Information Technology Ethics: Dilemma Resolution with Frameworks

This essay addresses an ethical dilemma faced by Ilnaz, a woman from Iran offered a job in Australia, where she must work closely with a male colleague, conflicting with her religious beliefs. The essay employs the Thomas White methodology, emphasizing the importance of considering practical consequences and ethical actions, weighing potential harms and benefits, and adhering to principles of honesty, fairness, and respect. It also applies the ACS Code of Ethics, highlighting the primacy of public interest, professional development, and maintaining professionalism. The analysis guides Ilnaz to resolve her dilemma by ensuring professional conduct, respecting societal values, and carefully evaluating the potential harms and benefits of her actions in alignment with her religious principles and ethical obligations. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and study resources.

Running head: INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY ETHICS
Information Technology Ethics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY ETHICS
In the factual scenario, Ilnaz is a 22 year old woman from Iran who was offered a job in an
Australian Company and she accepted the offer readily. Reporting to her job she found that she has to
work with a male colleague as both of them shall be working on the same project. Ilaz is facing a dilemma
as it is not permissible in her religion to work with an isolated and unrelated man but she also wants to
keep the job.
Thomas White methodology
As per the Thomas White methodology, it is important to look at an ethical dilemma from the
approach of solving it by applying two kinds of approaches- first, to check the practical consequences and
the second is to look at the actions governing it. To begin with, it is essential to be on the right side of the
law and then look at the consequences of act from the point of it either being positive or negative. In
gauging the harm, it is important to see what kind of harm might accrue and then the benefit and the harm
has to be weighed up against each other. After the consequences have been analyzed, it is important to
examine the actions and check them on the lines of honesty, fairness and also respecting the dignity of
others (Leicester 2016). The question that the company needs to consider along with Ilnaz is if the actions
of the company crossing a line and is the violation a simple case of decency or a violation of an ethical
principle (Van den Hoven, Miller and Pogge 2017). In resolving the dilemma, the options should be
considered by Ilnaz to select the one which is less problematic and ethically viable for her. Therefore,
applying the Thomas White methodology, to resolve the dilemma, Ilnaz has to check if working with a
male colleague is against her religion and primary principles or it an important ethical violation which is
posing a threat to her family life.
ACS Code of Ethics
As per the ACS Code of Conduct, it is important to maintain professional behavior and abide by
the principles of ethics. As per the ACS Code of ethics, it is important to advance the principles of honour
and dignity and also remain professional in the conduct (Wang and Calvano 2015). The 3 important
principles that come under the Code of Ethics are:
1. Primacy of Public Interest
2. Professional Development
3. Professionalism
As per these three principles, it is important to keep the interest of the public ahead of personal
goals or business and also help in the professional development of oneself and their colleague.
Maintaining professionalism in a business set up is essential which also mandates that the integrity of the
society should be upheld and also members of the society should be respected (Acs.org.au. (2018).
ACS).
Applying the above mentioned Code and methodology, Ilnaz has to resolve her dilemma by
making sure that she is professional in her conduct and also respects everyone in the society and weight
the harm and benefit of her actions.

2INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY ETHICS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Acs.org.au. (2018). ACS - The Professional Association for Australia's ICT sector. [online] Available at:
https://www.acs.org.au/ [Accessed 28 Aug. 2018].
Leicester, N., 2016. Ethics in the IT Profession: Does a Code of Ethics have an Effect on Professional
Behaviour?.
van den Hoven, J., Miller, S. and Pogge, T. eds., 2017. Designing in ethics. Cambridge University Press.
Wang, L.C. and Calvano, L., 2015. Is business ethics education effective? An analysis of gender,
personal ethical perspectives, and moral judgment. Journal of Business Ethics, 126(4), pp.591-602.