ICT351 Case Study: Analysis of Smith Engineering's Ethical Dilemma

This case study report analyzes an ethical dilemma within Smith Engineering, an Australian civil engineering firm. The scenario involves the selection of a tender-making template, with the CIO advocating for ReportBase despite the availability of a cheaper and potentially superior alternative, ReportBuilder, and a tool developed by an employee. The report examines the current situation, known facts, involved personnel, and potential ethical issues, including conflicts of interest and prioritizing personal gain over the organization's best interests. It applies "Doing Ethics Techniques" to evaluate the situation and proposes a solution, emphasizing a SWOT analysis to assess the available options. The report concludes by recommending the employee-developed tool while acknowledging the risks associated with new technology adoption. The document aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the ethical considerations in the ICT professional practice.

Running head: SMITH ENGINEERING
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Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Analyzing the Case Using Doing-Ethics Techniques......................................................................2
Current scenario...........................................................................................................................2
The known facts...........................................................................................................................3
Issues............................................................................................................................................3
Affected Personnel.......................................................................................................................4
Ethical issues and implications....................................................................................................5
Solution for the issue...................................................................................................................5
Options.........................................................................................................................................6
Best option and Why...................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The employees of an organisation are bound to follow a set of guidelines and ethical
policies which is known as ICT code of conduct (Avgerinou, Bertoldi and Castellazzi 2017). The
ICT Code of Conduct is not a document that has to be followed line by line while working in an
organization but to understand what is professionally right thing to do and what is not. This
report shows the analysis of an ongoing situation in Smith Engineering, which an Australian
Civil Engineering firm which has a business strategy for adoption of templates used for making
different project tenders. The report also discusses about the various aspects of the field and also
discusses any ethical issues (if present) regarding this, the solutions to the problems are also
discussed.
Analyzing the Case Using Doing-Ethics Techniques
Current scenario
Smith Engineering which is an Australian Civil Engineering Firm has a standardized
template developed for the usage of making Tenders for various projects in which they are
associated with. Analysis has been performed for improvising the process of tender making
(Harahap 2018). The further procedure would incorporate finding a superior arrangement
because of the costs that it brings about over the creation of the delicate archives that the present
format is in charge of. The company itself has developed the template and the completion of the
template took a couple of years (Dobrzeniecka and Kawecki 2015). While dispensing the
venture, it was emphatically recommended to search for another item named ReportBase that

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was alluded as the best item for the specific capacity, by the CIO of the organization through the
leader of the office, Gary Tallent.
The known facts
ReportBuilder, an alternative for the product developed by the country was found after a
thorough investigation. ReportBuilder was not only better than the ReportBase as suggested by
the CIO but it also comes at a very cheaper rate. Smith Engineering Company has in-house
Internet Technology Experts who are efficient enough to set up and customize any new product
that is needed for the development of the company. Nonetheless, the CIO of the organization has
proposed of an abroad place of programming advancement, who can do the establishment just as
the customization at a less expensive rate (Davidekova, Mjartan and GREGUŠ 2017). Further
examination uncovered that Gary Tallent, the leader of the division has a benevolent association
with the supervisor of the ReportBase and an investor of the company. The last significant
actuality that depends inside is that there is another substance the board apparatus that the
representative accountable for the investigation has figured in a side task (Wan et al. 2018). The
device that is figured by the examiner himself is equipped for making structural designing
tenders and could be connected to any word report alongside the records that Smith Engineering
employments. In addition, this substance the executives instrument is likewise highlighted so that
the device will naturally check for the refreshed models, for example, Australian measures
(Arulrajah et al. 2015). The tender made out of this tool is expected to meet the expectations and
will be devoid of any data that is outdated or consists of the standardized information.
Issues

