ICT Professional Ethics: Cultural Issues, Conflicts & Telstra Case

This assignment delves into the ethical considerations for ICT professionals, focusing on cultural issues within organizations, conflict of interest scenarios, and the application of ethical frameworks. It uses McDonald’s framework for ethical decision-making to analyze how ICT professionals can navigate cultural changes post-merger. The assignment also discusses the concept of conflict of interest, providing a personal example and strategies for ethical resolution using utilitarian and deontological theories. Furthermore, it reflects on the author's internship experience at Telstra, highlighting the company's values and the importance of ethics in their role as an IT support, emphasizing respect, privacy, and personal integrity. The reflective journal underscores the challenges and rewards of ethical conduct in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of politeness, professionalism, and considerate communication with clients and colleagues. This assignment can be found with other solved assignments and resources for students on Desklib.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
Answer 1
Every organization across the globe regardless of its size has it unique culture that every
employee follows with or without awareness. Work cultures are prone to changes when it merges
with other organization (Hogan and Coote 2014). As an ICT professional the cultural issues that
might impact are:
 Rapid changes: there is possibility if changes after an organization merge with another. The
new administration tries to adopt its new employees rapidly with the new culture.
 Anonymity: it is a matter of concern the fear that arises from the new culture that makes an
employee less confident.
 Modifications: the changes are the most impactful factors in a job role therefore; changes
such as power distance, working hours and factors of incentivizing and so on may become
difficult for the employees to cope.
Acquisition and merger often result in fear for ICT professionals in regard o the future
prospects of their career. After the merging, the objectives and vision of the organization is
usually changes. It also results in changes of the significance of the task being completed by the
employee of the acquired company. Changes in the job roles, transfers, change in management
and teams are some of the changes that may impact.
Answer 2
After the merger, the ICT professionals might find them encountering dilemma while fitting
with new cultures. In this specific scene McDonald’s framework for ethical decision making is
more useful. The framework states:

2INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
 identification of the issue and Collection of information
 seeking feasible alternatives
 seeking correctness of each alternatives through ethical standards that are suitable.
 Testing and proposing the possible resolutions
 Deciding the final choice
The reason for choosing the Mcdonald’s framework for ethical decision making are as follows:
 The framework’s main focus on the issue is with the person. The ethical dilemma in this
case is adjusting to the changed culture in this specific scenario.
 It provides a detailed solution with step by step guidance on the ways situations of ethical
dilemma can be dealt.
 Also, it emphasizes on focusing on all the possible alternatives along with their ethical
dilemma in adjusting to the changed culture.
 It emphasizes on dealing with the situation instead of simply resisting it. it is an essential
aspect for being successful since culture and organizations keep changing.
 Also, it tests the solutions by either application or using other’s experience (Nicholls et al.
2015).
Answer 3
The term ‘conflict of interest’ is a situation where an individual has loyalties or
competing interests. Conflict of interest occurs when a person who has two relationships which
complete with each other in terms of the person’s loyalties (Sah and Loewenstein 2014).

3INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
For example: I may face conflict of interest when I have to be loyal to the organization I
work and also loyalty to my family business. In both the business his loyalty is expected and
expects me to have its best interest first. Therefore, the conflict arises.
In a situation like this, I will aim to keep my personal business and professional business
differently. I will avoid such situations where the two businesses collide. Coming on any
situations as such I will make by decisions based on theory of ethics such as utilitarian and
deontological.
Answer 4
I am doing my internship in Telstra Corporation Limited which is the largest
telecommunications company in Australia that builds and operates telecommunications networks
and markets voice, mobile, pay television, internet access and other products and services
(Telstra.com.au. 2019). I work as an IT support where I check the background of customers and
call them to gather the feedback.
The company’s value is to listen more and serve better. They respect and support each
other like it is done in a family along with stepping up to win. They work to help others stay in
touch with their world and improve the lives of the clients as well as colleagues.
Therefore, there is significance of ethics while performing in the company. I am required
to work with respect towards client and colleague. Privacy is an important part of my job where I
need to be cautious of the information which I should disclose and information that are important
for the company to know (Menzel 2014).
Since it is the largest telecommunication company, it has been very careful in terms of
ethics to protect the company from unnecessary issues. There is need to focus more on the

4INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
personal integrity. However the company is best when it comes to relationship others, as we treat
every people with respect and accountably as the resources are used with care and concern.
Reflective journal:
Working with ethics can be challenging in the workplace as there are several situations
when as human we lose out calm behavior (Johnson 2018). However, working with ethics also
makes working simpler since it adds values to your professional image and it makes a person
trust worthy in the workplace.
I have always been serious about taking my work seriously. I ensure I am polite yet
professional when I have to make calls to the clients or cooperate with the colleagues. There are
certainly instances where I find myself in ethical dilemmas however I try o manage it
considering the ethical theories that I have learned.
I am very considerate about treating people with respect, courtesy and sensitivity. While
communicating with the clients I try to identify their interests, rights and safety as well as
welfare. In my profession safety and welfare mostly includes being careful about the topics we
ask our client. I am honest, timely and act fairly when it comes to decision making or providing
information to clients.

5INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
References:
Hogan, S.J. and Coote, L.V., 2014. Organizational culture, innovation, and performance: A test
of Schein's model. Journal of Business Research, 67(8), pp.1609-1621.
Johnson, C.E., 2018. Organizational ethics: A practical approach. Sage Publications.
Menzel, D.C., 2014. Ethics management for public administrators: Building organizations of
integrity. Routledge.
Nicholls, S.G., Hayes, T.P., Brehaut, J.C., McDonald, M., Weijer, C., Saginur, R. and Fergusson,
D., 2015. A scoping review of empirical research relating to quality and effectiveness of research
ethics review. PloS one, 10(7), p.e0133639.
Sah, S. and Loewenstein, G., 2014. Nothing to declare: Mandatory and voluntary disclosure
leads advisors to avoid conflicts of interest. Psychological science, 25(2), pp.575-584.
Telstra.com.au. 2019. Telstra - Purpose & values - Our company. [online] Available at:
https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/our-company/present/purpose-values [Accessed 28 May
2019].