Ethical Dilemma Case Study: Ken's Workplace Conflict

Desklib provides solved assignments and past papers to help students succeed.

ASSESMENT ITEM 2
1

Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................4
Australian Computer Society Code of Professional Conduct................................................................5
References...........................................................................................................................................10
2

Introduction
The information technology is particularly based upon which arises at the workplace and
tends to create the situation which hampers the individual’s performance in the organisation.
Information technology ethics are related to the individual’s responsibilities and actions
which are related to the matters of the company or organisation. The ethics of the company
involved securing the information and following the policies which are in order of ethical
use. This report concludes about the Involvement of Australian Computer society code and
the ethical dilemma which Ken was facing and consequences related to it. Ken case study is
based upon the videos which we will be discussing in this report.

3

Ethical Dilemma
In accordance with videos it shows that Ken was undergoing through the situation of ethical
dilemma which is related to his current job profile. The main question here was he should
fight back or put resignation and leave the organisation. The video depicts that the Ken has
made the mistake and he was not able to deliver the assigned work on time and also he made
the mistakes at time which was not at all negligible at any point of time.
Afterwards, Ken has chosen the option of resigning from the organisation without even
discussing with the senior management and even his manager about the issues.Ken has signed
which contains clause according to that he can for one month in the organisation but he
decides to leave the organisation. He has taken the loan from the company’s loan department
and fails to pay the Emi which is showing that he is not at all responsibility for his doings and
it is major consequence on the Ken’s part (Gotterbarn, 2013).
The failures which arises in the payments of EMI created the situation of deporting the Ken
and at the same time company’s loan department officer told Ken that if you will pay the next
Emi in regular intervals which may increase the chances of getting not deported. The chances
may allow the Ken to work continuously in the organisation and achieve success.
Australian Computer Society Code of Professional Conduct
ACS code of professional is the Australian computer society and ACS code of ethics is also
includes as the part of ACS constitution. The members of ACS contain the self-esteem,
honour and effectiveness of the professional as it speaks about the person who is following
the code and acting in according with the law.
The Australian Computer Society has ethical values which are require in the working of the
company and it also maintains the professional environment at the workplace are as follows:
The primacy of public interest
Their main purpose is to get the attention and popularity from the country people. In
accordance with this code of conduct the difficulties which begin at the workplace and should
be resolved in the interest of community. Ken was going through the situation of dilemma in
taking the decision related to his job and what decision which will be beneficial for them and
4

will result in his favour. The public interest refers to the taking care of the things which are
related to health and safety and the environment of the public (Caldwell & Peters, 2018).
The enhancement of quality of life
It included the development of culture in the organisation and it has several benefits which
also have pros and cons due to the emergence of the upgraded technology every now and
then. There are chances when the effect of these can be less and it can be resembled with the
involvement of ethical approach in the work place or organisation. ICT ensures that every
employee of the company has equal benefits and provides access to the same which acts as a
betterment in their life.
Honesty
The effective working and balancing of the organisation requires the honesty among every
person who is involved in working of the organisation. In the organisation they cannot break
the trust of the people which are involved in the business activities with your company. Every
action which is pursued by the company should include proper explanation for the same and
these things should be followed with ultimate dignity and honesty which depicts the image of
the organisation that they are working in the professional manner.
Competence
The employee should always remain open and acceptance towards their job role which he or
she is pursuing and they should according to their abilities and capabilities without having
any sort of hesitation towards the work. They should always be open to seek the guidance and
advice from the senior management people and should do the work according to the policies
and framework of the company. Ken has made the mistake at this point as he has signed the
contract without having proper knowledge it and what consequences it may bring to the table.
Professional Development
The professional development is much required at the time of your proper working and Ken
should have reacted in the professional manner when he took the decision of leaving the
company. He should have discussed the whole scenario with the management and have taken
the action in accordance with that which would provide benefit to Ken in the log run
(Resnik,2016).
5

6

Professionalism
These days changes emerges very rapidly in the ICT industry and it has been followed by the
people. The ACS put emphasis on taking the public self-assurance in the ICT industries. The
society member focuses on maintaining the set standard of rules and regulations which helps
in developing goodwill of industry especially at the office or outside. The ACS can also help
in resolving the ethical dilemmas in effective and efficient which provides the support in
taking the proper decisions.
7

Recommendations
In accordance with the situation of Ken we would have used the approached of professional
development as there are numerous things which are required at the workplace on
professional basis as they have proper involvement of high authorities. The involvement of
employees and team members should be done on fair and equal basis by considering all the
aspects which are involved in the company or organisation and in return helps in generating
maximum returns.
According to ECS ethics rule in the organisation they have to maintain truthfulness,
professionalism, ability and public attention at the workplace for the employees. The work
completion requires certain amount of time in but the requirement of the work can arise on
the immediate basis which can affect the whole working environment of the company. Ken
was in the stage of dilemma as he was not able to make the decision regarding to stay in the
office or straight away put the organisation. He has taken the option of resigning from the
company as he was failed to pay the EMI as the loan was taken from the company’s loan
department (Verschoor,2018).
Ken has been deported which was crucial thing for him but on the top of it company people
offered him to stay in the company and provided him one month extension for the desired
time. The company also provided him the alternate that he can pay the future instalments on
time which will increase his chances of staying in the organisation for a longer duration and
continue his working in the proper manner. Ken communicated with the higher authorities of
the company about the situation he was trapped in and also asked them to provide the
guidance which will provide the benefits for them in the long run (Lowery &Beadles,2014) .
They have provided the ethical advice on which how they should continue their work with
the reasons and in return he did not make the same mistake again in his life. They also put
emphasis on the action which is incurred in your professional role which may or may not
impact the image of the profession in a specific manner.
The rules of ACS do not allow the company or any organisation to deliver the wrong message
to the general public and their customer about their product and services which are used in
the organisation. Ken got helped from the organisation and after getting proper knowledge he
resolved his ethical dilemma and took the steps which he felt is beneficial for him in the long
run.
8

References
 Gotterbarn, D. (2013). 13. ICT governance
and what to do about the toothless tiger (s):
Professional organisations and codes of
ethics1. Professionalism in the Information
and Communication Technology Industry, 3,
267.
 Caldwell, C., & Peters, R. (2018). New
employee onboarding–psychological
contracts and ethical perspectives. Journal
of Management Development, 37(1), 27-
39.
 Lowery, C. M., Duesing, R. J., & Beadles,
N. A. (2014). A research note on the
relationships among spirituality,
contextual variables, and perceptions of
ethics in the workplace. Journal of
Managerial Issues, 408-423.
 Resnik, D. B. (2016). Employees as
research participants: ethical and policy
issues. IRB: Ethics & Human
Research, 38(4), 11-16.
 Suder, S. and Siibak, A., (2017).
Employers as nightmare readers: an
analysis of ethical and legal concerns
regarding employer-employee practices on

9

SNS. Baltic Journal of Law &
Politics, 10(2), pp.76-106.
 Verschoor, C. C. (2018). ETHICAL
CHALLENGES IN THE WORKPLACE
PERSIST: Occupational fraud and abuse,
employee incivility, and other ethical
issues and misdeeds are still occurring
frequently in the workplace. Strategic
Finance, 100(5), 23-25.
10