Professional Issues Assignment Report: ICT Trimester n, 201n

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the professional issues faced by Bridget Donovan, using an ethical decision model to examine her career path. The report begins with an introduction to the case study, which highlights various ethical dilemmas Donovan encountered, including legal factors such as fraudulent records and database vulnerabilities, as well as professional factors like issues in public interest and whistleblowing. The analysis further explores employment, social, and personal factors, such as organizational policies, misleading statements, and personal retribution. The report then prioritizes these factors, leading to a decision-making section that emphasizes the importance of prioritizing legal issues and the public interest. The discussion section delves into the impact of Donovan's upbringing and early life on her ethical judgment, referencing Jonathan Haidt's ethical foundations theory. Finally, the report concludes by summarizing how the ethical decision model helped to structure and organize the issues, ensuring the public interest was considered first, and providing insight into how these problems arose. The report also provides a summary of what was learned from the course including technology ethics, the ethical technologist, habits of the effective technologist, ACS Code of Professional Conduct, ethical issues of the information age, thinking machines, the common denominator, and AI and human potential.

Student Name
Student No.
3410ICT
Trimester n, 201n
Professional Issues Assignment: Part 2
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..................................................4
2.4. Personal factors..........................................................................5
2.5. Intrinsic factors............................................................................5
2.6. Prioritisation................................................................................6
2.7. Decision......................................................................................7
3. Discussion 9
4. Conclusions on Analysis 9
1. What I have learned from this course 10
1.1. Technology Ethics....................................................................10
1.2. The Ethical Technologist..........................................................11
1.3. Habits of the Effective Technologist.........................................11
1.4. ACS Code of Professional Conduct.........................................11
1.5. Ethical Issues of the Information Age.......................................11
1.6. Thinking Machines....................................................................11
1.7. The Common Denominator......................................................12
1.8. AI and Human Potential............................................................12
References: 13
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
1. Introduction
This report is based on the case study on the carrier path of Bridget
Donovan. In the career path of the concerned person, there are some
ethical issues faced as mentioned in the case study. In this report, the
ethical decision model has been used for describing the ethical issues
faced by Donovan.
In the childhood, Donovan faced some tragic family issues. She got her first
job in an insurance company while studying to complete the IT degree in
university. After that she was promoted to middle management and worked
for ten years. Then she was moved into a government sector.
In her career, Donovan faced several ethical issues, which have been
analysed in this report. The report is about the fact finding behind the
issues and suggesting some actions for resolving those issues in some
acceptable manner.
The people associated with the ethical dilemmas are employees of the
organizations, vendors, customers and public.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2. Analysis
2.1. Legal factors
2.1.1 Fraudulent of records
Another department of the organization was providing false invoices to
the customers. Donovan was working as a government employee and
this type of activities were very embarrassing and against the law.
2.1.2 Vulnerability of database
As per the information given by Jason, there were some vulnerabilities
in the database of another department of the organization. This activity
was a breach of the Privacy Act 1988.
2.1.3 Constructive Dismissal
The insurance company forced Bridget to resign from her position.
There was no chance of providing any fact about her juvenile offence.
In this case, the Fair Work Act 2009 was violated.
2.1.4 Spent Conviction
Bridget was accused for the dishonesty in her working contract.
However, as per the Australian law, she has no conviction. The law
says if someone convicted as a child then there is no requirement of
presenting criminal record.
2.2. Professional factors
2.2.1 Issues in public interest
Bridget was aware about the fact that the other departments are doing
some discrepancies with the public data. Being aware the facts, she did
not inform any one regarding this. According to ACS code of
professional ethics public interest should be taken into consideration
while doing some IT profession. If some works has potential impacts
over the public then it must be avoided.
2.2.2 Wrong behaviour
The sales representative of the organizations tried to develop a
personal relationship with Bridget to get some favours for the contract
regarding the ERP system for the organization. This was an unethical
behaviour for the sales representative.
2.2.3 Responsibility of disclosure
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
As per the professional ethical standard, it was the duty of Bridget to
inform her employer regarding the juvenile. However, the fear of not
getting the job resisted her from doing so. However, it was not an
ethical decision from the professional viewpoint.
