IB-527, MBA 14th Batch: Ethics and Technology Assignment

This MBA assignment from the University of Dhaka, IB-527 course, explores the ethical dimensions of technology in international business. The paper delves into various ethical concerns arising from the use of technology, including cheating on exams via electronic devices, identity theft facilitated by social networks, the impact of robotics on employment, and the use of artificial intelligence in medicine. It also examines legal issues related to computer usage and data breaches, along with discussions on plagiarism, copyright infringement, and the challenges of enforcing ethical standards across different cultures. The assignment highlights the need for ethical conduct in the workplace and addresses the complexities of privacy and data protection in the digital age, offering a comprehensive overview of the ethical considerations in the rapidly evolving technological landscape of international business.

Course code: IB-527
Department of International Business
Course name: Ethics and Social Responsibility of International Business
Assignment on:
“Ethics and Technology”
Submitted to:
Dr. Abul Khayer
Associate Professor
Department of International Business
University of Dhaka
Submitted by:
Milon Murmu
Roll: JN-030-093
Section: A
Batch: MBA 14th
Department of International Business
University of Dhaka
Date of Submission: October 13, 2022
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Ethics in Information Technology...................................................................................................2
Ethics in technology.......................................................................................................................4
Cheating on exams using Electronics device...............................................................................4
Identity theft.................................................................................................................................5
Robotics Replacing Man..............................................................................................................5
Artificial intelligence usage in medicine and diagnosis..............................................................5
Lawsuits due to Breaches in computer Usage.............................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
Ethics, according to the Dictionary.com says “that branch of philosophy dealing with values
relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to
the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.” In other word philosophical
meaning of right or wrong to determine the correct application of moral notices such as good and
bad or right or wrong. While there are many things to talk about ethics topics but simply contract
to specific topics “ethics in information technology”.
In different section Information Technology define by Information Technology Association of
America (ITAA) as “the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of
computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer
hardware.” In today world it has huge effect in the human life; everything that is done has been
done electronically such as making notes, report making, record of daily transaction etc. Not
only in business sector but in day-to-day life it has an adverse effect. Even in the government
sector almost all the thing is done by using technology. Even in the transportation, factory it is
being used.
Since it has developed so fast and drastically it is difficult to say that what and when changes
will happen in next technology is difficult to say. Even in terms of computer and machineries
things like mobile has gone smaller in size, has gone much faster, and in top of its internet has
make huge changes in IT.
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Ethics in Information Technology
In the era of the Information Technology, IT has become one the life changing matter in
medicine, transportation, banking sector, government sector, security, research sector and so on.
Similarly, it has affected both direction in right and wrong in aspect of community life,
education, freedom, relationship, age, law and so on.
As a part of IT, Internet has made big impact in revolution of global communication. Internet has
opened the door for people to share lots of things such as find and share views in internet, find
much information in web. It has given the facility for online shopping, online grocery where
everything can be found, all we have to do is add in basket and pay after finishing shopping.
Now a day’s most of the bank has given online facilities so that one can manage their daily
transaction by sitting in a room. Due to this reason, it has gone so far that it has created conflict
in different cultural. From last couples of year’s e-dating has emerged so drastically in western
country, people with fake name and address are dating online. So many of the Muslim country
has banded the e-dating side. Pornography in the western and some of the eastern country has
become the business means but some the eastern country still doesn’t allow any pornography
websites in their country. So, in Western country there is no violation done by the e-dating and
pornography as long as it in law but in the Eastern country it is unacceptable and unethical.
As a responsibility of the social network, it is our duty to act ethical towards the workplace and
everyone knows that what right from wrong. There may be many people (users) to act
unethically and there is no one to stop these acts from them. There are many companies who kept
track the employees report, personal mail or work mail, or the uses of internet as its policy or to
secure any important files that may not be leak outside or to stop doing and side job or personal
business using company computer system. This is done by the company to shirk any employees
from any legal charge that may not be legal of their company, though there may be big issue
against the privacy. So, to overcome such issue all company have their own law and policies
against the unethical behavior in the workplace. So, each company having any electronic tracing
have to formed staff so that there may be balance in company ethical and privacy issue.
