Professional Issues Assignment Report for 7101ICT - Trimester n, 201n

This report, a Professional Issues Assignment for the 7101ICT course, analyzes the ethical and legal considerations within the business context of Firestone Associates. It examines various factors, including legal violations such as sharing client information without consent, professional shortcomings like a lack of informed consent, and employment issues such as exploitation and lack of appreciation. The report also delves into social factors, such as the misuse of client information by a fanatic group, and personal and intrinsic factors, highlighting personality differences and unethical behaviors. Prioritization of these factors is presented, along with a discussion on the importance of professional, legal, and employee-centric approaches to ensure ethical and sustainable business practices. The report emphasizes the need for businesses to prioritize ethical conduct, secure customer information, adhere to legal frameworks, and value employee contributions to foster a loyal and trustworthy business environment.

Student Name
Student No.
7101ICT
Trimester n, 201n
Professional Issues Assignment Part 1
<For the postgrad version of this course, your assignment should be 2500 words
(plus or minus 10%) – word count is calculated as everything from the Introduction to
the Conclusion – it doesn’t include the Table of Contents, or References – delete this
advice before submitting>
Due Date: time, dd/mm/yy
Lecturer: David Tuffley
Campus (NA, LG, GC):

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
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. Conclusion 7
<note, use the automatic Table of Contents update when
finished – right click mouse over the ToC, then select ‘Update
Field’ then ‘Update entire table’>
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 1

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
1. Introduction
Ethical and legal considerations are considered to be one of the major
aspects for the business organisations in order to deal with the practice of
making a sustainable business practice. As the research of Kurucz et al.
(2017) argued that for a sustainable business practice it is important for the
business organisation to establish a good image in the highly competitive
market. Moreover, the future business orientation is also associated with
following a sustainable business perspective. Therefore, it can be stated that
ethical business practice is considered to be an important aspect for the
corporate organisations to retain their business effectively. As a matter of fact,
the government regulations and legal factors are also contributed to this
extensively. Taylor-Bianco et al. (2017) opined that it is important for the
organisations to set up their business activities on the basis of the
international and national framework. Personal image and behaviour of an
individual is also associated with this that can facilitate further effectiveness in
the process of making a better organisational environment to follow. From the
research of Giacalone, Jurkiewicz and Promislo (2016) it can be articulated that
the individual aspects can contributed effectively to the business to business
to business relationship and the relationship with the clients as well. On the
contrary, Johnson et al. (2016) advocated that the relationship with the
colleagues and subordinates is also an pertinent aspect to maintain by the
managers and employees.
In this regard, this report aims to evaluate the events that were
occurred in Firestone Associates. For a better understanding, the report was
segregated into different parts such as legal, professional, personal and so
on. This elaboration and bifurcation of the issues can generate a concise and
to the point understanding different problems that Firestone Associates was
facing.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 2

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2. Analysis
2.1. Legal factors
There are a great number of legal factors that Firestone Associates was
facing in its business activities. First of all, it can be articulated that the
organisation did a shadow job by keeping the clients in dark but sharing
their personal information with other companies. This was a clear
violation of the Australian government regulation on keep doing
business with the customer information. In case of Firestone
Associates, the organisation deals with the same by misguiding the
clients by stating that there name would be registered for a contest.
2.2. Professional factors
The professional factors were related to the lacking the informed
consent from the customers. From the research of Gooris and Peeters
(2016) it can be stated that the role of the organisations in sharing
business information has to get a consent from the individuals whose
personal information has been shared. It can be stated that the role of
Firestone Associates in this regard was totally unprofessional and the
organisation did not care to make a formal consent of the customers.
On the other hand, the organisation tried to satisfy the customers by
stating them to participate in attractive contests.
Moreover, the professional factors can be seen in case of Alex when
he took the sensitive information of the organisation in his home. He
knew the sensitivity of the information and understood the importance
of keeping it confidential. However, in home there was always possible
threat that those information could be leaked. As a result of that it
seemed totally unprofessional from the end of Alex.
2.3. Employment and Social factors
The employment factor is identified in the form of the relationship
between the top executive of the organisation and the employees. In
the case, there was no problem in Firestone Associates regarding the
salary of the employees. All the employees got what was negotiated.
However, in case of appreciation and motivation there was lack of
practice within Firestone Associates and both the employees Alex and
Sophie was dissatisfied with the attitude of Richard, the head of the
company. In another seen the newly established company of Alex was
also alleged to exploit its employees by not giving the salary that they
should get. For the initial phase hiring some interns was good for the
new agency of Alex but gradually the avoidance of Alex not to give
salary to the employees even after a year was very disappointing and a
clear act of exploitation.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 3