2.2.4 Competency
When considering the efficiency of developing the ERP system, the
reputation of the developer organization were considered. The ACS
codes are saying that misinterpretation of the skills and knowledge.
2.2.5 Whistleblowing
Being aware about the facts regarding the discrepancies, Bridget
decided to information a journalist regarding the facts. In this case, this
whistle blowing was hampered the reputation of the government
organization. Many employees’ professional life was hampered.
Considering these facts, the whistleblowing was not ethically correct.
2.2.6 Fairness
The behaviour of the journalist was not ethical in this case as the
activities was not according to the media ethics. The journalist
presented the story as a scandal.
2.3. Employment and Social factors
2.3.1 Organizational policies and values
When working with an organization, it is the moral responsibilities of the
employees to maintain the reputation of the organization. In this case,
the disclosure of the information was harmful for the organization. The
unethical practices of the employees were also against the values of
the organization.
2.3.2 Scapegoats
After disclosing the information regarding the unethical practices, the
people who were blamed for the wrongdoings of other people were the
scapegoats. This was very unethical from the context of the ethical
standards of workplace.
2.3.3 Malicious gossip
This is not ethical to gossip about the activities of the other employees
within the workplace.in this case Jamie discussed the personal details
of Bridget’s past with other employees.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2.4. Personal factors
2.4.1 Misleading statement
In this case study, it has been found that Bridget misled Jason to believe
that she would act on the report of the database vulnerabilities. She was
not able to handle the situation by her own and she was also not supposed
to do so. In this case, they should inform the concerned department.
Therefore the act performed by Bridget was not ethically correct.
2.4.2 Retribution
While considering the ethical issue regarding the retribution it has been
found that Jason was incorrectly reprimanded for not using the chain of
command and feeling discouraged at the inaction of his managers, his act
of retribution was to contact the media.
2.5. Intrinsic factors
2.5.1 Education
This fact is about the high school education. Jason was incorrectly
reprimanded for not using the chain of command and feeling
discouraged at the inaction of his managers, his act of retribution was to
contact the media.
2.5.2 Upbringing
The upbringing of Bridget was very pathetic and unethical also. She
was raised by an alcoholic father and her mother died when she was
three. She was arrested several times in her teens. These incidents has
a bad impact over the later life of her.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
2.6. Prioritisation
Factor Issues
1 Vulnerability of database
(Legal)
The vulnerabilities regarding the
database may be the reason of
violation of the public data stored in
the database of the organization.
2 Fraudulent of records (Legal) The fraudulent in billing conducted
by Elizabeth was harmful for the
public and the reputation
organization where the
maintenance charges are included
in the bills.
3 Constructive Dismissal (Legal) Bridget was forced to resign from
her position for some other
references.
4 Spent Conviction (Legal) Bridget should not be convicted for
hiding her conviction details as she
was minor at that time.
5 Issues in public interest
(Professional)
Bridget did not inform the
concerned department regarding
the discrepancies done by the other
department in the database.
6 Wrong behaviour
(Professional)
Roger tried to develop personal
contact with Bridget to get the
contract of the ERP development.
7 Responsibility of disclosure
(Professional)
The details regarding the
discrepancies were disclosed to
journalist which hampered the
reputation of the organisation as
well as some employees.
8 Competency (Professional) The efficiency of the developing the
ERP system was decided by the
reputation of the developer
organizations.
9 Whistleblowing (Professional) Jason blown the whistle by telling
the story to the journalist.
10 Fairness (Professional) Journalist casts a scandalous light
on the story.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
11 Organizational policies and
values (Employment and
Social)
The disclose of the information was
done without thinking about the
organizational values.
12 Scapegoats (Employment and
Social)
Some employees were charged for
the wrong doings of other people.
13 Malicious gossip (Employment
and Social)
Jamie is discussing Bridget’s
private history with staff.
14 Misleading statement
(Personal)
Bridget told Jason that she will be
able to handle the situation.
15 Retribution (Personal) Jason was upset and have bad
feeling.
