University:
Kentucky State University
Course:
ENG 216 | Technical Writing
Academic year:

2020
Views:

492

Pages:

30
Author:

Dixie Summers

Lecture 8: Information System Ethics 1 Introduction Ethics: is a set of moral principles that governs the behavior of a group or individual. Computer Ethics: is set of moral principles that regulates the use of computers. 2 Information Systems Ethics   Information Systems Ethics comprises of: 1) Information – – – 3 Information is a central concept of many textbooks, papers, journals, proceedings, …etc. Information is a collection of facts organized in such a way that they have value beyond the facts themselves. To be an effective manager in any area of business, you need to understand that information is one of an organization’s most valuable resources. Information Systems Ethics   Information Systems Ethics comprises of: 2) Systems: – – –  4 System is a set of elements or components that interact to accomplish goals. System components include inputs, processing mechanisms, outputs, and feedback. Important systems’ performance and standards include efficiency and effectiveness. When information and systems are integrated, they produce information systems. Information Systems Ethics   Information Systems Ethics comprises of: Information Systems: – Information system (IS) is a set of interrelated elements that      5 Collect (input) Manipulate (process) Store Disseminate (output) data and information Provide a corrective reaction (feedback mechanism) to meet an objective Information Systems Ethics   Information Systems Ethics comprises of: Information Systems: – – 6 Computer-Based Information Systems (CBIS) is a single set of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures:  that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information  Examples: Company’s payroll, order entry, inventory control, …etc. Increasingly, companies are incorporating CBIS into their products and services. Information Systems Ethics   Information Systems Ethics comprises of: 3) Ethics: – – – 7 Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with what is considered to be right and wrong. Ethics refer to principles of right and wrong that individuals, acting as free moral agents, use to make choices to guide their behaviors A Code of Ethics is a collection of principles that are intended to guide decision making by members of an organization. Information Systems and Ethics  Information systems raise new ethical questions because they create opportunities for: – – 8 Intense social change, threatening existing distributions of power, money, rights, and obligations. New kinds of crime. Why are information systems vulnerable? 9 – Accessibility of networks – Hardware problems (breakdowns, configuration errors, damage from improper use or crime) – Software problems (programming errors, installation errors, unauthorized changes) – Disasters – Use of networks/computers outside of firm’s control – Loss and theft of portable devices Why are information systems vulnerable? 10 Information Systems Ethics     11 Computer Literacy – Knowing how to use a computer Digital Divide – That gap between those with computer access and those who don’t have it Computer Ethics – Standards of conduct as they pertain to the use of information systems. Identity Theft – Stealing of another’s social security number, credit card number, or other personal information. Information Systems Ethics     12 Information Privacy – Protecting one’s personal information. Information Accuracy – Deals with authentication and fidelity of information. Information Property – Deals with who owns information about individuals and how information can be sold and exchanged. Information Accessibility – Deals with what information a person has the right to obtain about others and how the information can be used. Information Systems Ethics 13 Four Categories of Information Systems Ethical Issues  Privacy Issues: –  Accuracy Issues: –  Involves the ownership and value of information. Accessibility Issues: – 14 Involves the authenticity, fidelity and accuracy of information that is collected and processed. Property Issues: –  Involves collecting, storing and disseminating information about individuals. Revolve around who should have access to information and whether they should have to pay for this access. Relationship Among Ethical, Social, Political Issues in an Information Systems   The introduction of new information technology has a ripple effect, raising new ethical, social, and political issues that must be dealt with on the individual, social, and political levels. These issues have five moral dimensions: – – – – 15 – Information rights and obligations Property rights and obligations System quality Quality of life Accountability and control Relationship Among Ethical, Social, Political Issues in an Information Systems 16 Understanding Ethical and Social Issues Related to Information Systems Key Technology Trends That Raise Ethical Issues: 1) Doubling of computer power More organizations