Analysis of Ethical, Social, and Legal Issues in ICT Development

This report delves into the multifaceted ethical, social, and legal challenges arising from advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It presents two case studies: the first examines ethical considerations in ICT solutions, particularly informed consent and professional conduct within organizations; the second analyzes Kevin Rudd's apology to Indigenous Australians, dissecting the use of language and its implications. Furthermore, the report includes a reflective section exploring personal experiences with stress management and the application of ethical codes in professional settings, drawing from the author's experience in systems management. The author reflects on the importance of balancing personal and professional values, adhering to ethical guidelines, and navigating the complexities of customer interactions. The conclusion emphasizes the need for ongoing learning in stress management and ICT to address the evolving challenges of technological innovation, particularly in the context of professional environments.

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ICT DEVELOPMENTS AND ETHICAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL ISSUES
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Potential ethical, social, and legal issues resulting from ICT developments
1. Case Study 1
Ethical issues in ICT solutions revolve around internal and external factors of an organization. Developing
and maintaining ethics becomes a challenge when ethical dilemma arises [1]. In the case study, the issue of
informed consent raises questions whether both the internal and external participants are competent for
the task, or not. It is also important to note whether their participation compromises data. Although the
employees have the competence, they may have prior information of what the study seeks to find out.
Therefore, the consent forms for employees and outsiders should differ. Informed consent is not coercion
and the participant needs to be aware of their rights and the purpose of study. Both participants take part in
the study voluntarily and the protection of personal details is important. Before any participant agrees to
consent, they have a right to choose whether to participate or to stop taking part in the study. The website
serves both employees and outsiders. These are users targeted by the collaborative research [2]. Their
participation brings out different aspects of usability and challenges. The website development team needs
to capture whether employees can access portals effectively under a secure system. The fact that the
company paid for the research does not warrant their forceful participation in the research.
According to Australian Computer Society (ACS) [3] professionalism is important and workers should uphold
public interest issues with utmost importance. Usability testing is important in knowledge development for
the growth of the ICT sector. Professional conduct also enhances the quality of life for its users.
Participating in the research is important. Taking part in the study is an important part of professional
development. The researchers in the study also have a responsibility to maintain integrity and respect of
their workers. Therefore, consent in this case upholds the public interest with utmost importance than
professional expectations.
2. Case Study 2
Kevin Rudd and the language game displays the use of emotive language to apologize for unfairness and its
superficial effects [4]. He uses alliteration as he starts his speech to remind the audience on the past
mistreatment of the community. He also repeats the apology for the injustices citing the unfair policies and
mistreatments. For some listeners to the speech, it may sound ironical to refer to Aborigines as being

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‘fellow Australians’ and he uses the phrase as a cliché. His language is in the rhetoric when he refers to the
Aborigines as the oldest continuing culture. His reference to the dark history of cultural discrimination as
the stolen generation is a hyperbole indicating Australia’s blemished chapter. His apology sounds ironical
because the laws and policies continue to oppress the community [5]. The personification of the past and
suggestions that Australians embrace the future helps to shade light on the expected change. His
suggestion of a country where people are fully reconciled seems more of a dream than a reality because
the truth is fare from the reality. This makes his speech to sound sarcastic. His dream of an Australian
country where everyone has equal opportunities is an exaggeration, which is not literally true. However, it
helps to shape the ideal. The idea is to show sincerity for the apology. It is an effort to try to convince the
indigenous community who feel oppressed by the government. This persuasion tactic helps him to
negotiate the government’s position [5].
Procrastination is the postponement of important tasks, hoping to complete them later. It often affects
learners and professionals [7]. For example, out of laziness, I have often left important tasks for smaller
ones leading to a pile up of assignments. On the other hand, the Australian Indigenous case example
shows how the government can make an apology for the past in the present in order to pave the way for
tangible changes in the future [6]. Procrastination often seems skeptical and it may hinder progress but a
resolve to avoid it shows commitment.
3. Reflective Report
1. Introduction
The working environment is full of different stressful situations. Some people view stress as good for
performance while others consider it detrimental to the human mind [9]. Having a clear definition of stress
provides a guide on how to manage it. The American Psychological Association defines stress as an
uncomfortable overwhelming situation that weighs down a person [10]. This emotional burn down could
come from a number of factors. Working in ICT involves a lot of multitasking which calls for a balanced
approach to performance. Stress management is important because it helps individuals to cope at work
and away from the office.

