An Overview of Ethics

Social and Professional Studies

Menirissa D. De Belen, MSIT

Instructor
Ethics in the Business World
Social and Professional Studies
• Ethics in the Business World
• Ethics in Information Technology
• Definition of Professional
• Attributes of Professional
• The Ethical Behavior of IT Professional
 Business Ethics
• Ethics in business is just the appliance of everyday moral or ethical norms to
business. Ethics in business originated in academic writings and meetings and
the development of a field of academic teaching, research, and publication.
• The system of ethical beliefs that guides the values, behaviors, and decisions of
a business and the individuals within that organization also refers to business
ethics. Some ethical requirements for businesses are codified into law;
environmental regulations, the minimum wage, and restrictions against insider
trading and conspiracy are all examples of the government setting forth
minimum standards for business ethics. What qualifies as business ethics in
history has changed over time, and therefore the different areas of ethics are
important to each business.
 Business Ethics

• Business Ethics is that the study of appropriate business policies and

practices regarding potentially controversial subjects, including corporate
governance, trading , bribery, discrimination, corporate social
responsibility, and fiduciary responsibilities. (Twin, 2020)
• Business and ethics should go together, business ethics is a form of applied
ethics. Business ethics are often both normative and descriptive; most
businesses should put more effort into rewarding ethical behavior in the
workplace. Businesses should continuously emphasize regularly the
importance of behaving ethically. If a practice isn’t illegal, it doesn’t mean
that it isn’t immoral.
 What qualifies as Ethics

• Exploitation. Mostly big companies make substantial gains by employing

local populations, especially in developing countries, or by utilizing the
inadequacy of tax to their disadvantage and the businesses around them.
These practices may also yield your business a short-term benefit, but
they’re heavily frowned upon by the American public and generally visible
as unethical.
• Donations and contributions. Finally, a business’s donations and voluntary
contributions to local groups, charitable organizations, and good causes
can also be measured an ethical and or compassionate practice.
 What qualifies as Ethics
• Fraud and manipulation. This must be obvious, but ethical companies don’t engage in
manipulative or shady financial practices, like bribery, trading or fraud. The problem at
this point is that individual actions are often related to the corporate as an entity, so a
person within your company who behaves in an unethical way may compromise the
reputation of your company. Putting firm strict and uncompromising application of the
policies and taking the right punishment imposed for breaking policies can reduce these
effects.
• Sustainability. Sustainability refers to practices that will be continued indefinitely.
• Diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion efforts are also understood
as responsible ethical business practices. These include programs to people from more
diverse backgrounds, including different ethnicities, sexes, and differently-abled people.
 What qualifies as Ethics
• The Age of Information. We’ve entered an age beyond the industrial; we’re living within the fashionable
era. No, that's not just a buzzword employed by digital marketers—it’s being studied and treated as a big
breakthrough in human history. Today’s potential employee has more information than ever before, and
businesses are more transparent now than they ever are . A public messages, company’s history, and even
existing staff are all publicly available information, and every one it takes may be a Google look for a
prospective employee to seek out it. For that reason, company ethics are more significant than they’ve
been in past decades; one scandal or breach of ethics will stick for many years. Conversely, any efforts made
to conduct business ethically are going to be more apparent and publicly recognized.
• The Millennial Factor. It is also important to realize that millennials are the next generation of talent
entering the professional world—and they’re the ones dictating what’s essential for companies. According
to a Bentley University study, 86 % of millennials consider it a main priority to work for a business
that conducts itself ethically and responsibly. Most millennials would be willing to
take a considerable pay cut to work for such a business. What does that mean for ethical practices at your
company? It means if you want any chance of recruiting up-and-coming talent in your industry, you need to
start engaging more responsibly. Otherwise, you’ll be alienating 86 percent of the young workforce before
you even get to make an offer.
 What qualifies as Ethics
• Increased Competition. One other factor to think about here is
the compounding nature of competition. As more businesses begin to
understand the importance of responsible and ethical practices, more businesses
are getting to invest in those efforts, which suggests any businesses that
don’t follow suit are going to look worse by comparison.
• The Bottom Line. A company’s ethics and company social responsibility matter
more today than they did a couple of decades ago. Workers place a higher
emphasis on the values of their employers and have access to more information
than ever before. If you would like your company to stay competitive within the
search for the simplest candidates in your field, spend a while defining,
perfecting, and promoting your company’s ethical behavior.
 What is the Purpose of the Code of Ethics in an Organization?