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
The social factor can be discussed in the spectrum of Brisbane area
incidents where the police investigated a series of bashing of gay men
in the greater Brisbane area. It was confirmed that the perpetrator
belonged to a fanatic group named Moral Guidance of Australia. As a
matter of fact, it is important to know that Firestone Associates was the
agency that provided the fanatic organisation the information of gay
men in the area. Therefore, it created social issues clearly.
2.4. Personal factors
There was a huge personality difference between Alex and Sophie.
They got into a relationship while working in Firestone Associates but in
course of time Sophie realised that her thinking was way different than
Alex’s. For instance, Sophie was more of a rational and ethical person
who always tried to do things ethically. In Firestone Associates, she
was always pushing Richard, the head of the organisation to get a
consent letter from the clients before sharing their personal information.
Moreover, Alex was a man without trust. He always knew how to
manipulate people. In fact, he did not mentioned his previous marriage
to Sophie.
2.5. Intrinsic factors
The personal aspiration and selfishness of Alex can be highlighted in
this part to understand the role of intrinsic factors can damage the
personality of a person. For instance, the relationship between Alex and
Sophie was based on condition and lie at least from the end of Alex.
First of all, he avoided to mention about his previous marriage and
divorce to Sophie. Another major part was to use Sophie to establish
the internet establishment set up for his new agency. Alex unethically
appropriated all the intellectual properties of Firestone Associates and
alleged to exploit his interns by not paying them salary over a year.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 4

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2.6. Prioritisation
Factor Related Issue
1 Professional factor Lack of informed
consent from the
customers
Possible breaching of
confidential information
of the customers.
2 Legal factor Misleading information
provided to the
customers.
3 Employment factor Lack of appreciation
from the management
Workplace exploitation
by not getting paid
4 Social factor Sharing customer
information to other
organisation without
having any knowledge
of the consequences.
5 Intrinsic factor Using other people for
fulfilling own aspirations.
6 Personal factor Disbelief in relationship
Table 1: Priority List
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 5

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2.7. Decision
From this analysis, it can be stated that those ethical and personal
issues are not negligible. First of all, it can be stated that the business
activities of Firestone Associates was based on illegal business. There
has to be some kind of initiatives that can keep the clients in a loop to
know who are taking their information. As a matter of fact, this is a
fundamental right of the people in order to get entire data regarding the
shared personal information. This kind of business practice has to be
stopped because not only those practices are totally unethical but also
it violates the constitution and the legal framework that is entitled to
safeguard the interests of the people. On the other hand, it can be
stated that exploitation of human resource cannot be entertained by the
government. In this context, the personality of Alex portrayed a
common character full of unethical practices. Businessmen should
make a line between the ethics and their own interests. As a matter of
fact, it can be stated that organisational profitability cannot be relied on
unethical business practices and exploitation. It should be curbed down
and the business farms are expected to follow ethical business
practices for its future business orientation.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 6

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
3. Discussion
In this context, the most important aspect for making a better
organisational practice is to focus on the professional factors. As per the
empirical evidences, it can be advocated that the fundamental concern for an
organisation is to go with the professional factors. The professional factors are
entitled to deal with the professional approach of the management to set a
better and ethical standpoint in order to bring more efficacy into the
organisational practice. From the ethical perception, it can be derived that the
perception of making effective means of organisational practice bestowed in
the professional attitude of the organisation. Based on the ethical concept, it
can be stated that there are some basic practices that every organisation has
to maintain. For example, securing the customer related information cannot
be disclosed in any means. Those information are highly important for the
organisation and seemed to be highly sensitive as the customer shares his
details just because he trusts the company. It is a question of loyalty and it is
not a gift that the organisation can get easily. Loyalty and reputation has to
earn. In fact, loyalty has to be maintained from both end. In other words, it can
be stated that the organisation has to be loyal as its customers. By this
practice, it can be possible for an organisation to generate the loyal
relationship with the clients.
The second priority must be associated with the concept of legal factor.
Most of the organisations are abided by the regulatory framework of the
government. It is important for the organisation also. The legal factors help the
organisation to witness an equal opportunity to flourish business. It is also
important for the small and medium business organisation to execute their
business orientation and get equal measure of market penetration. As a
matter of fact, another major factor of the legislative factors aligned with the
ethical principles. There are huge importance of ethical business practice for
the organisation. In a globalised world, the business organisations get huge
power to influence the buyers and clients. As a result of that there is always
huge pressure on the customers not to go away with the business intentions
of the corporate farms. The legal establishments keep the business
organisations in checks so that there will be a power balance between the
buyers and the companies. On the other hand, the legal restrictions also
make the business organisations aware of the fact that they should do
business ethically. It is also important to make a sustainable approach in
order to maximise customers.
After keeping in track the professional and legal business
establishment, it is important for the business organisations to deal with the
employee intentions. It has to be top of the priority lists because the
employees are the most important contributors of any organisation. It can be
stated that without the employees, the companies are nothing just a deserted
establishment. Therefore, it is always important for the organisations to put
major emphasis on the employees. It is a major feature for the business
organisation to make profit as far as possible but the employee concern has
to be kept in mind. Henceforth, a number of measures that the organisations
can take in order to satisfy the needs of the employees and staffs. Money is
considered to be the most important aspect for the employees to keep them
productive. Without having satisfactory salary the employees cannot perform
well. It is necessary to make them happy and salary contributes the most in
order to make the staffs committed to the organisation. There are other kinds
of employee engagement plan in terms of reward and recognition strategies.
The reward strategy primarily deals with the notion of providing financial
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 7

