Ethics Project Review: The Seven Scenarios, Rate Them And Ad

Ethics Projectreview The Seven Scenarios Rate Them And Add Brief Just

Review each of the seven scenarios carefully and respond by rating whether the actions of the individuals involved are very ethical, ethical, neither ethical nor unethical, unethical, or very unethical. Provide a brief justification for each rating, explaining the ethical considerations and moral implications involved in each scenario.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Ethical decision-making in information technology and business contexts is complex and often involves balancing competing interests such as honesty, loyalty, social responsibility, and personal values. Each scenario presented in this project highlights different dilemmas faced by individuals in professional and personal environments, shedding light on how ethics influence behavior and judgments. The following analysis assigns ratings to each scenario based on an ethical framework, supported by relevant ethical theories and industry standards.

Scenario 1: The Scientist and the Programmer

The scientist's failure to acknowledge the contribution of the programmer who built the computer model is a breach of fairness and honesty. Recognizing team members' contributions aligns with the ethical principle of integrity and respect for others' work (Trevino & Nelson, 2017). By not acknowledging the programmer, the scientist undermines the collaborative effort, potentially damaging trust and morale. This act can be considered unethical because it neglects the moral obligation to give credit and maintain transparency in scientific work. Ethical standards in research emphasize honesty and acknowledgment of contributions (Resnik, 2011).

Scenario 2: The Programmer and the Business Owner

The programmer's decision not to disclose the design flaws of the accounting system was driven by personal motives rather than ethical considerations. While her hope to be hired for future revisions might seem benign, intentionally withholding critical information contravenes principles of honesty and professional responsibility (ACM Code of Ethics, 2018). This behavior is unethical as it puts the business at risk of operating with flawed systems, potentially leading to financial inaccuracies. Ethically, the programmer has a duty to inform clients of known issues to enable informed decision-making.

Scenario 3: The Student and the Security Loophole

The student's initial act of discovering and reporting the security loophole demonstrates responsible and ethical behavior, aligning with the principle of doing no harm and promoting security (Heffernan et al., 2020). Continuing to access students’ records afterward for two weeks, however, shifts towards unethical conduct, as it exploits a vulnerability for personal benefit and violates privacy rights. The system administrator's failure to fix the vulnerability promptly further complicates the ethical landscape. Overall, the student's actions in exploiting the loophole are neither ethical nor unethical—the ethical stance depends on the extent of misuse; but accessing information without permission is generally unethical. The failure of the administrator to address the issue swiftly can be viewed as neglect of duty.

Scenario 4: Receiving an Unintended Item

The decision to keep the second item received with an online order, which was not intentionally ordered, reflects a conscious choice to accept a benefit without paying for it. Ethical considerations include honesty and integrity; knowingly keeping an item not paid for constitutes theft (Rachels & Rachels, 2019). While the item might be inexpensive and of personal value, ethically, the right action would be to contact the seller and arrange for return. Therefore, this decision is unethical. The justification hinges on the moral obligation to avoid benefiting from mistakes or oversights of others.

Scenario 5: The Bank Programmer’s Account Adjustment

The programmer’s act of modifying the bank’s system to hide an overdraft reflects dishonesty and a breach of professional integrity. Such actions are ethically indefensible because they involve manipulating data for personal gain and violating principles of honesty (ACM Code of Ethics, 2018). Once the overdrawn balance was corrected, the programmer’s actions should have been reversed, maintaining transparency. This scenario exemplifies very unethical behavior, risking financial harm and moral breach.

Scenario 6: Using Work Time for Personal Activities

The decision to surf social media and shop online during work downtime raises questions about responsibility and productivity. Ethically, employees are expected to use work time efficiently and prioritize job responsibilities (Carroll & Buchholtz, 2014). Personal activities during work hours, unless explicitly permitted, constitute unethical behavior since they divert time and resources away from work duties. However, if company policies explicitly allow brief personal use, the behavior might be acceptable. Absent such policies, this decision is generally considered unethical.

Scenario 7: Writing and Installing a Virus Program

The student’s act of creating and deploying a virus that infected numerous user disks demonstrates malicious intent and a serious breach of ethical standards in computing. Spreading malware causes harm, breaches privacy, and disrupts systems, violating principles of non-maleficence and respect for others’ property (Vacca, 2014). If the virus caused data loss or acted maliciously (e.g., erasing files), such actions are unequivocally very unethical. Even if the virus was benign and merely caused commands to be ignored, its use and dissemination still breach ethical codes of conduct for computing professionals and students. In all cases, such behavior is contrary to responsible use of technology.

Conclusion

Analyzing these scenarios through an ethical lens reveals that most involve violations of fundamental principles like honesty, fairness, and respect. Ethical decision-making requires acting in accordance with moral standards and professional codes, fostering trust, and minimizing harm. As technology continues to evolve, understanding and applying these principles remain crucial for professionals and students alike to uphold integrity and social responsibility in their respective fields.

References

• ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. (2018). Association for Computing Machinery.
• Carroll, A. B., & Buchholtz, A. K. (2014). Business and Society: Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management. Cengage Learning.
• Heffernan, T., et al. (2020). Ethical considerations in cybersecurity: The case of security vulnerabilities. Journal of Information Security, 11(3), 123-135.
• Resnik, D. B. (2011). What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
• Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2017). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. John Wiley & Sons.
• Vacca, J. R. (2014). Computer Forensics: Principles and Practices. CRC press.

This detailed analysis provides an evaluation of each scenario grounded in ethical theories, emphasizing the importance of moral responsibility and integrity in professional conduct.