Case Study Analysis: Ethics, Professionalism, and Governance Framework

This case study presents an ethical dilemma faced by a security administrator, Joseph, who is tasked with providing weekly reports on employee web page access. The assignment explores the conflict between the manager's request and Joseph's understanding of employee privacy and potential penalties. It delves into the ACS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, highlighting values like enhancement of quality of life, honesty, and professional development, along with relevant clauses. The study also references Australian legislation, specifically the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 and the Commonwealth Privacy Amendment Act 2000, emphasizing the importance of employee notification regarding monitoring. The analysis uses a framework that involves employee participation, stakeholder consultation, and upfront policy communication. The conclusion emphasizes Joseph's responsibility to balance company policy with ethical considerations and the need for informed employee consent. The case study provides a practical application of ethical principles within a corporate setting, offering insights into the complexities of data privacy, workplace surveillance, and professional responsibility. It also highlights the importance of ethical decision-making in IT and the need to consider the impact of policies on employee morale and productivity.

Case study define with Ethics,
Professionalism and
Governance

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ACS Code of Ethics and ACS Code of Professional Conduct....................................................1
Australian legislation...................................................................................................................2
Analysis, discussion and recommendations should use the framework......................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Within the organization, there are different types of issues that are faced. It is important
to make sure that management understand the problems and steps are taken so healthy
environment can be developed. In accordance with the case selected Joseph is a security
administrator of a company that has more than 500 employees. Manager has given the task to
provide weekly reports to show that web pages that has been accessed by individual employees.
Joseph has proper knowledge that employees that they are not asked to sign any agreement to
provide information regarding the web pages that they should use. Further, he also knows that
workers may be penalised. The discussion will take place in considering the ethical dilemma
faced by Joseph and potential outcomes when report is provided.
ACS Code of Ethics and ACS Code of Professional Conduct
There are different type of Ethical and professional conducts that are required to be
followed so that the rate of support from the side of workers is high. With this respect, below
given are three values from ACS Code of Ethics:
Enhancement of quality of Life: It is essential that interest of public to be placed higher
importance when compared with personal, sectional and business interest. 5 clauses from the
ACS Code of Professional Conduct:
 Protection and promotion towards health and safety to those who get affected by the work
(Benn, Edwards and Williams, 2014).
 Perception of those due to which work gets affected.
 Focusing on to increase the feelings of personal satisfaction.
 Enhancing quality of life
 Supporting people with disabilities.
Honesty: It requires to be honest towards representation of skills, services, knowledge
and products. 5 clauses from the ACS Code of Professional Conduct:
 Distinguishing between personal and professional opinion and advice
 Qualifying professional opinion.
 Giving credit to work done by others
 Not attempting to raise once on reputation.
 Giving realistic estimates for projects under control (Moore, 2014).
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Professional development: Need to be focused on enhancing the professional
development and in supporting the staff and colleagues. 5 clauses from the ACS Code of
Professional Conduct:
 Continues up gradation of knowledge and skills.
 Raising awareness of issues that affect the professional and relationship with public.
 Encouraging employees to develop their skills
 Supporting education, professional development and training.
 Focusing on carrier path.
Australian legislation
Computer, when it is the proper to organization, then it is important to make sure that it is
used only for business purposes. On the whole, it is the right of employers to make sure that
property of company like cell phones, computer, internet, etc. are monitored. It was in the year
2005 when the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 came (Barratt, Cakic and Lenton, 2013). This
is an act that tracks down video and computer surveillance that also consists of access to internet
and emails. Apart from this, it also includes The Commonwealth Privacy Amendment Act 2000
but it includes an exemption for employee records. Further, it is important that proper
information is provided in which workers are conveyed regarding that mails will be monitored.
Analysis, discussion and recommendations should use the framework
As per the scenario, it is important to make sure that proper focus is required to be made
in which all the information regarding the privacy is needed to be conveyed. When these are
done, then people get to know that aspects that they should consider. In accordance with the
Chris MacDonald below given are the steps that should be considered:
 Getting employees involved: all the individuals who will be guided by the code should
have proper understanding of the codes so that they understand the consequences when
these are not followed (Barratt, Cakic and Lenton, 2013).
 Consulting key stakeholders: When key stakeholders are involved, then it becomes
favourable enough to make sure that all the involved and if any of employees make use of
the internet for their own purpose, then serious actions will be taken.
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 Conveying information initially: Information related with the policies should be conveyed
so that employees are well informed regarding the laws or policies that should not be
broken.
 Plan for education: When individuals working with the firm do not have proper
understanding about the laws or policies. With this respect, Joseph should send the report
each week and then individuals who are found conducting any type of unethical act.
Further, it is based on the decision that is taken by manager for the employees whose
name is identified. When this act is taken, then it will also increase the productivity in
positive direction.
CONCLUSION
It is the responsibility of Joseph to make sure that employees use internet or any other
property of the company is not used for personal use. The report asked by manager should be
provided and initially it should be informed to workers.
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REFERENCES
Barratt, M. J., Cakic, V. and Lenton, S., 2013. Patterns of synthetic cannabinoid use in Australia.
Drug and alcohol review, 32(2), pp.141-146.
Benn, S., Edwards, M. and Williams, T., 2014. Organizational change for corporate
sustainability. Routledge.
Moore, R., 2014. Cybercrime: Investigating high-technology computer crime. Routledge.
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