Course Code: Professional Issues Assignment Part 2 Analysis

This report provides an analysis of the ethical challenges faced by Jimmy Griffith in a professional setting. The report explores a case study where Jimmy, an employee of an e-commerce firm, is confronted with various ethical dilemmas. The analysis considers legal, professional, employment, personal, and intrinsic factors using the ethical decision-making model (EDM). The case involves issues such as falsifying information, theft of proprietary information, and the pressure to act unethically. Jimmy is asked to lie about a colleague's performance and provide insider information from a former employer. The report prioritizes these issues and concludes with a decision for Jimmy to address his concerns with the CEO and consider resignation if necessary, highlighting the importance of upholding ethical standards despite facing career advancement opportunities. The report also considers Jimmy's background and past experiences with unethical practices.

Student Name
Student No.
Course code
Semester n, 201n
Professional Issues Assignment: Part 2
Executive Summary
This paper evaluated the case of Jimmy (Part 2), where Jimmy gets a job with an e-
commere website after having worked fr the ‘fake News’ company in the Reaper
project; Jimmy got the job becase of his performance at Reaper. At the new firm,
there are incompetnet staff who leadt to the cancellation of a client work. The former
manager asks Jimmy to lie and say Dev A (the incompetent one) had no issues and
that Dev A was in fact competent; a position Jimmy declines. Further, Jimmy gets a
new job that could see him wrkking with Alec and has also been asked to give
detailed insidier information on his former employer. The decision is for Jimmy to
raise his concerns with the CEO, and if pushed, then resign from the job

Professional Issues Assignment Analysis
Due Date: time, dd/mm/yy
Lecturer: David Tuffley
Campus (NA, LG, GC):
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Professional Issues Assignment
Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Analysis 3
2.1. Legal factors..............................................................................3
2.2. Professional factors...................................................................3
2.3. Employment and Social factors.................................................3
2.4. Personal factors.........................................................................3
2.5. Intrinsic factors..........................................................................4
2.6. Prioritisation...............................................................................5
2.7. Decision.....................................................................................5
3. Discussion 7
4. Conclusions on Analysis 7
5. References 7
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Professional Issues Assignment
1. Introduction
This paper examines the concept of ethical decision model (EDM) in the
context of the Jimmy Griffith case study where he is hired by an e-commerce
firm, after having worked for a Fake News online news company where
standards and activities bordered on the unethical and criminal. After his first
job with Hullaballo and the subsequent cases that happened there
(databases hacked); Jimmy has found a new job with an e-commerce
company where he is involved with a variety of projects. His job involves the
dvelopment of web based user intterfaces for order entry for clients. Jimmy
got this job because of his previous work in the Reaper data collection project
where the company collected demographic information about clients for
onward use for commercial gain. The system worked by ensuring people
registering had to give a lot of unnecessary information, and the terms of the
user agreement was that Hullaballoo reserved the right to sell of this
information to third parties. This fulfilled a legal requirement, but was not
ethical. Jimmy’s bos quit and Jimmy acted in his capacity until a decision was
made by the board. Of the three developers Jimmy works with, two are
incompetent and he is forced not to revenw the contract for Dev A, who was
incompetent, but hired by his former boss, Alec. Alec makes a unique
(unethical) request to Jimmy to cancel a performance review and lie that Dev
A had no issues with performance, requests that Jimmy declines. The project
slips and is halted, and subsequently cancelled and the entire develop team
is released. Jimmy finds another job eventually, after failing to get a job
(interview cancelled) because of a bad rumour about him orchestrated by
Alec. Jimmy now works for a competitor of the e-commerce company that
hired him and the CEO invites him for lunch at an exclusive networking club.
He is faced with another ethical challenge where he si required to release
pricing secrets from his former employer and faces the prospect of working
with Alec!
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Professional Issues Assignment
2. Analysis
2.1. Legal factors
Factor 1: False information and collusion- Alec wants Jimmy to lie about the
technical skills and competencies of Dev A, because he (Alec) would want to
hire him in future and to retract the request for a performance review. Alec
has also instigated damaging information about Jimmy that led to his intervew
for a job being cancelled
Factor 2; Theft of proprietary information from former employer - This is a
serious legal issue ; while he has a new job with the prospects for personal
growth and development, the CEO wants him to reveal the pricing secrets of
his former employer when bidding; Jimmy knows being competitors, this is
illegal as it amounts to theft. Being an ex employee, he would be stealing the
former employers’ company secrets and handnh them over to his new
employer for personal gain (career development). Given that the pricing
formula is information that should be legally protected as it is not apparent or
even easy to figure out by anyone else except employees. Further,
knowledge on the pricing strategy by the former employee would result in
legal inquests if there is suspicion, and this has happened with both large and
small firms, resulting in conviction and legal compensation (Henricks, 2013)
2.2. Professional factors
Factor 3: Falsifying information on technical competence of a colleague: Alec
wants Jimmy, through a closed meeting request, to say that there are no
issues with the technical and professional competence of Dev A, which would
be violating the ACS code of ethics that in terms of honesty, professionalism,
and the primacy of public interest (‘ACS Code of Ethics’, n.d)
Factor 4: Insider report on former employer, especially on pricing model- The
new boss, after inviting Jimmy to a sumptuous lunch in an exclusive club,
asks him to make a detailed report on his former employer and the implied
reward is for personal and professional (career) development opportunities
and even nomination to the membership of the exclusive club where most
people develop invaluable networks.