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The investigations have revealed a few facts about the company which making it very
difficult for taking any decisions for the accurate products required for desired functioning of the
system. The primary concern was to choose between the two equally relevant products,
ReportBase and ReportBuilder. ReportBase was the tool that was insisted upon by the CIO of the
company. The later was suggested as it was cheaper and more effective. Though the performance
analysis of the tool does not bring it up to the list of the consideration, it is the price of the
equipment for which it is preferred for. Though ReportBase product’s trustworthiness cannot be
confirmed either as it is found after investigation that the company CIO mr Gary Tallent holds a
firm share in the company that produces the tool. Hence it can also be concluded that Gary and
the company of the ReportBase’s manager are promoting the tool in the race (Johnson and
Romney 2017). Thus the trustworthiness of the tool cannot be determined as the tool is used for
promotion in the Smith Engineering company, with the CIO himself being involved in doing so.
The analyst of the company is responsible for the demonstration of the product developed by
himself in front of the CIO of the organization. As the tool has not been used in any other
organization, its worth cannot be determined without prior analysis.
Affected Personnel
The most affected personnel in this situation are the stake holders who have made
investment in the company. Question can arise from the analyst for the preference of ReportBase
over ReportBuilder. The interpersonal relationship between the company building the
ReportBase tool and the Smith Engineering company CIO Gary Tallent can come into light and
that can create turmoil in the whole scenario, which is expected to reflect back to the analyst also
(Babalola 2018). Second occasion could be advancing the independent instrument of the
investigator and on the off chance that any issue happens, the examiner will be considered

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mindful, for which his activity could be in question. Apart from that, if CIO’s choice is taken
into consideration by the analyst and any issue occurs at the time of implementation, Both the
CIO and the analyst is to be held responsible. And finally the business and the stakeholders will
be affected enormously. And with the business at stake, the employees and the customers
attached to the business will be affected too (Hashemi, Ahmed, and Khan 2015)..
Ethical issues and implications
The main moral issue that continues in the situation is in regards to satisfying own
advantage independent of the impacts it infers over the association or others. The main case
would be the reference from Gary about ReportBase to have it actualized. In spite of the fact that
there is no such learning about the presentation of the apparatus yet, the reference of the
instrument by Gary is practically sure because of his relationship with the device organization.
On the off chance that there is no learning about the presentation of the device and only because
of the reference of higher authorities the apparatus is actualized then it will be most likely a
moral issue with respect to the business. Serving personal responsibility over the enthusiasm of
the association is profoundly dishonest (Ferrell 2016). Second situation would be the place the
expert will recommend the device that he created. With no market history or research an
association can't just execute any apparatus on their procedures. It is known to all, that without
the execution of any device into any live procedure it is beyond the realm of imagination to
expect to distinguish the deficiencies that are available inside the device. Consequently, to give
his item a start in the expert world; the examiner cannot just place the business into hazard.
Solution for the issue

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The main answer for staying away from this perplexity among the workers and the
controlling specialists is to examine the majority of the accessible alternatives and to distinguish
the chances and dangers of the device. A SWOT examination of the considered instruments must
be done as such that the majority of the preferences and the detriments can be uncovered and a
fixed decision can be made about the thought about devices (Phadermrod, Crowder and Wills
2019). For this situation, nobody could be blamed for satisfying their very own enthusiasm
through the matter of the organization. A reasonable judgment could reached to about the choice
of the tools used for the ideal requirement.
Options
There are number options available for the issue that has been discussed above. These are
the options that the analysts can opt for. Three tools are considered in total, the ReportBase that
is suggested by the CIO Gary Tallent, the tool developed by the analyst and the ReportBuilder
that is cheaper in all aspect.
Best option and Why
The ideal way to determine the functionality of the tool is analysis of all of them to check
for the best option after that. As indicated by the report the best decision for the organization's
prerequisite is the device created by the analyst. It is so in light of the fact that there will be no
need of additional speculation and the organization can utilize the apparatus as a test execution.
In addition, on the off chance that any issues happen, at that point further investigation should be
possible and another device can be chosen from the accessible ones.
Conclusion

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Hence, after a brief consideration, it can be concluded that the there are some risks and
threats and problems in costing that can arrive in an organization where a new tool has to be
employed. Despite of the risks, usage of the tool developed by the analyst is preferred for the
organization is beneficial. The tool that is created by the analyst can be linked to the word
document that is profoundly used by the organization, there is no requirement for building a
template at all. Hence, tenders can be made without the hassle of templates.

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References
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leadership and workplace conflicts: The mediating role of employee resolution efficacy. Journal
of Management, 44(5), pp.2037-2063.
Davidekova, M., Mjartan, M. and GREGUŠ, M., 2017. IMPLEMENTING VIRTUAL
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Decision Making And The Success Of Tender Bids In Procurement Of Services Construction At
PT Inalum (Persero). In 1st Economics and Business International Conference 2017 (EBIC
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and reputational losses for process facilities. Process Safety Progress, 34(4), pp.373-382.
Johnson, R.G. and Romney, M., 2017. Boosterism or Audience Interest?: An Examination of
Self-Promotion on Sports-Network Highlight Shows. Journal of Sports Media, 12(2), pp.1-23.
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