• Function
• Communication
• Integrity
• Reputation
• Risk
 Importance of Fostering Good Ethics

• To protect the organization and its employees from the action.

• To create an organization that operates consistently.
• To produce good services.
• To avoid unfavorable publicity.
• To gain the goodwill of the community.
 Common Workplace Ethics Violations

• Theft. Whether it's taking home office supplies or grabbing a stack of

paper plates from the break room when a customer steals from her
employer, she costs the company money. Theft also comes in the form of
padded timesheets, use of the company telephone for personal long-
distance calls, and abuse of sick-leave policies. To create an organization
that operates consistently.
• Deception. Lying to clients, co-workers, and supervisors is another
common ethics violation. Lying to the public or falsifying reports can even
put the public's health and safety at risk. When such deception is exposed
(as is frequently the case), the reputation of the company can be
damaged--sometimes beyond repair.
 Common Workplace Ethics Violations

• Harassment. Harassment comes in various behaviors but generally is based on race, sex,
age, religion, origin, and disability. Harassment, which in many cases violates federal law
in addition to a company's ethics policy, occurs anytime a person is singled out for
derogatory comments or actions based on any of these criteria. Companies are liable for
the actions of their employees, so most have put in place training programs to help
recognize and avoid this type of ethics violation.
• Internet Usage. With the advent of the Internet came a new type of workplace ethics
violation. Most companies have strict rules and guidelines regarding Internet usage, and
violating these policies can result in disciplinary actions, up to and including firing.
Examples of inappropriate use of the Internet would be spending time on pornographic
or social networking sites or blogging during work hours. Additionally, an employee must
take great care not to reveal proprietary information via the Internet.
Ethics in Information
Technology
Social and Professional Studies
 What is Computer Ethics?
Computer ethics is one of the essential areas of applied ethics. Problems such as the lack
of laws and security, and the fact that technical knowledge and hardware will continuously
increase, demands a new ethical theory to meet the challenges posed by this revolution.

When it comes to computing and business, morals and ethics are interchangeable, with
morals originating from the group in which a person matures, and business ethics, by
implication, from the group in which your business matures.
The mission statement of computer ethics involves restricting the presence of selfishness
or egoism of human nature and enabling harmonious human life in the information
technology domain.
 What is Computer Ethics?
Computer ethics is one of the essential areas of applied ethics. Problems such as the lack
of laws and security, and the fact that technical knowledge and hardware will continuously
increase, demands a new ethical theory to meet the challenges posed by this revolution.

When it comes to computing and business, morals and ethics are interchangeable, with
morals originating from the group in which a person matures, and business ethics, by
implication, from the group in which your business matures.
The mission statement of computer ethics involves restricting the presence of selfishness
or egoism of human nature and enabling harmonious human life in the information
technology domain.
 What is Information Technology Ethics?

Information technology ethics is the study of the moral issues arising

out of the utilization and development of electronic technologies. Its
goal is to spot and formulate answers to questions on the moral basis
of individual responsibilities and actions, also because of the moral
underpinnings of public policy.
 Legal and Ethical Issues in IT?

• Privacy. Many people have their private information spread

throughout the digital media. Even things thought to be secure, like
email or personal accounts, are often accessed by unintended
sources. Most employers actively check their employees’ computer
habits. Privacy has evolving legal implications, but there are also
ethical considerations.
• Digital Ownership. Digital media platforms have permitted
information to move more freely, unlike before. This exchange of
ideas comes with a legal and ethical backlash.
 Legal and Ethical Issues in IT?
• Data Gathering. On some level, everyone knows that their online lives are monitored. The
United States has even passed legislation allowing the government to monitor private
citizens in the name of national security actively. These measures have revived a debate
about what information can be gathered and why.
• Security Liability. In the past, security issues were resolved by locking a door. Digital security
is much more complicated. Security systems for digital networks are computerized in order
to safeguard important information and significant assets.
• Access Costs. Net neutrality has become a classy issue because of legislative efforts within a
previous couple of years. The issue of net neutrality is essentially a question of access.
Proponents want the web to stay hospitable for everyone, while some businesses want to
make tiered access for those that are willing to pay.
 Different Approaches to Solving Ethical Dilemmas

