Case Study Decision Evaluation Murder On The Hard Drive

Case Study Decision Evaluationmurder On The Hardrive Textcomputers F

Case Study: Decision, Evaluation Murder on the hardrive text Computers fail for many reasons; most commonly, because of a hard drive crash. Computers may also be rendered unusable by fire, flood, mistreatment, sabotage, rust, viruses, overheating, static electric shock, and other mishaps. Even the savviest user will sometimes neglect to back up important data. When catastrophe occurs, the data stored on the hard drive, though often still there, cannot be retrieved by normal means. Properly trained technicians often can recover data.

The process can be painstaking and delicate, and only a few are qualified to recover data. Those who are qualified usually charge high prices for their service, which customers are willing to pay. Rose Valenty earns a comfortable living as manager of a data recovery company, Recoupabyte Confidential, Inc. The president of Recoupabyte started the company ten years ago. The company now employs a team of sixty: thirty technicians for the service side, and thirty staff members for the business side.

The corporate website advertises comprehensive data recovery from most mishaps, free estimates, and complete confidentiality. Their tagline is “Your reputation is safe with us.” Rose had often thought about that line, considering that “Your data is safe with us” might be more accurate. Rose assigned Angel Luna, a new technician, to the case of a new customer, Mr. Bowen. In a rage, Mr. Bowen had hurled his laptop through a window of his house. After calming down, he realized that all his tax records were on the computer and he had no backup. He gathered up the pieces of the laptop and brought them to Recoupabyte. During the interview, with Angel and Rose both present, Bowen nervously inquired about the confidentiality promise. He wanted to ensure that Recoupabyte would treat all data in the strictest confidence, no matter what it might be.

Rose assured him that anything on the computer, unless it involved plans for future criminal activity, would be completely safe with Recoupabyte. “We are all professionals here,” she said. Since the hard drive had been damaged, Angel had to extract and examine one file at a time. Many files were lost or hopelessly corrupted. During examination, Angel noticed some poor-quality photographs of what looked like a badly injured person.

He continued the retrieval process and found a folder called “diary” that contained files named by month and year. He examined one of these files and found it to be a first-person account of daily activities. His curiosity got the better of him, and he found the diary file with the same date as one of the photographs. To his amazement, the diary contained a brief, perfunctory account of a murder. Shocked, Angel went home early. That night, he searched online for local murder reports but found nothing. A month later, a missing person report was unresolved. The next day, Angel read the entire diary. It detailed Mr. Bowen’s volatile nature, frequent rage episodes, property destruction, and a fatal assault resulting in death, with notes on disposing of the body without specifics.

Angel presented his findings to Rose, who decided the data should be recovered and returned to Bowen, with the company billing him afterward. Angel objected, citing confidentiality concerns, but Rose explained that their business depends on trust and not snooping into clients’ private data unless criminal plans are involved. Rose emphasized that the company’s role is to recover data, not judge clients, and suggested that if the diary was part of a personal project or novel, then further investigation wasn’t appropriate. Angel faced a moral dilemma: should he continue with the data recovery, considering the evidence of potential serious crimes, or refuse, risking the company’s business integrity? Using ethical principles learned in previous modules, determine the most ethical decision, justify it fully, and address possible objections with defenses.

Paper For Above instruction

The most ethical resolution for Angel and Recoupabyte is to refuse to recover and return the data, notifying law enforcement about the potential crime. This decision is morally justified because it aligns with the principles of justice and the obligation to prevent harm. By allowing the data recovery without further action, the company risks enabling or concealing a potentially serious crime. Ethical standards, especially those surrounding confidentiality, must be balanced against the responsibility to prevent harm to others and uphold justice. When clear evidence of a murder exists, especially with personal accounts indicating a violent act, the moral duty to prevent further harm takes precedence over client confidentiality. The company’s reputation should not supersede moral obligations to society, and refusing to act preserves public trust in the integrity of ethical commitments.

Objection 1: The diary might be fictional or a creative work. Defense: While some might argue the diary is a novel or fiction, the detailed nature of the account, the evidence of violence, and the timing with a real missing person suggest real evidence of a crime. Ignoring the content would be neglecting serious moral responsibilities.

Objection 2: Reporting the crime may breach confidentiality agreements and damage the company's reputation. Defense: Confidentiality is important, but not at the expense of moral duty to prevent harm. Ethical business practices include cooperating with law enforcement when criminal activity is evident. Transparency and moral responsibility outweigh mere business interests.

Objection 3: The company could be implicated or sued for turning over data. Defense: Ethical obligations should guide actions over self-interest. Providing the relevant evidence to law enforcement can protect innocent parties and uphold justice, fostering long-term trust and integrity in the business.

References

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