Doing Ethics Technique: Analyzing the Un-tested System Case Study

This case study presents an ethical dilemma faced by a testing manager, Ken, who is pressured to release an un-tested system to meet a project's go-live date. The case details the facts, issues, and stakeholders affected by this decision, highlighting potential defects, risks, and the violation of professional ethics. The ethical issues are analyzed through the lenses of Consequentialism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics, demonstrating the negative implications of releasing the system without proper testing. The analysis explores potential courses of action, including agreeing with management, resigning, or fighting the decision. The case concludes by recommending that the testing manager challenge the decision, emphasizing the importance of complete testing, and presenting alternative solutions. The case study underscores the importance of ethical decision-making, especially in the IT sector, and the potential consequences of compromising on quality and safety.

Doing Ethics Technique
Table of Contents
Case Study...................................................................................................................................................3
Q1. What's going on?..............................................................................................................................3
Q2. What are the facts?............................................................................................................................3
Q3. What are the issues?..........................................................................................................................3
Q4. Who is affected?...............................................................................................................................3
Q5. What are the ethical issues and their implications?...........................................................................4
Q6. What could have been done about it?................................................................................................5
Q7. What are the options?.......................................................................................................................5
Q8. Which option is the best and why?...................................................................................................5
References...................................................................................................................................................7
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Case Study
Q1. What's going on?
The scenario presented in the case study revolves around the un-tested system and its launch.
Ken is a testing manager and has been asked to meet the go-live date by the Project Manager.
However, Ken argues that testing of the system will not be complete and therefore, the go-live of
the project will not be possible (Youtube, 2017).
Q2. What are the facts?
The project team members are aware of the fact that testing of the project will not be completed
before the go-live of the project. It will lead to the presence of many defects in the project which
may have damaging effects on the system behavior and performance. The testing manager is
asked to deliver irrespective of the completion of the testing process which may enhance the
probability of the possible risks and attacks (Jones, 2016).
Q3. What are the issues?
Testing is one of the most important activities that are carried out in the business projects. It is an
activity that highlights the defects and flaws that may be present in the projects. After the
execution of the testing processes, resolution of the defects is performed to make sure that the
end-product is free from any of the deviations. There is verification and validation process that is
carried out to make sure that the project requirements are met (Keeble, 2016).
However, in this case, the system is still in the un-tested state. It cannot be confirmed whether
the system meets the project requirements or not. Also, there may be additional defects present in
the system which may impact the functionalities and system qualities in an adverse manner.
Q4. Who is affected?
 The testing team of the project will be affected as they will be held accountable by the
client and the senior management for all the defects that may occur in the project.
 The end users of the system will be affected as they may experience deteriorated system
performance and behavior.
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Doing Ethics Technique
 The project client will also be affected as the project may not meet the requirements and
specifications resulting in significant loss (Strain, 2007).
Q5. What are the ethical issues and their implications?
As per the Information Technology and Business Ethics, it is necessary to make sure that the
project activities that are carried out are done with the elements of professionalism, honesty and
competence.
There are certain phases that are required and are also significant in the projects. Testing is one
such phase that has a lot of importance and it is not advisable to miss out on any of the testing
processes.
In this case, it is being asked to the testing manager to deliver the un-tested system to the client.
The act has been evaluated on the basis of various ethical theories.
Theory of Consequentialism is the ethical theory that says that the activity is correct only when it
has positive consequences. In case of an un-tested system, the possible consequences may be
defects in the system leading to deterioration of the user experience with the system. There may
other scenarios that may include loss of the confidentiality and privacy of the customer data and
information present in the system. The consequences are negative in nature and therefore, the act
is not ethically accurate (Collste, 2008).
Another theory that has been applied to the scenario is the theory of Deontology Ethics. This
theory is guided by the principle that ethical correctness depends upon the level of adherence to
the rules and policies. If the adherence is maintained, then the act is ethically correct and vice
versa. In this scenario, the rule says that the project team shall execute all the project phases and
the end-product shall be provided to the project client only after the complete execution. Testing
is one of the mandatory phases in the project which is missing in this case. Therefore, the act
violates the rules and is ethically incorrect.
The act has also been evaluated as per the ethical theory of Virtue Ethics. This theory says that
the activity shall have positive virtues of the doer associated with it. The project is being asked to
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be delivered in the un-tested state as there are selfish virtues of the senior management involved.
The act is ethically wrong as per the theory of Virtue Ethics.
There can be implications such as security risks and attacks that may occur. Also, there may be
non-fulfillment of the required system qualities that may impact the user experience from the
system in a negative manner.
Q6. What could have been done about it?
The testing manager must make sure that the system is tested and the go-live of the project is
carried out only after the testing processes are completed.
Additional resources may be included in the project to speed up the project activities to meet the
go-live date of the project in this case. There shall be meeting that shall be organized between the
entire internal team of the project to inform them about the required step of action and the
possible measures that may be taken (Meissner, 2011).
Q7. What are the options?
There are three options for Ken to use in this scenario.
 Agreeing with the senior management and allowing the release of the system
 Resignation from the organization
 Fighting back with the senior management on the decision to release the un-tested system
Q8. Which option is the best and why?
The option which is the best in this case is the third option that is, fighting back with the senior
management on the decision to release the un-tested system.
This is the best option because allowing the release of the un-tested system will result in a
number of negative consequences as stated in the section above. Also, it would be a clear
violation of the professional ethics which would only cause damage and loss to the organization,
project client and the end users (Schultz, 2006).
Resignation from the organization would not be a recommended option as the resignation would
provide the liberty to the senior management to go ahead with the release of the un-tested
system. It would be selfish move from the testing manager.
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The apt step to take in this case would be to explain the senior management the risks and
occurrences that may result in case of allowing the system to be released in the un-tested state. It
would provide them with the understanding of the possible errors and damages that may result.
The senior management will also be able to analyze the situation from the technical and security
points of view. Ken must make sure that there is a detailed argument presented in the form of the
scenarios that may occur, the audience that will be impacted in the negative manner and the
damages that the decision may result in (McCarthy, 2005). Also, the alternatives shall also be
presented to the senior leadership and management, such as, inclusion of external resources so
that the project activities can be executed rapidly.
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References
Collste, G. (2008). Global ICTâ€ethics: the case of privacy. Journal Of Information,
Communication And Ethics In Society, 6(1), 76-87.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14779960810866819
Jones, S. (2016). Doing the right thing: computer ethics pedagogy revisited. Journal Of
Information, Communication And Ethics In Society, 14(1), 33-48.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jices-07-2014-0033
Keeble, R. (2016). Publication ethics: stressing the positive. Journal Of Information,
Communication And Ethics In Society, 14(1), 20-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jices-10-
2015-0037
McCarthy, R. (2005). Information Technology Ethics: A Research Framework. Retrieved 10
August 2017, from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?
doi=10.1.1.103.4577&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Meissner, N. (2011). Forced pirates and the ethics of digital film. Journal Of Information,
Communication And Ethics In Society, 9(3), 195-205.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14779961111167667
Schultz, R. (2006). Contemporary Issues in Ethics and Information Technology. Retrieved 10
August 2017, from
http://ce.sharif.edu/courses/91-92/1/ce347-1/resources/root/ebooksclub.org__Contemporary
_Issues_in_Ethics_and_Information_Technology.pdf
Strain, J. (2007). Ethics in the virtual world. Journal Of Information, Communication And Ethics
In Society, 5(1), 4-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14779960710822647
Youtube. (2017). A dilemma in IT: Select action end of video and see its consequence. YouTube.
Retrieved 10 August 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mugeCY3vbxo
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