• Moral-right approach. In this approach, the managers who face

ethical dilemmas make decisions based on what is right morally. The
fundamental human rights of human beings are looked at, and a decision
is created accordingly. Some of the rights of humans that would be
encountered in making morally right decisions are the right to life of all
human beings, their privacy, and their health and safety.
• Justice Approach. In this approach to resolving ethical dilemmas,
the principles of impartiality, equity, and fairness are followed. Gender,
racial, religious, and ethical impartiality and fairness are some examples
that are followed in the justice approach of ethical decision making.
Potential Causes of Unethical Behavior
• Different reasons may cause unethical behavior. For example, if there is
a conflict of self-interests and ethics, a person may prioritize personal
interests. The existence of doubts about what is ethical and what is not
may also follow the unethical path. Owners and superiors can also do
unethical behavior to their employees, just like when they force their
employees to follow things against the ethical principle or interests of
the organization they're working for.
 Defining IT Professional and IT Specialist

• What does an IT professional really mean? IT professional is a nice title, but what does it really
mean? Let us define first what professionals mean, consistent with Merriam Webster. It says,
“relating to employment that needs education, training, or skill.” At the same time, IT Professionals
are stated as “characterized by or conforming to the technological or ethical standards of a career
or profession”
• Wisegeek also explains it as "IT professionals are people who maintain, build or repair hardware
and software associated with computer systems or other components related to information
processing. This job is often difficult and can require a high level of skill and knowledge, but a
university degree isn't always necessary."
 Defining IT Professional and IT Specialist

• What does an IT professional really mean? IT professional is a nice title, but what does it really
mean? Let us define first what professionals mean, consistent with Merriam Webster. It says,
“relating to employment that needs education, training, or skill.” At the same time, IT Professionals
are stated as “characterized by or conforming to the technological or ethical standards of a career
or profession”
• Wisegeek also explains it as "IT professionals are people who maintain, build or repair hardware
and software associated with computer systems or other components related to information
processing. This job is often difficult and can require a high level of skill and knowledge, but a
university degree isn't always necessary."
 Defining IT Professional and IT Specialist
• In a world run on technology, IT specialists also referred to as an information technology
specialist, are what every organization can never have enough of. These IT specialists cater to the
technical needs of companies. The IT specialist definition may be a technical professional that is
liable for the implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of IT systems. IT support specialist
job descriptions include specialization in network analysis, system administration, security, and
knowledge assurance, IT audits, database administration, and web administration.
Information technology specialists can add various areas of data technology. They add
the assistance desk to redress the issues that end-users face. Specialists also can do
the following roles:
• software engineers
• software developers
• database administrators
• system analysts
• computer security technicians and
• network analysts
 Attributes of Successful IT Professionals
1. Business-focused. We, the IT department – aren’t we supposed to focus on IT? It is not just
about technology, but it is what the technology allows the business to do. The whole point of the IT
department is to enable or drive business strategy.
2. Strategic. IT is playing a much larger role in handling strategic transformation in today’s enterprise.
It’s a far cry from the days where IT was seen as merely enabling business operations. Now IT can
be a source of new services and products. The latest technology can allow business models that had
formerly been impossible.
3. Pragmatic. Today’s business reality demands pragmatic thinkers who can weigh up sometimes
conflicting demands and look at what they can achieve given the time, money, and resource
constraints involved. The pragmatic IT professionals focus on delivering to the best of their abilities
within those constraints and communicating clearly with the business about what trade-offs are being
made.
4. Persuasive. Persuasion might sound like something better left to the advertisers and marketers of
the world. Still, the ability to persuade people to influence outcomes is a critical skill that IT
professionals need to master.
 Traits Necessary for Becoming A Successful IT Professionals
1. Patience is one of the key traits
2. He should have good communication skills
3. He should be quick to adapt to constant changes and development in the field.
4. He should be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
5. He should have the quality of problem-solving.
6. He should be passionate about his work.
 The Roles of an IT Specialist

