Write An Organizational Or Personal Policy, If Not, I

Write an organizational policy (or personal policy, if not in the job force) to correct the IT-related ethical issue that you described in Paper B1, where you mapped key organizational or personal issues and identified how these digital ethical issues were affected by relevant laws, regulations, and policies

Develop a comprehensive organizational or personal policy addressing an IT-related ethical issue previously identified. Your policy should be structured with clear sections, including an overview, purpose, scope, policy points, sanctions/enforcement, and references. It must incorporate insights gained from analyzing the ethical issue, relevant laws, regulations, and your instructor’s feedback, and should align with best practices for policy writing based on credible templates or examples.

Your policy should be between 3 to 5 pages, double-spaced, and include at least three credible external references cited in APA format. The content must demonstrate critical thinking, proper grammar, and adherence to business writing standards, making explicit the ethical issue and how your policy aims to address it.

Paper For Above instruction

In the modern digital landscape, ethical considerations surrounding information technology are of paramount importance. As organizations increasingly rely on data collection, storage, and analysis, issues related to privacy, confidentiality, and user autonomy have become central to ethical debates. This paper proposes a comprehensive organizational policy designed to address one such ethical issue identified earlier — specifically, the unethical or insecure handling of consumer data in big data analytics. The policy aims to establish clear guidelines that promote ethical data practices, ensure compliance with relevant laws, and foster trust between organizations and their stakeholders.

Overview of the Policy

The core ethical issue addressed in this policy relates to the collection, storage, and application of big data, focusing on protecting consumer privacy and ensuring responsible data management. The increasing use of big data analytics has raised concerns about unauthorized data access, misuse, and transparency. In Paper B1, the key challenges identified were invasive data collection practices, lack of transparency, and insufficient consumer control over personal information. This policy seeks to mitigate these issues by embedding ethical principles into organizational data practices and emphasizing accountability.

Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish ethical standards for data management that protect consumer rights, ensure legal compliance, and promote responsible use of big data within the organization. It aims to define expectations for data collection, processing, and sharing, emphasizing transparency, consent, and confidentiality. By implementing this policy, the organization commits to upholding individuals’ autonomy and privacy rights while leveraging data analytics ethically and legally.

Scope (Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders)

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party partners involved in data handling activities. It assigns specific responsibilities to various roles: senior management is tasked with oversight and ensuring compliance; data analysts and IT staff are responsible for implementing data security and privacy measures; legal and compliance officers oversee adherence to laws such as GDPR and CCPA; and all staff are required to undergo training on ethical data practices. Clear delineation of responsibilities ensures accountability and reinforces the organization’s commitment to ethical standards.

Policy Points to Follow

  • Data Collection Transparency: All data collection activities must be transparent, with clear, accessible privacy notices detailing what data is collected, how it is used, and with whom it is shared.
  • Informed Consent: Consumers must provide explicit consent before their data is collected or processed, and they must be informed of their rights to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Data Minimization and Purpose Limitation: Only data necessary for defined purposes should be collected and stored, with strict limits on reuse beyond the original intent.
  • Data Security and Confidentiality: Adequate security measures, including encryption and access controls, must be enforced to protect data from unauthorized access, breaches, or misuse.
  • Regular Audits and Monitoring: Routine audits should be conducted to ensure compliance with the policy, laws, and best practices; violations must be promptly addressed.
  • Training and Awareness: All personnel involved in data handling must receive ongoing training on ethical data management and legal obligations.

Sanctions and Enforcement

Failure to adhere to this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include reprimand, suspension, termination, or legal consequences depending on the severity of the violation. The organization will establish a compliance team responsible for monitoring adherence, investigating breaches, and enforcing sanctions. Additionally, violations reported through anonymous channels will be thoroughly investigated to protect whistleblowers and uphold accountability.

References

  • Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2018). Biometrics. Retrieved from https://eff.org
  • Electronic Privacy Information Center. (2018). Big Data and the Future of Privacy. Retrieved from https://epic.org
  • World Economic Forum. (2016). What is big data? Retrieved from https://weforum.org
  • Information Commissioner's Office. (2021). Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Retrieved from https://ico.org.uk
  • Federal Trade Commission. (2012). Start with Security: A Guide for Business. Retrieved from https://ftc.gov
  • European Data Protection Board. (2018). Guidelines on Data Privacy and Security. Retrieved from https://edpb.europa.eu
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Retrieved from https://nist.gov
  • United States Department of Commerce. (2019). Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. Retrieved from https://cdn.cfr.org
  • Schneier, B. (2015). Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World. W.W. Norton & Company.
  • Rieger, O. (2019). Ethical Data Management in Modern Organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 154(2), 321-335.