As on the privacy, some people collect some private information such as the name of person
address, contact address, email address, card details and so on sell this information to other
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company or some people. As increasing use of social networking such as Facebook, hi5, twitter
this personal information have become handy to anyone. So, the identity theft and credit card
theft have been happening using these social networking. So, to overcome such things this
company are giving some option to increases the privacy.
Obviously, someone’s creation or invention is legally protected or copyright or may have
trademark to sell that brand only by that company or person. Making duplicate CD or sharing of
music, videos, software of copyright protected is illegal. P2P has become commonly used
unethical software. It has abuse of right and made every one guilty against the ethics. P2P is not
against the law. But the way it is being use is illegal. Uploading and downloading of trademark
or copyright software, files, document, music, videos is said to be illegal. As doing P2P and
making duplicate CD affected the Copyright Protected Company. They may lose their income.
Which means government is also losing the money. Yet e law against copying or sharing the
copyright protected thing, but it was unsuccessful. So, to overcome these copying and sharing
the copyright protected thing, company use P2P as to promote their sales. They started to give
some trial software for free. Even Music Company gives some sample song to listen and
persuade to buy the song. Still their Videos or movies company has not came to promote videos
and stop pirating or sharing except promoting tailors in the internet such as YouTube, Daily
motions and so on. So far so as it has created some relief to company and some publisher but still
it is believed as unethical.
In the other case Plagiarism play significant role in doing work by itself or copying from other.
In internet everything and any information can be found. So, the user copy and put the
information for own used. And some argue as their own creation. Especially journal, students of
universities, colleges, schools and even some writers are most likely to be guilty. Copying is not
a plagiarism or unethical if he gives proper footnote and references.
In addition, “Being ethical is doing what the law requires.” Each country has its own law for
their public. Till now there is no such thing which bound all the international country in one law.
Any information or thing posted may be legal to one country man be legal to other country. For
example, Voice over Internet Protocol is legal to most to country UK US but the country like
Nepal, Bhutan and so on it is illegal. In some countries like China, UK, Arabian countries
regularly filtering website with illegal content or may be against law of country. Thought there
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may be unethical acts that are not covered by the law of country. Hiding or lying the private
things it is not supposed to be guilty against law. But trustworthy to the law is completely
measured as ethical.
Ethics in technology
We believe in modern era, the era of modern technology and innovation. Our lives are encircled
by modern creations. These technology and advancement have surely brought comfort and ease
in our live but unfortunately, the use of modern technology has also given rise to many ethical
problems out of which few are a topic of discussion in this assignment. The define of ethics are
standards of moral conduct. Personal ethics guide one’s personal life, business ethics provides
the standards of conduct guiding business decision and computer ethics provides the standards
with respect to computers and computers use.
The most widely used modern technology is computer and there are many ethical issues rising
due to people misusing this devise. Some of the problem faced by the computer are given below.
Cheating on exams using Electronics device
Cheating is using unfair means to achieve anything. Cheating is used in different contexts but
this assignment discusses the use of electronics device during cheating in educational context.
Cheating has been the most commonly used method adopted by students in order to get good
grades in exams. The fear of being caught and being disqualified from exams ia quite high but
this fear does not stop student from crating during exam. Cheating can deeply hearm the overall
process of education. Cheating undermines the use of assessment data as both indicators of
students learning and sources of feedback for instructional planning.
The act of cheating is quite common nowadays. According to CNN, a survey conducted on
students declare that more every 7 in 10 students have been involved in cheating of sort during
their academic life. Among the different methods uses in cheating, the term plagiarism is quite
popular. It is a using material from others sources and labeling your own name on it. Plagiarism
is the so-called gift of technology. Student have access to missions of sites from where they can
search materials for their assignment or reports and can get flying color without even knowing
anything about the topics. Cheating during examination has been made easy my many new
devices among which cell phone are most popular. Every latest cell phone is equipped internet,
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camera, and other accessories. All a student can do is search the information and write it on the
answer sheet. Using headphone during exams in also quite popular in order to get help in getting
answer.
Identity theft
Identity theft is a process through which a criminal gets access is the personal information of a
person and uses it for his or her own benefits. Identity theft is most the most common crime that
are committed by using technology in a negative way. There were times when identity theft was
very difficult. Criminals wasted hours in searching information for their victims, unfortunately
there are some modern electronics devices, which have made this whole process of identity theft
very easy. According to the bureau of justices, around 23% American households faced identity
theft at some times during 2010. This percentage is shocking as there has been an increasing in
the number of reports of identity thefts from 2005 which was 18%.
