7101ICT Professional Issues Assignment 1: Case Study Analysis

This assignment presents a detailed analysis of two case study scenarios focusing on professional issues in software engineering. The first scenario, "To Ship or Not to Ship," explores the ethical dilemma faced by a Quality Assurance Engineer who must decide whether to release a product despite pote...Read More

Student Name
Student No.
7101ICT
Trimester n, 202n
Professional Issues Assignment 1
Due Date: time, dd/mm/yy
Lecturer: David Tuffley
Campus (NA, LG, GC):

Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Analysis 3
2.1. Legal factors...............................................................................3
2.1.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................3
2.1.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................3
2.2. Professional factors....................................................................3
2.2.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................3
2.2.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................4
2.3. Employment and Social factors..................................................4
2.3.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................4
2.3.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................4
2.4. Personal factors..........................................................................5
2.4.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................5
2.4.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................5
2.5. Intrinsic factors............................................................................6
2.5.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................6
2.5.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................6
2.6. Prioritisation................................................................................7
2.6.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................7
2.6.1. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................7
2.7. Decision......................................................................................8
2.7.1. Scenario 1.1.........................................................................8
2.7.2. Scenario 1.2.........................................................................9
3. Discussion 10
3.1.1. Scenario 1.1.......................................................................10
3.1.2. Scenario 1.2.......................................................................10
4. Conclusion 11
4.1.1. Scenario 1.1.......................................................................11
4.1.2. Scenario 1.2.......................................................................11
5. References 12
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
1. Introduction
Ethics can be referred to as the moral principles, which
are responsible for governing the individual behaviour of
an individual for conducting a specific activity or action. It
is the moral philosophy that is needed to be followed by
all individuals for systematization, defending as well as
recommending the most vital concepts of right and wrong
conduct (Tuffey, 2011). Professional as well as social
factors are also taken into consideration for this purpose
and every business has to follow the rules.
The following report outlines a brief discussion on
analysis of two popular and significant scenarios, called to
ship or not to ship and copyright concerns for
understanding the social and professional issues. In the
first scenario, Rachel is a Quality Assurance Engineer
and she has the responsibility of final testing of the
organizational servers. She has only six months’ time for
conducting the tests for quality control.
Due to restricted time frame, the department of Quality
and Assurance is unable to perform all possible tests on
the servers for ensuring that they are defect free. Rachel
reluctantly would be shipping a product, which has a high
chance for failure; hence causing loss of data for saving
her job. In the second scenario, William is being hired by
ADX Alliance as the entry level software engineer. He has
quietly used the same code that he had used in the
previous company. However, he was caught in the four
months’ long quality assurance process review and he
admitted that he was not aware of the copyright laws and
now if they would have to write the codes, it would take up
the entire process again.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
2. Analysis
2.1. Legal factors
2.1.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor 1: Rachel providing product without testing
This is considered as one of the major and the most
significant legal factor for the company as Rachel decided
to ship the product, without testing it. As a result, it might
become a major issue for the organizational reputation
and they will not be capable to manage the major issues
and complexities successfully. Moreover, it is highly
unethical to ship products that have not been undergone
any type of quality testing in the organization. The
customer would be losing data and he can legally defame
the organization.
2.1.2. Scenario 1.2
Factor 1: Copyright concerns
The case scenario is related to William and SDX Alliance,
in which William has not followed copyright attributes and
aspects in his work. It is extremely illegal to use same
codes in two different organizations and also not
mentioning it to the organizational management.
Copyright can be referred to as the legal rights of the
subsequent owner of the IP. It means that the original
creator of the respective product or any specified
individual can provide the authorization to be the only
valid creators with the most exclusive rights for
reproducing their works. William has not taken permission
from the organization before re using the code.
2.2. Professional factors
2.2.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor 2 Not ensuring defect free
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
Rachel although did not have the intention to harm her
customers, she has not ensured that the products are
defect free completely. Since she did not have proper
time for such activity, she decided to ship the product
without even testing it and even after knowing that it might
have failure, she did not professional laws and have not
made the products defect free completely.
2.2.2. Scenario 1.2
Factor 2: Unaware of the issue
William, while working in SDX Alliance has claimed that
he was unaware of the issue that using same codes might
arise copyright problems for both the companies. It was
highly unprofessional in his act and he did not even
bother to inform his senior management or the person, he
was assisting, about the unethical and unprofessional
activity he has undertaken in the organization. As a result,
he has not followed the standards expected from a
professional eventually.
