MN501 - Ethical Issues Arising from ICT Use in Software Development

This report examines the ethical issues arising from the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) within a software development company. The case study focuses on a company that released a tax software package known to contain bugs, leading to penalties for users from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The report identifies two primary ethical concerns: the president's decision to release the faulty software and the company's prioritization of market share over product quality and user welfare. These issues are analyzed through the lens of ethical theories, including consequence-based, duty-based, contract-based, and character-based ethics, revealing that the company's actions were unethical on multiple fronts. The report concludes that the company should have prioritized thorough testing and bug fixes before release, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in software development and the potential negative consequences of prioritizing profits over user needs. Desklib provides students with access to similar solved assignments and resources.

Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES FROM ICT
Ethical Issues Arising from Use of ICT Technologies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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ETHICAL ISSUES FROM ICT
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................2
2. Identification of Ethical Values..........................................................................................................2
3. Analysis of Ethical Issues with Ethical Theories Framework..............................................................3
4. Discussion on Findings.......................................................................................................................3
5. Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................4
6. References.........................................................................................................................................5

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1. Introduction
The ICT or information and communications is the subset of information technology, which
stresses on the integration of computers, required enterprise software, unified communications,
storage, audio visual systems and middleware for accessing, storing, transmitting and finally
manipulating the confidential information [5]. There are various ethical issues related to this
particular technology of information and communications technology. The following report outlines
a brief discussion on the case study of a software development company. This particular company
has produced a new software package for incorporating the new tax laws as well as figure tax for
smaller businesses and individuals. The president is aware of the fact that this software has bugs and
due to this, various issues has occurred and the users were penalized by the Australian Tax Officer.
The ethical issues will be identified and analyzed with ethical theories framework.
2. Identification of Ethical Values
The president of the software development company knows that the software has bugs and
in spite of knowing this fact has launched the software package [9]. When this organization has
shipped the program CD, the disclaimer of responsibility is being included in it for the resulting
errors from the utilization of this program. This organization has the expectation that it would be
receiving several complaints, suggestions or queries for better modification and then they would
make the changes and make the updated, improved and debugged versions. The respective
president has argued that this is the general industry policies and the person, who would be buying
the 1.0 version of this program, would be taking necessary precautions [2]. Due to the presence of
bugs, various users have filed the incorrect tax returns and then were fined by this ATO or Australian
Tax Office.
The two distinct ethical issues identified in this particular scenario are as follows:
i) President Allowing Software with Bugs: The first and the foremost ethical issue that is
being identified in this particular case study is that the president even after knowing the fact the
new software package consists of bugs, have allowed to produce this particular software for the
users of that company [6]. This is extremely unethical since, it would be hampering the image of the
organization.
ii) Thinking only of Market Share: The specific software package that has been produced by
this software development organization is incorporating the new tax laws as well as figure taxes. This
refers to the fact that the software is related to laws and taxes. It is absolutely unethical and illegal

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to produce such software that would be incorporating new laws [10]. Moreover, the management of
the organization is only considering about the largest market share of them, which is also an
unethical factor.
3. Analysis of Ethical Issues with Ethical Theories Framework
The proper analysis of the identified ethical issues with the framework of ethical theories is
given below:
i) President Allowing Software with Bugs: According to the ethical theories framework,
which include consequence, duty, contract and character based theories, the first and the foremost
ethical issue in this scenario is completely unethical [7]. The consequence of this particular ethical
issue is that the organization would be losing its good will and brand name with type of software
package. It is the duty of the president of this organization to provide error free and proper software
package for its users, so that the users do not face any issue due to this. Moreover, the software
organization has a legalized contract between the management and the users and with the
production of this type of software, they are breaking the contract and hence the users are being
penalized by the ATO or Australian Tax Officer [3]. The presence of bugs in the software has not only
degraded the quality of the software, but also is affecting the overall brand name of the company.
ii) Thinking only of the Largest Market Share: The second ethical issue that has been
identified in this particular scenario of this software development company is that the respective
president is only thinking about the largest market shares. Hence, he is allowing the software with
bugs [8]. According to the ethical theories framework, which include
consequence, duty, contract and character based theories; this particular issue is extremely
unethical. The consequence of this issue is that they would be losing their customers and the
organization might be facing several issues due to this. The duty of the software development
company is to provide the software without bugs and provide the updated version for restricting the
issues and problems for their users [1]. Since, this software is incorporating the new tax laws as well
as the figure taxes; there is a legal contract between the users and the company. The character of
the president is completely unethical since he is only concerned about the largest market share.
These two ethical issues are properly analyzed as per the ethical theories framework that
included the consequence, duty, contract and character based theories.

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4. Discussion on Findings
The best decision in this scenario is to check the software package before producing it for
the users. This new software package is incorporating the new tax laws as well as the figure taxes
and hence it should be free from errors and issues [6]. When this organization is shipping the CD of
their software program, they should ensure that the software does not comprise of any error. The
planning that they have made regarding the making of the up graded, improvised and debugged
versions of the software only after getting several complaints, suggestions and queries from the
users; is completely wrong and unethical [4]. They should make the necessary changes before
providing it to the users. As a consequence, for the presence of bugs within the software, several
numbers of users have filed the incorrect tax returns and then were fined by this ATO or Australian
Tax Office. In the ethical perspective, this is absolutely unethical, as the users were penalized even
when they did not have any fault. The Australian Tax Office did not listen to this case and the only
sufferers here were the users [3]. Moreover, the software that has wrong data regarding legalized
matters or tax laws is not at all ethical in nature. In practical and legal means, the software with
wrong data is not at all correct and could bring several issues within the organization.
5. Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that ICT or information and
communications technology is the component as well as infrastructure, which enable the modern
computing. The major components of the ICT system are internet enabled spheres and mobiles.
Moreover, it even involves the antiquated technologies like landline telephones, radio or television
broadcast and many more. The above report has properly explained the ethical issues in the
information and communication technology for the case study of a specific software development
company. The newer tax laws and the figure taxes are incorporated for the smaller businesses and
individuals. The largest market share is captured for believing that it is the first firm that has
launched the new software, in spite of knowing that it has bugs. This report has properly identified
the various ethical issues in this particular scenario.

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6. References
[1] Mason, Richard O. "Four ethical issues of the information age." In Computer Ethics, pp. 41-48.
Routledge, 2017.
[2] Dewey, John. Ethics. Read Books Ltd, 2016.
[3] Slade, Sharon, and Paul Prinsloo. "Learning analytics: Ethical issues and dilemmas." American
Behavioral Scientist 57, no. 10 (2013): 1510-1529.
[4] Noddings, Nel. Caring: A relational approach to ethics and moral education. Univ of California
Press, 2013.
[5] Fromm, Erich. Man for himself: An inquiry into the psychology of ethics. Routledge, 2013.
[6] Crane, Andrew, and Dirk Matten. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press, 2016.
[7] Peters, Richard Stanley. Ethics and Education (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2015.
[8] Sorokin, Pitirim. Social and cultural dynamics: A study of change in major systems of art, truth,
ethics, law and social relationships. Routledge, 2017.
[9] Durkheim, Emile. Professional ethics and civic morals. Routledge, 2013.
[10] Keown, Damien. The nature of Buddhist ethics. Springer, 2016.