Robotics Replacing Man
Robotics is one of the most amazing technological advancements that has occurred in the 21st
century. The use of robotics in industry, especially the manufacturing industry is increasing day
by day. There is no denying the fact that robotics has made production much easier, error free
and fast, but the harsh reality is that this replacement of man over robotics has deprived an
apprentice from the pride of workmanship. The use of robotics has resulted in loss of jobs for
people. Many blue-chip companies like Mitsubishi General Electronic, Toyota have replaced
humans with robotics. For them, their production line and the degree of perfections is much more
important than the value of human capital. A skilled worker is deprived from his job on the
argument that a robot can produce 200% more pieces than human. Loss of jobs is blamed on
unstable economy, while the fact is that automation is the main culprit that causes skilled
workers to loss their jobs. The manufacturing industries along with agricultural industries are
most affected by the robotics force. In addition to this, the minute jobs of assisting professionals
in their work are all eliminated due to the use of robotics.
Artificial intelligence usage in medicine and diagnosis
AI, the abbreviation for artificial Intelligence is a topic that is very much in debate nowadays.
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The ethical dilemmas associated with AI are quite complicated. A cyber doctor may be error free
but it lacks the understanding of human emotions and the ability to learn from past events. When
comparing the medical practice of a human practitioner with AI, one can easily understand that
the term experience is missing from it. Humans learn from what have witness and that helps
them to gain experience. On contrast, machines are programmed and do whatever they
programmed for, so the element of feelings, trust, credibility is missing from them. They will
continue doing whatever is programmed in then and that can lead to confusion. The ability to
choose what is best for the patient along with respecting the inclinations of a patient is also
lacking in medical practice of AI. The ethical problem that arises when a machine is involved in
medical practice is numerous. The traditional relationship between them, a common
understanding and trust are all ethical issues that are arising by incorporating technology in
medicine.
Lawsuits due to Breaches in computer Usage
Lawsuits that are result in privacy issue are at its peak nowadays. The user’s files lawsuits
against big companies because of the violations of their privacy in several instances. This year,
LinkedIn, the world’s most famous professional network faced similar lawsuit. A woman named
Kitie Szpyrka sued the company as her password was hacked and published in a Russian
website. LinkedIn defended them that only the passwords were hacked and the hackers cannot
log in to the original user’s accounts, however the company had to face a remarkable 5-million-
dollar lawsuit.
Similarly, another example was reported when woman named Maggie Campbell field a lawsuit
against eBay, the largest selling website. According to her, the company fails to provides
protection to its users against the frauds who are involved in tricking the buyers. The case also
involved PayPal, the most famous payment. In addition to it, the plaintiff also accused both the
companies of spying at the personal computer of the user by installing spyware on their system
which has access to the personal information of the user. She accused both the companies that
hey are invading the privacy of the users who are using this site to buy and sell stuff.
Another very interesting lawsuit was filed against Facebook. Facebook is the largest social
network site and is very famous. A lawsuit was filed against Facebook which consisted of 15
billion dollars. The lawsuit was that Facebook stalks its users when they are log in to their
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account as well as when they logged out. Facebook has very Strick policy on privacy and by
invading the personal lives of their users, it seems that they are violating the policy created by
them. It is unethical in every sense and is quite dangerous too as the user personal information
can be used for dangerous purpose also.
Above mentioned lawsuit is a classic example of the lack of ethical policies in the businesses.
Businesses have no clear-cut policies that would prevent them as well as their users from doing
unethical conduct. The act of security breaches and privacy invasion are just lack of a proper
code of conduct that should exit in business. eBay and PayPal would have prevented that lawsuit
against them if they had respected the privacy of their users. The act of increasing their business
and using the personal information of users is unethical. Further lawsuits against these big
companies can be avoided if a proper ethical computer use policies such as respect for the
privacy can be adopted.
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Conclusion
Information Technology is one of the diverse fields than imagine and is related to the ethics in
various ways. Most of the people are unknown how they have abuse of Ethical benchmark in
information technology. So rather than taking about the ethics, people should get aware to do
something ethical.
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References
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