2.3. Employment and Social factors
2.3.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor 3: Limited timeframe
Rachel had taken the decision since there was a limited
timeframe of 6 months for each and every product. As a
result, she was unaware of the fact that it might affect the
employment as well as social factors majorly and would
also involve new features for the product. She also
decided to ship the product as she was sure that the
product would not fail completely, however there is a
chance of failure in the product, which can cause major
harm to the customer by losing their data completely.
Factor 4: Releasing new generation server
Rachel’s organization had to issue new generation
servers in every 6 months as a result, it was nearly
impossible to conduct quality control tests completely for
all the products and services. It was also checked that this
particular new generation server was being released by
the respective business model.
2.3.2. Scenario 1.2
Factor 3: Rewrite the entire code
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
William in SDX Alliance was to provide assistance the
management in writing distinct codes for his first project of
new hard disc controller. Since, this was not the first time
that he was working with the similar system, he used his
previous company’s codes. As a result, it was needed to
rewrite the codes completely for ensuring that privacy and
copyright issues are avoided eventually. Moreover, it is
also a vital and significant attribute for employment as
well as social factors.
Factor 4: Delay in Project
The organization of SDX Alliance had to rewrite the code
the completely, since the previous codes are being
utilized by William in his previous organization. It is highly
unethical, illegal and unprofessional for the company and
they should consider changing their codes immediately,
after these are identified in the four months’ long quality
assurance process review (Brown, 2015). As a result, the
project would be delayed majorly and the organization
might lose their customer eventually. However, they
would be able to save their employment and social
attributes.
2.4. Personal factors
2.4.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor 5: Contract with other company
The large electronics organization, in which Rachel has
been working as a Quality Assurance Engineer and is
solely responsible for the finalized testing of the
organizational servers’ comprises of a distinct contract
with another popular and significant organization that has
made the respective chips that are being integrated within
the subsequent server made by Rachel’s organization.
2.4.2. Scenario 1.2
Factor 5: Using same codes
William has used the same codes that he had used in the
previous organization. The main reason he stated was
that since both of these were same systems, he thought
of using them in both the companies, even without
informing any of them. As a result, he was unethical for
the personal factors.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
2.5. Intrinsic factors
2.5.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor 6: Final testing of the organizational servers
Rachel works in a popular and distinct electronics
company as the Quality Assurance Engineer. She
comprises of the core responsibility to final test the
organizational server and is the major part of the team
that takes the decision of the time of new product to be
eventually shipped to the distributors for further selling.
Factor 7: Quality testing
The organization of Rachel has given her the
responsibility to test the quality of the products to be
shipped. However, due to such circumstances, she had
been able to use her power and surpass the product
without testing. As a result quality testing was the intrinsic
factor in this case study.
2.5.2. Scenario 1.2
Factor 6: Speed improvements
William has stated he wanted to improve the speed of the
project by submitting same codes, written by him. He
referred to the fact that since the codes were already
written by him in the previous organization, he did not
thought of discussing it with the previous organization
owner about copyright or with the management or senior
of his present organization.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
2.6. Prioritisation
2.6.1. Scenario 1.1
Factor Related Issue
1 Rachel providing product without testing Although, she does not
want to harm the
customer, she is
providing product with
risk of defects.
2 Not ensuring defect free Due to restricted time
frame, the products are
not defect free for lack
of quality test.
3 Limited timeframe Since product is being
launched in every six
months, time is limited.
4 Releasing new generation server Business model of the
product is releasing new
generation server.
5 Contract with other company The company make
these chip that are
being integrated into the
respective servers of
Rachel’s business.
6 Final testing of organizational servers She is responsible for
deciding the time when
the new chips would be
eventually shipped to
the distributors for
further selling.
7 Quality testing Rachel is appointed the
quality assurance
engineer within the
electronics organization.
Table 1: Priority List Scenario 1
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
2.6.1. Scenario 1.2
Factor Related Issue
1 Copyright concerns William has used codes
that had copyright from
his previous company.
2 Unaware of the issue William claimed that he
was unaware of the
copyright issues and
hence have used the
codes again.
3 Rewrite the entire code SDX Alliance cannot
use the codes again
and they have rewrite
them.
4 Delay in Project If they would have to
write the code again,
the project would be
delayed.
5 Using same codes William has used the
same codes from his
previous organization.
6 Speed improvements William wanted to
improve the speed and
gain recognition.
Table 2: Priority List Scenario 2
2.7. Decision
Both the scenarios have ensured that strong unethical
approach is being followed in the organizations.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
2.7.1. Scenario 1.1
It was highly unethical for Rachel to think about shipping
the product even after knowing that it might fail majorly
(Hollingworth & Valentine, 2015). As a result, either she
should notify the client about the defects or faults that
might take place or she should postpone the shipping of
the product to a certain date when the quality testing
would be completed efficiently. Moreover, it would also
ensure that the respective organization is following
professionalism and quality testing under every
circumstance and ensuring that the data of the customers
is not lost eventually.