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
benefits to the staffs or make them more committed to the organisation by
attracting through handsome salaries. On the other hand, the role of the
recognition is to appreciate the good work of the employees so that they will
get motivate and put more effort to make it better. The entire purpose is to
retain the talented employees who are worthy for the organisation.
The next can be identified as the social factors. In this context,
globalisation plays a crucial role. Due to the advent of globalisation the
competitiveness in the market has increased in a rapid pace and both the
domestic and the international business organisations are highly intrigued to
opt for a best possible way to retain and maximise their customers. Making a
social orientation by incorporating the people or the society in business is
identified as the most effective measure for the organisation to continue its
business effectively. It can be articulated that in present case scenario both
the organisation and the employees share a great power in order to influence
each other. As a result of that it becomes important for the business houses to
put a great deal of light on the practice of making the business initiatives more
prone towards to society. The moral and ethical consideration also play a
significant role in this context and tries to point out that for a better world it is
important for the business organisation to make an amicable relation with the
society. Therefore, making environment friendly initiatives or keeping the
customer information in dark are referred as the major contribution of the
organisation as an act to provide sustainable business orientation.
In this context, the moral and ethical considerations can be envisaged
clearly by putting emphasis on the intrinsic approaches. The intrinsic
approaches are basically the fundamental approaches that creates huge
impact on the entire situation and make things keep in place. For instance, it
can be asserted that the behaviour of a person is always considered to be an
important aspect for making good relationship. In business also good
relationship with the customers and clients are also played a vital factor for the
organisation to attain strategic advantage in competitive market. On the other
hand, relationship with the employees is also played pivotal role for the
organisation to enhance its performance effectively. As a result of that the
business organisations has to deal in both ends. Moreover, the self-interest
cannot draw damage to others and thinking for the greater goods is
considered to be one of the major aspect before taking any decisions. In
respect to this, it can be stated that the intrinsic factors are more of an
individual aspiration that every person or institution possesses in order keep
himself going.
Finally, the personal motive or personal factor is considered to be a
major factor for a human being. Trust and loyalty are the most important
aspect in this regard. Trust always comes first before loyalty and can be
identified as the foundation period of loyalty. Therefore, there is a sharp
difference between loyalty and trusts. In this context, it is significant for a
person to put some light in the insights of his mind and try to make things
based on the morality. Hurting someone physically or mentally cannot help
one to climb up the stairs of success. Rather it will be a permanent solution to
bring trust and belief within own and also on others.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 8

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
4. Conclusion
From this discussion, it can be stated that the role of ethics and morality
are always defined as the most important thing for a person in personal as
well as professional life. Moreover, for the business organisational as well the
ethical consideration can bring permanent solution to the success of the
business. Otherwise all the efforts will get in vain. Therefore, it can be
concluded that the role of the ethical principles has a major role to play in both
social and professional life.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 9

Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
5. Reference
Giacalone, R.A., Jurkiewicz, C.L. and Promislo, M., 2016. Ethics and well-being: The
paradoxical implications of individual differences in ethical orientation. Journal of
business ethics, 137(3), pp.491-506.
Gooris, J. and Peeters, C., 2016. Fragmenting global business processes: A protection
for proprietary information. Journal of International Business Studies, 47(5), pp.535-
562.
Johnson, H., Worthington, R., Gredecki, N. and Wilks-Riley, F.R., 2016. The
relationship between trust in work colleagues, impact of boundary violations and
burnout among staff within a forensic psychiatric service. Journal of Forensic
Practice, 18(1), pp.64-75.
Kurucz, E.C., Colbert, B.A., Luedeke-Freund, F., Upward, A. and Willard, B., 2017.
Relational leadership for strategic sustainability: practices and capabilities to advance
the design and assessment of sustainable business models. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 140, pp.189-204.
Taylor-Bianco, A., Tucker, M., Rosado Feger, A. and Barnett, T., 2017. Teaching"
Business" Ethics: Affecting Change through Self-Regulation and Reflection. Journal
of Instructional Pedagogies, 19.
(Student Name, Course, Semester, Year)0 Page 10