Factor 5: He is facing the prospect of having to work with Alec, someone
Jimmy knows to have issues with integrity, professionalism, and honesty
(Aynsley, 2015). Alec has previously asked Jimmy to lie and act unethically
and professionaly by not raising issues about the prfessional competence of
Dev A and not to request for a performance review
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Professional Issues Assignment
Factor 6: Refusal to act unethically on Alec’s request: Jimmy refused
unethical and unprofessional requests by Alec not to request for a
performance evaluation and to lie about the professional competenece of Dev
A, yet this factor led to a contract being halted and eventually cancelled.
2.3. Employment and Social factors
Factor 7: Offer for professional development and membership to exclusve
club: Jimmy has just been offered the opportunity for career development,
something he really needs given the past issues he has had to face leading to
loss of his job. He will also get membership to the exclusve club which will
help advance his career and social standing from the numerous networking
opportunities. But there is a caveat; he is expected to give detailed insider
information on his former employer to a competitor he is working for at
present
2.4. Personal factors
According to the EDM, personal factors are looked in terms of personality and
repreent aspects for a person environment that have an effect on their sense
of morals and how one deals with issues regarding professional, employment,
and social challenges. This study brings out some personal factors of jimmy
Factor 8: refusing to be complicit in an unethical issue – In the past, Alec has
demonstrated his unprofessionalism, asking Jimmy to lie about the
professional competence of a colleague and the need for a review to have
closure on a cancelled project.
Factor 9: Being employed based on performance for an unethical company-
Jimmy got a second job with an e-commerce company based solely on his
skills and work in the Reaper project, where customer details were captured
using interfaces he developed. Yet the reaper project engaged in unethical
behavior and were purveyprs of fake news. However, Jimmy has not picked
the ‘bad’ habits fro his intercations with past employers or colleagues with
unethical behavior, including his new boss who has asked for a detailed
report on his former employer.
2.5. Intrinsic factors
<include the unique spectrum of a person’s attributes;
their level of moral development, personal goals, what
motivates them, their position and status in society, their
self concept – factors inherent in the nature that were not
acquired from their environment.>
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Professional Issues Assignment
Factor 10: Professionalism and Ethical Standards; Jimmy has had several
encounters that were unethical, and downright illegal. While working for the
first employer, he was faced with an incomeptenet developer and bad work
prcatices, for whichh he sought an audit. Despite being pushed to put the
matter under wraps and lie about te professional cmpetence of a colleague,
Jimmy declined such requests from Alec. These issues show that Jimmy
observes and has ingrained in him, the provisions of the ACS code of
conduct. He refuses to endeorse Dev A due to his observed incompetence;
this is provided for in the ACS code of conduct on profesiionalis, honesty, and
reverence for the primacy of public interest. SO he has done a lot to resist
unethical practice, despite having a background working in an environment
that was not particulalrly ethical (Hullaballoo).
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Professional Issues Assignment
2.6. Prioritisation
The list below prioritizes the issues raised and discussed in the analysis of
the case study (part 2). The prioritization is a ranking of the issues from those
that are of a higher priority to those of low priority. This hierarchical ranking is
essential in better understanding of the ethical issues in the case and what
should be done. Based on the EDM process, leagl issues are ranked highest
because of its higher repercussions
Factor Related Issue
1 Theft and sharing of proprietary information Information theft for
personal gain
2 Lying and complicity in passing an
incompetent person as being competent
False information
3 Falsifying information and collusion to act
unprofessionally
False information
4 Obtaining and passing on insider information
from a former employer to another party
Information protection
5 Working with Alec despite past history of
unethical bhavior and professional
misconduct
Professional
development
6 Declining to collude in falsifying information
and professional misconduct
Work ethics and
professional conduct
7 Professional and acreer development but
with a requirement to share insider
informaton from former employer
Ethical dilemma
8 Refusing to be complicit in illegal and
unprofessional/ unethical behavior
Honesty and primacy of
public interest
9 Professionalism and ethical standards are
ingrained in Jimmy, despite working in
environments that do not promote such
behavior
Professional ethics
10
Table 1: Priority List
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Professional Issues Assignment
2.7. Decision
Jimmy is faced with a huge decision to make; he has a chance for excellent
career development at his new employer; he has even been promised
nomination to an exclusive members club where he can network
professionally and advance his development. However, he has to make a
deyailed insider report on his former employer especially on pricing, which the
competitor would use for future bidding strategies. This is coming from none
other than the company CEO, which speaks volumes about the ethical and
profesional culture at his new company. There is also the prospect of having
to work with Alec again, which puts Jimmy in a huge moral dilemma, given his
past experiences with Alec. Jimmy has had to deal with serious cases f
professional misconduct that have in cases seen him lose a job ane be a
victim of backk biting. Giving detailed insider infrmation from his former
employer to a new employer may attarct legal and professional repercussions
from the former employer and will inevitably get him into more problems. Yet
he has an excellent opportunitu for career and social development at the new
employer, if only he cooperates with the Ceo and does something unethical,
and bordering on the criminal. The best thing for Jimmy to do is to face up to
the CEO and cordially raise his concerns with that kind of business approach
Jimmy can give the CEO reasons for the same, including the risk of legal
action (criminal and civil), that will cost the company much more. Jimmy
should also indicate to the CEO about Alec and his past incidents with him
and how this could affect their relationship. This disclosure may help
persuade the CEO, and after all, Jimmy should convince the CEO that with
his skills and past performances, even at Hullaballoo, they can still offer
clients the solutions they need. However, if these fail, then Jimmy should
decline the position and the club memmbership offer; job openings will
inevitably and eventually come from firms that are ethical and offer Jimmy a
real oportunity for professional and personal growth, without the threat of
legal and ethical repercussions.