2.7.2. Scenario 1.2
In the second scenario of copyright concerns, the
organization of SDX Alliance should take up strict actions
against William for following such distinct unethical
approach within his organization. Although, the unethical
approach was being caught by the organizational
management in the four months’ quality testing; if not it
might have lost their client or their fame and recognition.
As a result, they should take up strict actions against
William for violating work ethics and copyright concerns.
However, if the organization does not want to take actions
against the employee, they should inform the client and
take for more time to write the codes once again.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
3. Discussion
Ethics seeks in solving different questions of the human
morality by defining various concepts like good as well as
bad, right or wrong (Lurie & Mark, 2016). The moral
philosophy is solely related to the distinct fields of moral
psychology and value theory. However, in both the cases,
ethical approach was not being followed.
3.1.1. Scenario 1.1
Rachel should have informed her customer about the
quality testing. This is extremely important for having a
greater impact on the reputation of the organizational
brand. Reliable quality assurance procedures help to
communicate to the customer, which eventually ensures
that the product is of high quality and would be meeting
the defined project requirements. Although, Rachel
wanted to save her project from going to her competitor, it
was highly unethical to hide the facts of lack of quality
control tests. As a result, the case scenario was unethical
and she should not ship the product with known defects to
her client.
3.1.2. Scenario 1.2
William’s first project was to provide assistance in writing
the codes for the newer hard disc controller in the SDX
Alliance. Since, he worked previously for a similar system,
he has quietly re used the same code twice, without
informing his seniors or management. As a result, he has
undertaken an unethical approach in the work. However,
when caught, he was asked about his act during the four
months’ long quality assurance process reviewing. He
have mentioned that he was unaware about the copyright
concerns. In this situation, the company and management
should take up strict actions and penalty against William
and also re write the entire code for their project; hence
delaying the product launch. Although the launch would
be delayed, the approach would be ethical.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
4. Conclusion
Hence, a conclusion could be concluded that proper
ethical approach should be maintained in each and every
organization or business for being sure that high
effectiveness as well as efficiency is eventually obtained
under every distinct circumstance. It is quite important or
significant to make sure that professional and social
issues are avoided on top priority and hence new
opportunities of success are being included in the
organization without any kind of complexity.
4.1.1. Scenario 1.1
In this particular case study of to ship or not to ship,
Rachel should not ship the product under any situation
without proper testing, so that she is able to eradicate the
chance of failure and loss of data of the customer. It
would ensure that they are maintaining professionalism
under every circumstance and is prioritizing their
customer eventually. They should maintain this scenario
even when the competitor would be taking their
customer’s data.
4.1.2. Scenario 1.2
In the second scenario of copyright concern, William has
re used the codes unethically, even after knowing about
the issues to be faced by them for speeding up of the
improvements. He wanted to ensure that the new
employer is happy with his work and would be gaining
maximum profit subsequently. However, he was caught
by the employer in the process. He should not have
violated the ethical rules and disciplines at any cost.
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Professional Issues Assignment Conclusion
5. References
Brown, G. (2015). Ethical and Moral Courage is Distress
among Professional Nurses: A Workplace
Issue. ABNF Journal, 26(3). Accessed from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=cr
awler&jrnl=10467041&AN=108554034&h=lJkCOX
Xp1sPoBxS3xoZA4ey4gm4kE5zAEnTxXkgXD6Ac
N9TfLavGWiHJOFOjUL30iP77BZtXu202OerARZx
2ow%3D%3D&crl=c [Accessed on 14 April 2020].
Hollingworth, D., & Valentine, S. (2015). The moderating
effect of perceived organizational ethical context on
employees’ ethical issue recognition and ethical
judgments. Journal of business ethics, 128(2), 457-
466. Accessed from
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_Holling
worth/publication/
271952514_The_Moderating_Effect_of_Perceived
_Organizational_Ethical_Context_on_Employees
%27_Ethical_Issue_Recognition_and_Ethical_Jud
gments/links/56af774008ae9c1968b45247/The-
Moderating-Effect-of-Perceived-Organizational-
Ethical-Context-on-Employees-Ethical-Issue-
Recognition-and-Ethical-Judgments.pdf [Accessed
on 14 April 2020].
Lurie, Y., & Mark, S. (2016). Professional ethics of
software engineers: An ethical framework. Science
and engineering ethics, 22(2), 417-434. Accessed
from
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-
015-9665-x [Accessed on 14 April 2020].
Tuffey, D. (2011). The Ethical Technologist. 3rd Edition.
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