Ethics, Sustainability, and Social Impact Guide: Report Analysis

This report delves into the critical areas of ethics, sustainability, and social impact, providing a comprehensive analysis of ethical considerations in information technology and international business. Task A explores ethical dilemmas in IT, including data privacy, unrestricted access to information by law enforcement, and the significance of ethical principles. It also addresses the digital divide. Task B examines ethical principles relevant to international business, analyzes research methods, and highlights key messages from reports like "Top fashion brands business practices are undermining progress on ending garment worker exploitation" and the "2020 Information and Communications Technology BENCHMARK FINDINGS REPORT," focusing on labor practices and supply chain ethics. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct for businesses operating internationally, covering topics like respect, fairness, and responsibility, and the need for organizations to address moral and ethical challenges in a global context.

Ethics, Sustainability and
Social Impact Guide: Report

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task A: Ethics in IT.........................................................................................................................1
1 Should law enforcement agencies be given unrestricted access to the information?..........1
2 What will be the worst-case situation with reference to unrestricted access to digital
communication?.....................................................................................................................1
3 Should data stored within private email needs to have warrant for accessing and reviewing
documents?.............................................................................................................................2
4 Which ethical principles are significant for information technology?................................2
5 What are arguments to specify that digital divide is crucial?..............................................3
Task B: Ethics in International Business.........................................................................................3
1 Identify ethical principles that are relevant to international business.................................3
2 What research methods are used in the article and are they significant..............................4
What is the key message?.......................................................................................................4
3 Identify the information from KnowTheChain...................................................................5
What research methods are utilised and are they appropriate?..............................................5
What is the key message?.......................................................................................................5
What are the common observations made from both reports?...............................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Ethics refers to branch of philosophy that comprises of defending, systematic as well as
recommendation of the right and wrong behaviour. They are applicable for resolving questions
related with human morality by specifying concepts like justice and crime. It completely depends
upon perceptions of the individual like what they perceive as right and wrong (Bini and Bellucci,
2020). Sustainability implies addressing the present requirements without compromising abilities
of the future generation for addressing their needs. These two entities create a significant impact
of the social aspects. This report will provide an insight into different aspects associated with
ethics in information technology and international business by carrying out significant research.
Task A: Ethics in IT
1 Should law enforcement agencies be given unrestricted access to the information?
No, it is identical to stare someone for extended frame of time that makes individual feel
hostile as well as uncomfortable. Surveillance is carried out surreptitiously and is done by the
authorities. At present scenario, dropping from eaves and spyglasses are not needed for
observing someone. The authorities are making use different methods for observing the actions
along with their behaviour without having a spy. The enhancements within technology have
created relevant impact with reference to the ethics. This have become more intrusive as any
kind of warrants or information is not provided with reference to the activities that have been
carried out by the authorities. After FISA and other subsequent laws have been passed, the
citizens are not provided with relevant protection in context of electronic surveillance. The
statement that is commonly given up by the Government or authorities is that in case if they have
not done any crime or wrong then there is nothing to fear about. But still then people have their
privacy concerns that they do not want that third person must know as this is not ethically true.
2 What will be the worst-case situation with reference to unrestricted access to digital
communication?
An instance can be taken to acknowledge the negative impact that is being created via
unrestricted communication is specified here. Suppose a government has their enemy or conflicts
with someone then they can take grudge by accessing their digital communication (Cardillo and
Longo, 2020). Though the information is being accessed by them is maintained in the records
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and is easy for them to make use of different tools for accessing the information as well as
eradicate or delete all the history related with this. Such kind of instances can harm the
population when for their own benefits they utilise the tools and techniques that are specified for
certain illegal activities for security of the country. This is not regarded as ethical as the
technology is used without prior permission and the communication of normal human beings are
also spied. The information that is being attained by them can be used illegally again them which
is both ethically and morally not appropriate as this can hamper the image of person within the
market or it can be utilised in any way by the person who have details related with this (Di Vaio
and et. al, 2020).
3 Should data stored within private email needs to have warrant for accessing and reviewing
documents?
