Professional Responsibility And Whistleblowing Research

1 Professional Responsibility And Whistle Blowing Research And Wr

Research and write about a case of whistle blowing. Explain the context. What did the whistle-blower hope to achieve by "going public"? What were the consequences, positive and negative, for the individual and for society? 2- Why Things Bite Back or AI and Disruptive Change . * The Internet of Things: current applications, developments, proven uses, and intrinsic dangers . Write 700 words for each with 2 references at least

Paper For Above instruction

Case of Whistleblowing: The Enron Scandal

The Enron scandal, which came to light in the early 2000s, is one of the most infamous cases of corporate whistleblowing in history. Enron Corporation, an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas, was involved in widespread corporate fraud and corruption. The whistleblower, Sherron Watkins, who was Vice President of Corporate Development, played a significant role in exposing the financial misconduct within the company. Watkins discovered that senior executives were engaging in accounting fraud to inflate earnings and hide debt, thereby misleading investors and regulators about Enron’s true financial health.

Watkins hoped to achieve transparency and halt the ongoing fraudulent practices by warning the company's leadership and bringing internal issues to light. Her aim was to prevent the company from collapsing and to protect investors, employees, and the broader financial market from fraudulent practices. Her memo to then-CEO Kenneth Lay was intended to alert him and prompt corrective action, embodying her commitment to ethical responsibility and corporate accountability.

The consequences of Watkins' whistleblowing were profound. Positively, her actions contributed to the eventual unraveling of Enron’s fraud, leading to criminal investigations, the company's bankruptcy, and significant reforms in corporate governance, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. For society, her whistleblowing helped reinforce the importance of transparency in corporate practices and accountability, fostering greater scrutiny of corporate financial disclosures. However, for Watkins herself, the consequences were personally detrimental: she faced professional retaliation, public scrutiny, and loss of reputation. Despite these challenges, her actions underscored the moral imperative of corporate whistleblowing and its role in safeguarding public interests.

The Internet of Things: current applications, developments, proven uses, and intrinsic dangers

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnected network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that enables these objects to collect and exchange data. Current applications of IoT span various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, smart homes, and urban infrastructure. In healthcare, IoT devices facilitate remote patient monitoring, improve diagnosis accuracy, and enable personalized treatment. In manufacturing, IoT enhances predictive maintenance, optimizes supply chains, and increases operational efficiency.

Smart home devices like thermostats, security cameras, and voice assistants exemplify consumer IoT applications that increase convenience and energy efficiency. Urban development benefits from IoT through smart traffic management, waste management, and energy consumption optimization. Developments in IoT technology continue to expand its capabilities, integrating AI for more intelligent decision-making and automation. Prominent examples include connected vehicles, smart grids, and precision agriculture technologies.

Despite its advantages, IoT presents significant intrinsic dangers. Security vulnerabilities are a primary concern, as connected devices often lack robust cybersecurity measures, making them susceptible to hacking and malicious attacks. Privacy issues are also prominent, with personal data being collected and potentially misused or inadequately protected. Furthermore, IoT systems can be complex and prone to failures, which may result in critical service disruptions or safety hazards, particularly in healthcare or industrial settings. As IoT continues to evolve, addressing these intrinsic risks is crucial to ensuring its safe and ethical deployment across society.

References

• Heard, N. (2019). The Internet of Things: Challenges and Risks. Journal of Cybersecurity & Privacy, 3(2), 150-162.
• Skvarc, J., & Kacin, M. (2020). IoT Security Challenges and Solutions. Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Internet of Things (iThings), 345-351.