An information technology specialist features a multitude of roles to fill. Today, nearly all
transactions in business and personal activities involve a computer: recording a sale, computing
payroll, keeping track of inventory, paying bills, etc. In this age of high technology, every organization
with a computer needs to have an IT specialist available, either on-site or on-call, to deal with the
problems that will certainly occur. Someone has to keep all of this software and hardware working
correctly. Those are the duties of an IT specialist. Computer support technicians have a multitude
of responsibilities and specific skills.
 The Roles of an IT Specialist

The following job specifications are examples of the applications of the

technological knowledge of IT professionals:
Help desk. The unfortunate fact is that hardware and software programs don't
always work the way they're supposed to. And most of us don't have the tech know-how
to find the problem and fix it. As a result, someone places a call to the IT specialist;
he's usually available 24/7.
• • Computer support specialists give advice and help to anyone who uses a computer in
an organization. They receive phone calls for help and respond to handle the problems.
Most of the time, they solve the matter remotely, but they're also available to form on-site
visits.
• • IT support technicians set up and install computer equipment and make most repairs.
They train employees on how to use new computer hardware and software which includes
using word-processing software, operating printers, and even providing instructions on
how to send and receive emails.
•Network administration. IT specialists have the responsibility to support the day-to day
operations of a network. Their job is to make sure that network systems
keep communications and information flowing smoothly.
 The Roles of an IT Specialist
Security. The world is full of people with criminal intentions, and the internet is a
fertile field for their unlawful acts. The threats from hacks by thieves are constantly
increasing and becoming more sophisticated. An IT specialist plays an important role
in designing software to stop cyberattacks.
• UNIT 1: Overview of Ethics
• Cyberattacks can be costly. Hackers can steal personal identities and use
the information to open credit cards, apply for bank loans, and even transfer
home mortgages to their names and take ownership of your house.
• Information security technicians design software, such as data
encryption programs and firewalls, to protect an organization's computer systems
and networks. They continuously check the organization's networks to detect
security breaches and investigate when an attack occurs.
• Database analysis. IT specialists use special software to organize, manage, and store data. This
includes such information as financial data, shipping records, purchase orders, payroll records and
administrative expenses.
 Attributes of Successful IT Professionals
Cloud computing. Moving data storage to the cloud involves more than buying a few megabytes of
online capacity. It's not as simple as swapping an in-house computer for an outside source.
IT specialists in cloud computing are the architects of a cloud infrastructure that meets the unique
requirements of each organization such as, having a cloud database that is easily accessible to the
marketing manager to run simulations for various campaigns or recording all the manufacturing costs
for a product.
•Software engineers. After a software engineers has written the codes and created
a program, the programmer tests and installs the systems onto the computers.
These engineers use their knowledge of hardware and software codes to implement
the programs and make them easy to use for non-IT employees.
• Business intelligence analysts. A business intelligence analyst takes the data that a business
has stored on its computer or in the cloud and converts it into charts and tables. These business-
oriented specialists must know SQL programming and be able to work with software developers to
create data mining algorithms. A business analyst figures out how to extract the relevant data and
prepare reports that are useful to managers
 The Ethical Behavior of IT Professional
1. Contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that each one people are
stakeholders in computing.
2. Avoid harm.
3. Be honest and trustworthy.
4. Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
5. Respect work that is vital to store new ideas, inventions, creative works, and artifacts related to
technology and computing.
6. Respect privacy.
7. Honor confidentiality.
 Overview of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Be inclusive. We should appreciate and support people from all walks of life and identities
regardless of their sexual orientation, age, size, family status, belief, religion, and mental ability.
• Be considerate. We all depend upon one another to supply the simplest work we will work as a
corporation. Our decisions will affect clients and colleagues, and you ought to take those
consequences under consideration when making decisions.
• Be respectful. We would not all agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for disrespectful
behavior. We will all experience frustration from time to time, but we cannot allow that frustration to
become personal attacks.
Thank you!
Social and Professional Studies