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2. Personal experience, learning and self-reflection
In my experience working in the systems management department, I realized that sometimes projects take
longer than expected. This means extended working hours, which often lead to an emotional burn down.
When this happens, I easily get angry and direct the frustration to other technology professionals. Family
and friends also face the wrath and it portraying a professional image becomes difficult [11]. One
particularly stressful event was when we were trying to set up a website for a company unsuccessfully.
Three times the client kept sending the website asking for changes on its contents. Just when we thought
we were done, he cancelled the project citing delayed work. This was unfair because he was the one who
made the unspecified changes.
Learning about ethics has given me different perspectives on professional life. Sometimes acting
professionally calls for the suppression of personal values in order to serve people. Acting as a professional
means that the customer is right most of the time. Since we deal with all kinds of clients and some of them
are unbearable, I need to show kindness, honesty and trust all the time. Work ethics is about
implementing codes of conduct. I realize that the ACS codes support the placement of public interest at
the center of professionalism [3]. If I try to prove my competency, I will only be stressing myself. To avoid
confrontational situations, it is wise to discuss company policy with the clients. It is good to remember
that the customer has the freedom to make the purchasing decision [12].
As part of self- development, I have learnt to combine personal and professional values. It is evident that
stress is unavoidable today and more people are finding solutions to cope with its effects [13]. The
application of codes of ethics is one way to solve and avoid stress. Choosing to do the right thing is not
easy because it is a win and lose situation. Following professional codes helps me to avoid ethical dilemma,
which leads to feelings of guilt, self-blame and frustration. I choose to follow guidelines in codes of conduct
without ignoring personal values [14]. In doing so, I learn that morality is relative and people get
motivation from different things. In order to avoid legal tussles, it is better to uphold the law.
3. Conclusion
In conclusion, my future learning needs will be to dig deeper into stress management and ICT because
innovation has advantages and disadvantages. People today have learnt to cope with technology and its
changes [15]. However, I realized that every now and then, innovation that purports to solve modern day
problems springs up. As a profession in the field of innovation, I feel there should be ways to help people
cope with these changes. Professionals spend most of their time at work hence stress levels tend to be

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higher at work. An effective approach to performance and improvement in ICT organizations needs to
consider stress management tactics for its employees [16].
4. Bibliography

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[1] L. Raftree, "Rethinking informed concent in digital development," ICT Works, 7 November 2016.
[Online]. Available: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-
Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf. [Accessed 30 August 2017].
[2] T. locke, N. Alcorn and J. & O'Neil, "Ethical issues in Collaborative action research," Educational Action
Research , vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 107-123, 2013.
[3] ACS, "ACS Code of Profesional Conduct," Australian Computer Society, April 2014. [Online]. Available:
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/Code-of-Professional-
Conduct_v2.1.pdf. [Accessed 30 August 2017].
[4] K. Rudd, "Apology to Australia's Indigeneous people's speech delivered in Australian Parliament,"
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Speech, 13 February 2008.
[5] F. Brennan, "Reconciliation and the political virtue of apology," Religion and Ethics, 28 May 2012.
[6] R. Lewicki, D. Saunders, J. Minton, J. Roy and N. Lewicki, Essentials of negotiation, Boston, MA:
McGraw Hill/Irvin, 2011.
[7] M. Clariana, C. Gotzens, D. Badia and R. Cladellas, "Procastination and cheating from secondary
school to university," Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, vol. 10, no. 27, 2012.
[8] A. D. Moses, "Official apologies, reconcilliation, and settler colonialism: Australian indigenous alterity
and polictical agency," Citizenship Studies , vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 145-159, 2011.
[9] ICT Academy, "Stress Management-Myth and Practices," LinkedIn, 3 July 2015.
[10] APA, "Understanding Psychological Association," APA, 2017.
[11] M. Roberts, "Professional ethics and the ACS Code," 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://web.science.mq.edu.au/~mattr/courses/object_oriented_development_practices/7/
notes.html. [Accessed 31 August 2017].
[12] Ethical sales practices, "Ethical sales practices," Business Queensland, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/licensing-obligations/legal-obligations/ethical-
selling/ethical-practices. [Accessed 31 August 2017].
[13] M. Melnick, "20 scientifically Backed ways to destress right now," Huffington Post, 9 September 2013.
[Online]. Available: http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/l/m/B18_1.pdf. [Accessed 31 August 2017].
[14] International Stress Management Association, "ISMA Code of conduct," ISMA UK, 2016. [Online].
Available: http://isma.org.uk/join-isma/code-of-conduct. [Accessed 31 August 2017].
[15] S. Haeflinger and C. Baden-Fuller, "Business Models and Technological Innovation," Long Range
Planning, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 419-426, 2013.
[16] J. Shropshire and C. Kadlec, "I'm leaving the IT field: The impact of stress, job insecurity and burnout

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on IT professionals," INternational Journal of Information and Communication Technology Research,
vol. 2, no. 1, 2012.
[17] Science, "Professional ethics and the ACS Code," [Online]. Available:
http://web.science.mq.edu.au/~mattr/courses/object_oriented_development_practices/7/
notes.html. [Accessed 31 August 2017].