tells him that launching the untested
system will not be a very good idea in spite of the fact that the project head continues to say
that the system must go live on the given date.
Q2. What are the facts?
Due to the unavailability of certain members of the development team, the testing of the
system could not be completed and hence, the system is not ready to go live. However, the
client has provided a deadline on which, the system must go live as emphasized by the
project manager. On the other hand, as per the concern of the developer, if the system goes
live before testing, there may be future complications that will affect the client as well as
the reputation of the development company.
Q3. What are the issues?
There are a number of issues associated with this particular case. Firstly, the developer did
not report to the project manager earlier regarding the unavailability of the tester and
hence, it is quite clear the developer is not completely honest regarding the progress of the
project (Mannay & Morgan, 2015). Secondly, the project manager emphasizes that the
system must go live on the said date as provided by the client as it would affect the business
relationship between the company and the client. However, the project manager fails to
understand the amount of risk that is to be taken if the system is allowed to go live on the
given date.
Q4. Who is affected?
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The Untested System
The common people whose user profiles and details will be stored within the system of the
client company will be affected. As per the developer, if the system is allowed to go live
before suitable testing, there is a high possibility of data breach that will steal personal
information of a huge number of users thus affecting not only the business of the client
company but also the reputation of the project management company (Johnson, 2014).
Hence, the developer warns the project manager not to pressurize on him for letting the
system go live on the given deadline.
Q5. What are the ethical issues and their implications?
There are a number of ethical issues associated with this particular case. These ethical issues
and their implications are listed as follows.
Project Delay – As the project developer did not report to the project manager earlier
regarding unavailability of the tester and requirement for the delay of schedule for the
project delivery, a significant ethical issue arises. Firstly, the project participants are not
honest with each other (Al-Saggaf, 2018). Secondly, the client is not made to know about
the situation thus creating a bad image for the company on the mind of the client.
User Privacy – If the system is not tested before launch, it will raise a serious ethical issue
regarding the privacy of the system users. The system will store personal information of the
users and a data breach will compromise the privacy of the same.
Q6. What could have been done about it?
The one step that this situation requires is meeting session between the project
stakeholders and if possible, the client. It is important that all the involved personnel know
clearly about the exact situation and discuss about what needs to be done at this point
(Schwalbe, 2015). Furthermore, the client as well as the project management board needs
to know the extent of the risk if the system is allowed to go live on the given date.
Furthermore, it must be ensured that the system test is done before it goes live.
Q7. What are the options?
There are three possible options for this situation. These are explained as follows.
The system is allowed to go live – The first option is that the developer allows the system to
go live before the testing is done. This is a very risky option as the system will then be
extremely vulnerable to data breach and will risk stealing of a huge number of personal
information of the customers of the company.
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The Untested System
Ken (the developer) resigns – Another option for the developer is that he resigns from his
post in the company. This option will throw in a very hard condition for him as he will need
to find another job to earn for his livelihood but the resignation will save his reputation as
he will no longer be a part of the risky business by letting the system go live without testing.
Ken fights back – The final option for the developer is to fight back against the project
management board and emphasize on his opinion that the system should not be allowed to
go live before all the tests are completed.
Q8. Which option is the best and why?
The best possible option for this situation is the third one i.e. the developer must fight back
when the management board wants the explanation behind the delaying of the system
delivery. He needs to let them know about the possible risks that will arise from the
untested system and how it will affect the reputation and business of the company in the
near future (Mai, 2016). It is possible that the management board will understand all the
risks and will then discuss with the client for allowing some extension of time in which, the
system testing can be performed.
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The Untested System
References
Al-Saggaf, Y. (2018). A dilemma in IT: Select action end of video and see its consequence.
[online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mugeCY3vbxo
[Accessed 10 Mar. 2018].
Arnold, T., & Scheutz, M. (2016). Against the moral Turing test: accountable design and the
moral reasoning of autonomous systems. Ethics and Information Technology, 18(2),
103-115.
Goerger, M. (2017). Value, violence, and the ethics of gaming. Ethics and Information
Technology, 19(2), 95-105.
Harrison, T. (2015). Virtuous reality: moral theory and research into cyber-bullying. Ethics
and Information Technology, 17(4), 275-283.
Johnson, J. A. (2014). From open data to information justice. Ethics and Information
Technology, 16(4), 263-274.
Kian, L. A., & Eastman, S. D. (2017). Ethics and Information Technology. In Ethical Challenges
in Oncology (pp. 313-323).
Mai, J. E. (2016). Personal information as communicative acts. Ethics and Information
Technology, 18(1), 51-57.
Mannay, D., & Morgan, M. (2015). Doing ethnography or applying a qualitative technique?
Reflections from the ‘waiting field’. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 166-182.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Valacich, J., & Schneider, C. (2015). Information Systems Today: Managing in a Digital World
Plus MyMISLab with Pearson eText--Access Card Package. Prentice Hall Press.
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