16 Education (Intrinsic) Bridget completed her graduation
with honours.
17 Upbringing (Intrinsic) The hard life experience of Bridget.
Table 1: Priority List
2.7. Decision
The choice ought to be organized around the huge elements that create an
outcome in light of a legitimate concern for the general population. As lawful
factors dependably take need over everything, they should correct them first
where conceivable, and think about alternate factors arranged by significance.
The main lawful issue is that the database powerlessness could affect people in
general's protection. As the issue was spilled to the media by Jason, it has now
turned into a genuine lawful issue, in spite of the fact that the issue ought to have
been redressed, it is currently a need. The office needs to assume liability for the
issue and correct the issue guaranteeing that it doesn't occur once more. In this
way, they should first fix the issue promptly and set up new measures; these
might incorporate settling the storehouse mind set by empowering
interdepartmental gatherings, proper administration, arrangements, and
methodology. The staff ought to likewise get preparing on moral conduct and the
significance of the mission, vision, and qualities.
The following lawful issue is a fake adulteration of records, for example, wrong
charging. This training should stop promptly. The charging practices ought to be
conveyed to the consideration of the official in the event that they are not as of
now complicit. Arrangement and procedural changes ought to be made to
guarantee that the fitting spending plans are subsidized and bolstered by the
official. It would likewise be judicious to meet with customers and disclose the
progressions to the charging practices to guarantee a legitimate and open win-
win relationship.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
The other lawful issues are about Bridget's helpful expulsion and the spent
conviction. Bridget may have some legitimate plan of action for the manner by
which she was rejected. Be that as it may, the convoluting factors are, to what
extent it has been since the expulsion and what the probable implications could
be.
In connection to a portion of alternate elements, Bridget ought to educate
administration that there has been wrong conduct for the businessperson.
As Bridget did not bear the cost of the correct regard to Jason when he utilized
the levels of leadership she may profit by facilitate administration preparing.
Jason may consider changing employments as the report he made was not
followed up on, and his notoriety may well have been discoloured among his
companions by whistleblowing. It is in all likelihood that the organization and
some staff routinely act deceptively.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
3. Discussion
While breaking down Bridget's conduct, her initial life and childhood have
significantly affected her moral judgment. In the ethical establishment's
hypothesis created by Jonathan Haig and partners, he guesses the six natural
good points of view. Bridget has been on the negative side of huge numbers of
these points of view. In her first part with the insurance agency, she picked not to
enlighten them concerning her criminal past; she was not legitimately obliged to,
and this left her in a morally traded off circumstance.
When it went to the charging issue, it appears Bridget had taken after the
dishonest basic practice potentially trusting she was making the best choice. As
Elizabeth and other undertaking administrators were likewise associated with the
training, there is prove that they might be thoughtlessly following the gathering
think instead of testing deceptive conduct.
A few elements consolidated conveyed Jason to the point where he wound up
displeased and felt dismissed by his bosses. He at that point settled on some
nonsensical choices which would demonstrate that there was a fundamental
absence of help in the office. It is a central need of an individual to feel upheld
and needed.
4. Conclusions on Analysis
Utilizing the EDM has empowered the moral difficulty to be separated and
organized to guarantee that components are considered arranged by need and
that people in general intrigue is dependably put first. It has likewise enabled the
idea of the issues to be examined giving understanding in the matter of how the
issues happened. The objective of the EDM is to dissect the circumstance,
redress it rapidly and inside the best enthusiasm of all partners with negligible
effect, and afterward to gain from the circumstance and set up measures to
decrease the shot of the same or comparative circumstances reoccurring. This
course is about the analysis of ethical issues in the career of an IT professional.
While working as an IT professional, individuals should maintain certain ethical
facts. The ACS code of ethics has several code of ethics for the ICT
professionals. It has been understood the different types of issue associated with
the working life of an ICT professional. This will help the learner to lead a good
professionalism in my future life as an ICT professional. In order to maintain the
ethical issues associated to this working field, the understanding of the ACS code
is very important. This course helped me a lot to understand the different types of
laws and ethics mentioned in the ACS code of ethics.