The information that is present within the emails is secured as Google has provided
certain security measures through which third person cannot get access until they have credential
information. This means that high security is not required by a normal human being with
reference to the emails. But with reference to the identity theft or shoulder attack here the person
get information related with the passwords and username they can use it for carrying out illegal
or malicious activity where the owner of the email can be found guilty. In such kind of kind of
activities security is regarded as critical aspect. But the security measure that can be taken by
person is that they must not enter their credential is the public system and crowded place as this
becomes obvious that someone might see the information. Therefore, regularly passwords must
be changed through which security can be ensured (Gazzola and et. al, 2019). On the other hand
when it comes to organisations or entrepreneurs they need to have extra security measures as
they cannot afford that someone else gets access to the emails that have been shared with others.
This can have pessimistic impact on the manner they deliver their accountabilities.
4 Which ethical principles are significant for information technology?
Information technology is accountable for specifying components that are utilised for
storing, fetching and manipulating information at minimised levels within server that comprises
of operating system (Hamad, Draz and Lai, 2020). The different principles that must be regarded
with reference to the information technology are illustrated beneath:
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 It is important to define the roles of all the stakeholders so that their functionalities are
defined clearly through which processes can be carried out smoothly. In addition to this,
IT consultants must be aware about active role of the project through which decisions can
be formulated.
 On the basis of the roles that have been defined, it becomes important to accordingly
render the access so that they only have access to the information that is needed for
completing the particular task (Iannaci, 2020).
 Without the prior permissions from the authorities any software must be downloaded or
any services that is rendered by unauthenticated person as this might lead them to have
virus or malicious program within their system.
5 What are arguments to specify that digital divide is crucial?
The uneven distribution of the benefits that can be attained from digital revolution acts as
critical cause for increasing inequalities at global levels that in turn will lead to cripple the
growth. Spreading the digital dividends is very equitable for both the aspects that is within as
well as between the countries as this is critical for having sustained as well as inclusive global
economic growth.
The digital dividend is relevant challenge for which solutions exists and must be utilised
in appropriate manner (Velasquez and Manuel, 2013). For this, inclusion programs, tools and
policies can be used for having robust services, access digital trainings, quality technical support
and many more.
Task B: Ethics in International Business
1 Identify ethical principles that are relevant to international business.
Organisation can expand their operations within the global market but they have to
acknowledge mission, visions, policies, strategies and goals by considering legal along with
ethical issues related with the international business. Here, organisation are accountable for
planning longer term expansion within the foreign environment, they have to tackle moral along
with ethical challenges (Kennedy, Beaton and Haigh, 2020). The principles related with ethics in
the international business comprises of respect, fairness, respect, responsibility, citizenship and
caring. These are the overriding principles that must be taken into consideration by the
organisation through which they can formulate the effectual decisions within the desired frame
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of time. This also involves integrity, loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, law abiding, respect,
concern, leadership and management. It will enable them within carrying their liabilities within
the international market in enhanced and efficacious manner. Businesses trading internationally
are expected to fully comply with federal and state safety regulations, environmental laws, fiscal
and monetary reporting statutes and civil rights laws. Acting in accordance with ethical and
cultural values is crucial for a multinational company to win clients’ support and business and to
achieve a competitive advantage in a particular market (Torelli, Balluchi and Furlotti, 2020).
2 What research methods are used in the article and are they significant
In the article that is given, is based on both qualitative as well as quantitative research.
The qualitative provides insight into fashion industry where local suppliers are comply to adhere
with the working standards that have been set up by the organisations. The quantitative provides
with figures like in the year 2017, $ 3.6 billion is that accounts to around 45 to 50% of knitwear
exports from the India to other countries. This implies that the research methods that have been
provided are adequate but in case if they would have been utilised in proper manner then better
results would have been attained. The numerical figures that have been provided are not enough
for furnishing the precise conclusion from the information that have been mentioned. With
reference to this, it has been identified that there are near around 24.9 million people that are
present across the world and are forced victims for the forced labour. The organisation generates
$150 billion through the illegal profits within the private economy.
What is the key message?
The information that been attained from the article named “Top fashion brands business
practices are undermining progress on ending garment worker exploitation” renders new report
that reveals demands for fast and cheap fashion that makes this harder for the suppliers to furnish
decent working scenario. Furthermore, the cases associated with South Indian garment
employees have illustrated cases of the bounded as well as child labour and violations of the
basic rights within the supply chain for the brands like Primark, Nike and H&M. In addition to
this, researchers have carried out call for the new taskforce for addressing issues across the
freedom of health & safety, movement along with workers-driven social responsibilities (Top
fashion brands’ business practices are undermining progress on ending garment worker
exploitation, 2019).