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Professional Issues Assignment
3. Discussion
<the previous section should detail your application of the
model. This section should discuss in detail (a) what you
thought were the important factors inherent in this
scenario, (b) why you prioritised the list as you did (why
were some factors more important than others), and (c)
overall why you came to the decision you did>
<no need for any references at end of assignment unless
you have accessed material external to the course>
<Submit through TurnitIn>
The EDM model was applied to identify and rank issues and factors relating
to the jimmy case scnario and made the decision that is most ethical and
poses little or no danger now and in future, based on the rankings of the
issues discussed. The important factor that are of interest in the case
scenario include legal and professional issiues in the context of the ACS code
of ethics, personal responsibility and what the law says. The important factors
in case include the need to remain professional and ethical despite the
circumstances; jimmy has consistently sought to be profesional and cat
based on ethical principles; he declined to falsify information on Dev A, even
at the insistence of Alec. He also asked for an evaluaton of performance, and
remained cool, even when Alec blackmailed hime and led to his job interview
being cancelled. The issues were prioritized based on their impact/ effect and
the likelihhood of happening. Legal factors were given the higest priority
because they can lead to fines and jail sentences, as well as getting banned
from professional bodies. Information theft fr personal gain (career and social
growth) became the most important legal factor and it was a major factor in
influencing the final decision made. Some factors, such as personal and
intrinsic issues were less important because their consequences in terms of
legal and professional repercussions. For instance, being ethically inclined
will not have as serious reoercusions as engaging in criminal acts
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Professional Issues Assignment
4. Conclusions on Analysis
Jimmy got a job at an e-commerce firm, based on reputation for working for a
non-ethical company. The boss (Alec) then resigned abruptly, but left staff
that Jimmy continued to work with. Of the three developers, two had issues
with competenec; Dev A was outright incompetent, while Dev B had
challenges settling in and getting used to the work enviornment. This caused
project slippage and halting of a project, that led to a client project being
cancelled. Jimmy ensured the contract of Dev A was not renewed, and
ordered an investigation; Alec nmade a strange request that Jimmy cancels
the performance review and to lie that Dev A was competent. Jimmy refused
such proposals, but at a cost, Alec instigated bad rumours about hime,
eventually causing his job interview to be cancelled. Jimmy then got a new
job with a competitor of his former employer and the CEO has now offered
him an excelleny opportunity for carer growth, along with a chance for
recommendation to membership at their exclusivve club; this would offer him
great opprtunities for networking and further professional growth. But the
CEO wants Jimmy to give a detailed insider report on his former employer,
which is both unethical and illegal. Further, the company will hire Alec. The
decision reached is that Jimmy should raise his concerns cordially with the
CEO and be hinest with him; if the CEO changes his mind, well and good, bt
if not, then Jimmy should resign
5. References
'ACS Code of Ethics' (n.d.). ACS Code of Ethics. [online] ACS Code of Ethics.
Available at: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/Code-
of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 15 Sep. 2017].
Aynsley, B. (2015). The importance of ethical conduct. [online]
Theaustralian.com.au. Available at:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/opinion/ethics-
essential-for-ict-professionals/news-story/
78307af0586683a61e7a0d537c5f6cf8 [Accessed 15 Sep. 2017].
Henricks, M. (2013). What Happens When an Ex-Employee Steals Company
Secrets?. [online] OPEN Forum. Available at:
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/sue-
an-ex-employee-for-stealing-company-secrets/ [Accessed 15 Sep. 2017].
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