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
The application of the EDM model for the analysis of the IT ethics is another
important factor learnt in this course. I can say from my personal viewpoint
that only theoretical study is not enough to understand all the facts and figures
associated with the IT ethics, the study of the practical case study is very
helpful for this purpose. In this report, the analysis of the case study helped
me to understand and analyse the practical field of the IT with the help of the
ethical theories and frameworks.
1. What I have learned from this course
I have learnt how to apply the theories in different types of ethical issues that
may be raised in the workplace of the ICT professionals. In the workplace, the
behaviour of the employees with the management and the other employees is
very important for marinating the workplace ethics. Through the study of this
course, I have learnt the different types of ethical considerations regarding the
workplace behaviour.
Sometimes it is important to disclose the information regarding the ethical
discrepancies within the workplace but it should be done in an ethical way.
The concerned person need to think about the well beings of the organization
as well as the associated people. I have learnt that the IT professionals are
responsible for thinking about the issues of public interests. In some cases,
the activities of the IT professional have some major impact over the common
public. In these types of cases, the activities may not be considered as
ethically correct if those have the negative impact over the public.
I have also learnt about the ethical issues associated with the information
hiding from the management of the workplaces. In some cases, people used
to hide some information regarding the personal background due to the fear of
not getting the job. After analysing and understanding the case study of
Bridge Donovan, I have understood that hiding any information from the
employer is not an ethical behaviour.
It is very important to be aware about the laws and ethics regarding the
professionalism for being not accused wrongly by the employers. This course
study is also helpful for this fact. I have learnt that the accusing of Bridge by
her employer was ethically wrong. There are some ethical factors that should
be maintained by the management of the organization. This will help me to
protect myself in my professional life.
1.1. Technology Ethics
The main need which is related to the need of ethics in technology is directly related
to the aspect of the data security. In most of the technology it can be stated that
security of the data which is involved play a very vital role. The ethical aspect which
can be related restriction of the intruders who directly want to indulge into the data.
The privacy aspect of the data can be directly connected to the ethics in technology.
The privacy aspect can be directly related to the securing of the personal data of the
customer or the user who is indulged into the concept of the technology. The privacy
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Professional Issues Assignment Introduction
aspect of the technology can be considered as one of the most ethical parts in
technology.
1.2. The Ethical Technologist
Risk of the technology can be directly related to the loss of the personal data of the
user. In most of the cases it is seen that loss of data can be considered as very much
crucial for the user due to the factor that the data can be used in many areas which
can affect the life of the common people.
The main competence of the ethical technology is in the sector of the issue which is
related to the judgment of the scenario of the availability of the technology. The
technology should be very much available in different scenario so that it does not
affect the different functionality of the technology and on the other hand impact the
life of the common people.
1.3. Habits of the Effective Technologist
1. The technology involves the security of the data
2. The technology is user friendly
3. The technology involves different aspects of interaction
4. The technology should be available for access at any time and from anywhere.
5. The technology should be highly secured
6. The updating of the technology should be easily available.
1.4. ACS Code of Professional Conduct
The main content which is related to the ACS code of ethics mainly involve the
following points
The primacy of the public interest: The interest of the public or customer should be
upmost propriety.
The enhancement of the quality of the life: The enhancement of the quality of the
life should be done by the work.
Honesty: Level of honesty should be there in work
Competence: The work of the stakeholders should be done competently.
Professional development: Enhancement of the quality of the people.
Professionalism: You will enhance the integrity of the ACS code of ethics.
1.5. Ethical Issues of the Information Age
The main issue which is majorly seen in the information age is the aspect of the data
availability. For example in the concept of the cloud computing. The data are stored
in the server of the cloud providers. In most of the times it can be stated that the data
would be directly available but sometimes it can be stated that the data are not
available due to some problem in different linking areas. This can be very much
problematic due to the factor that it would be directly involving risk factor for the
people who store the data in the concept of the servers. The security issue can also
be part of the problem as it includes different area of working.
1.6. Thinking Machines
The concept of thinking machine can be considered as an area which mainly include
the learning aspect of the machine. It can be stated here that the data which is fed
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