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3 Identify the information from KnowTheChain
What research methods are utilised and are they appropriate?
The article that is named “2020 Information and Communications Technology” provides
the benchmark findings report. Here, the analysis is carried out of disclosure along with
performance of 49 organisations against the seven benchmark themes. Further good practices
examples are also furnished and recommendations are provided for organisation for actions of
the investor. In addition to this, the highlights have also rendered about nature of labour risk
within ICT sector as well as explores industry associations. This also renders alterations within
organisation practices over certain frame of time for addressing labour risks within the lower
tiers for carrying out supply chain in an appropriate manner. Further, the global electronic sector
comprises of firms that have mixed market capitalisation for $5 trillion US and this furnishes
duty for addressing forced labour (2020 Information and Communications Technology
BENCHMARK FINDINGS REPORT, 2020).
What is the key message?
The message that is being attained via the article is that organisation must opt for
accountable recruitment practices within the supply chains by collaborations with peers for
sharing the findings with reference to the recruitment issues like cost of recruitment in two
different countries. In addition to this, it has to be made sure that suppliers must screen as well as
select processes for the recruitment agencies. Furthermore, the employer must pay principle
within the policies that will make sure costs are borne via employer and are not just the workers.
In addition to this, steps must be taken for making sure that remediation of the worker-paid fees
along with this, such kind of fees much be prevented. Furthermore, organisation needs to
consider the rights of workers so that they can be prevented from any kind of vulnerable
situations.
What are the common observations made from both reports?
Both these articles provides the same perspective, the one renders information related
with labour issues the other also renders the information. Certain recommendations have been
furnished for the organisation through which they can solve the problems related with this. It
aims at aiding organisation within having appropriate recruitment procedures and also opt for
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making use of different policies along with procedures through which labour problems can be
handled in an adequate way.
Conclusion
From above it can be concluded that ethics refer to well-founded standards for having
precise information related with what is right along with wrong that are prescribed in context of
benefits, fairness, rights or obligations. Sustainability implies the manner in which resources are
being utilised by making sure that they are conserved for future aspects. Further the government
access the information in unauthenticated manner through which malicious and harmful
activities can be prevented but this cannot be regarded as ethically appropriate. Further, some
articles have been researched in order to acknowledge the message delivered and kind of
research that is being used in both of them.
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References
Books and Journals
Bini, L. and Bellucci, M., 2020. Integrated sustainability reporting. Cham: Springer Nature.
Cardillo, E. and Longo, M.C., 2020. Managerial reporting tools for social sustainability: Insights
from a local government experience. Sustainability, 12(9), p.3675.
Di Vaio, A. and et. al, 2020. “Integrated thinking and reporting” towards sustainable business
models: a concise bibliometric analysis. Meditari Accountancy Research.
Gazzola, P. and et. al, 2019. Sustainability reporting practices and their social impact to NGO
funding in Italy. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, p.102085.
Hamad, S., Draz, M.U. and Lai, F.W., 2020. The Impact of Corporate Governance and
Sustainability Reporting on Integrated Reporting: A Conceptual Framework. Sage
Open, 10(2), p.2158244020927431.
Velasquez, Manuel G, 2013, Business Ethics: Pearson New International Edition, Pearson
Education Limited
Iannaci, D., 2020. Reporting tools for social enterprises: between impact measurement and
stakeholder needs. European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy, 1(1b),
pp.1-18.
Kennedy, E.D., Beaton, E. and Haigh, N., 2020. Increasing social impact among social
enterprises and traditional firms. In Handbook on Hybrid Organisations. Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Torelli, R., Balluchi, F. and Furlotti, K., 2020. The materiality assessment and stakeholder
engagement: A content analysis of sustainability reports. Corporate Social Responsibility
and Environmental Management, 27(2), pp.470-484.
Online
Top fashion brands’ business practices are undermining progress on ending garment worker
exploitation. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/top-fashion-brands-business-practices-undermining-
progress-ending-garment-worker-exploitation-1.862357>.
2020 Information and Communications Technology BENCHMARK FINDINGS REPORT.
2020. [Online]. Available through: https://knowthechain.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-
KTC-ICT-Benchmark-Report.pdf.
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