depend on computer systems for critical operations 2) Rapidly declining data storage costs – Organizations can easily maintain detailed databases on individuals 3) Networking advances and the Internet – Copying data from one location to another and accessing personal data from remote locations is much easier – 17 Understanding Ethical and Social Issues Related to Information Systems 4) Advances in data analysis techniques – Companies can analyze vast quantities of data gathered on individuals for:  Profiling –  Nonobvious relationship awareness (NORA) – 18 Combining data from multiple sources to create dossiers of detailed information on individuals Combining data from multiple sources to find obscure hidden connections that might help identify criminals or terrorists. Understanding Ethical and Social Issues Related to Information Systems 4) Advances in data analysis techniques  Nonobvious relationship awareness (NORA) – – 19 NORA technology can take information about people from disparate sources and find obscure, nonobvious relationships. Example: NORA might discover that an applicant for a job at a gold store shares a telephone number with a known criminal and issue an alert to the hiring manager. Understanding Ethical and Social Issues Related to Information Systems 20 Basic Concepts For Ethical Analysis – Responsibility:  – 21 duties, and Mechanisms for identifying responsible parties Liability:  – costs, Accountability:  – Accepting the potential obligations for decisions Permits individuals (and firms) to recover damages done to them Due Process:  Laws are well known and understood, with an ability to appeal to higher authorities Five-Steps Process for Ethical analysis 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 22 Identify and clearly describe the facts Define the conflict or dilemma and identify the higher-order values involved Identify the stakeholders Identify the options that you can reasonably take Identify the potential consequences of your options Six Candidate Ethical Principles 1. Golden Rule  2. Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative  3. If an action is not right for everyone to take, it is not right for anyone Descartes’ Rule of Change  23 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you If an action cannot be taken repeatedly, it is not right to take at all Six Candidate Ethical Principles 4. Utilitarian Principle  Risk Aversion Principle 5.  6. Take the action that produces the least harm or least potential cost Ethical “no free lunch” Rule  24 Take the action that achieves the higher or greater value Assume that virtually all tangible and intangible objects are owned by someone unless there is a specific declaration otherwise Some Ethical Questions Faced by Professionals     25 Is copying software really a form of stealing ? Should the creation of viruses be considered deliberate sabotage and be punished accordingly? Who is responsible for computer malfunctions or errors in computer programs? Is hacking merely a bit of harmless fun or is it a crime equivalent to theft ? Software Engineering Ethics    Software engineering involves wider responsibilities than simply the application of technical skills. Software engineers must behave in an honest and ethically responsible way if they are to be respected as professionals. Ethical behaviour is more than simply upholding the law but involves following a set of principles that are morally correct. 26 Issues of Professional Responsibility  Confidentiality – Engineers should normally respect the confidentiality of their employers or clients irrespective of whether or not a formal confidentiality agreement has been signed.  Competence – Engineers should not misrepresent their level of competence. They should not knowingly accept work which is outwith their competence. 27 Issues of Professional Responsibility   Intellectual property rights – Engineers should be aware of local laws governing the use of intellectual property such as patents, copyright, etc. They should be careful to ensure that the intellectual property of employers and clients is protected. Computer misuse – Software engineers should not use their technical skills to misuse other people’s computers. Computer misuse ranges from relatively trivial (game playing on an employer’s machine, say) to extremely serious (dissemination of viruses). 28 Ethical Dilemmas    Disagreement in principle with the policies of senior management. Your employer acts in an unethical way and releases a safety-critical system without finishing the testing of the system. Participation in the development of military weapons systems or nuclear systems. 29 References    30 Kizza, J. M. (2016). Ethics in Computing. Springer. Laudon, J. and Laudon, K., (2010). Managing the Digital Firm. 11th Edition, Prentice Hall. Stair, R. , and Reynolods, G. (2013). Principles of Information Systems. 11th Edition. Cengage Learning- Course Technology.

Lecture 8 Information System Ethics

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