Policy on consumer profiling
Consumer profiling in the organisation is a tool that is used for consumer segregation and segmentation to identify and helps organisation to know its consumers. This aide in assessing their needs and determining the best means and ways to meet their needs. It is important to have a policy that will then guide the process of consumer profiling and attain a target market for the organisation which in turn will orient the operations of the organisation.
The issue of consumer profiling has been an issue of contention due to the different notions, though it is beneficial to the organisation, it must well-handled and guided by policy to avoid infringement to individual privacy rights.
This policy is created to help in handling and protection of consumer information gathered for purposes of consumer profiling. The information may be submitted or gathered electronically, through telephones, fax, e-mails, and direct word of mouth and through any other available and legally acceptable means.
The policy is also created to safeguard consumer information gathered through electronic media and the World Wide Web from fraud, identity theft and other crimes that may result in personal aggravation.
The consumer profiling policy will guide the conduct of employees directly in charge of the information on consumers or customers and to control the way the information is handle by the responsible personnel in order to maintain the confidentiality and the privacy needed.
The policy is much beneficial to the organisation since it simplifies its operations; it also reduces security issues like fraud and identity theft. The policy also enhances employee performance and clearly allows the consumer to make his decision on the provision of the information thus reducing legal cases on privacy rights to deal with which consumes a lot of time and resources and may tarnish the image of the organisation.
However there are few challenges since the consumers may opt not to provide some information which may be vital to the organisation for purposes of consumer profiling.
This organisation recognises the importance of protecting information collected from the consumers for purposes of profiling. Thus the following steps have been taken to maintain privacy and confidentiality of consumer information and profiling information in accordance with this consumer profiling policy. By signing this policy as a consumer and as an employee of this organisation you consent to the practices and guidelines described herein.
The organisation shall ensure that all data collected through all means either electronic or non-electronic pertaining to consumers will be adequate and accurate as submitted by the consumer, it shall remain relevant and in excessive and should be kept accurate and up to date until when it shall no longer be required for purposes of ensuring an accurate and reliable consumer profile. This information shall not be altered, conveyed, transmitted or disclosed to any unauthorised person whatsoever unless otherwise required by law for legal proceedings or with consent of consumer.
The consumer will always have an option of providing particular information to the organisation or not. Personal identifiable information which may be collected electronically for example if a user is required to provide an e-mail and password to the organisation site he or she may opt not to provide such information for privacy reasons.
Any information submitted to or collected by the organisation and any other communication with the consumer may be used by the organisation for consumer profiling and for any of its internal operations in order to improve the services of the organisation to the consumers but it shall not be disclosed to third parties unless with the consent of the consumer.
Employees directly handling the consumer data and information used for profiling shall be guided by the organisations code of conduct and they shall be bound not to disclose, alter or use the data and information for personal purposes.
The employees will use passwords and other security checks to access the information and data on consumer profiling. This is to ensure data security and accountability in the handling of this information.
Transactions with consumers shall be verified electronically through mail and telephone there may be need for the organisation to employ ardent security measures for instance encryption and decryption of data that is transmitted electronically , use of digital signatures and biometric identification technologies in verification of bank accounts and credit cards.
Any Employee or consumer who is found contravening this policy is liable to face disciplinary measures which may include suspension of employees from work and even termination of contract. In case of gross violation of the policy the employee shall face the applicable legal redress as stipulated in the privacy act. This policy is be guided by the data protection act, the privacy act.
References
fordfn1/ethic04.ppt. (2010). Retrieved february 11, 2012, from www.auburn.edu/~fordfn1/ethic04.ppt: www.auburn.edu/~fordfn1/ethic04.ppt
privacy/profiling. (2010). Retrieved february 11, 2012, from www.epic.org: www.epic.org/privacy/profiling
Reynolds, G. (2009). Ethics in information Technology (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning.
