Analysis from doing ethics technique
The situation that we have been given has some many issues and circumstances that require ethical approaches to solve the problem that we are presented in the case. The doing ethics technique requires that we ask questions about a given scenario (Simpson, Nevile, & Burmeister, 2003).
What is going on - what are the facts?
- Jean is required to develop statistical program which is large using her own skills and time. She is not to copy any code from somewhere
- Jean is required to finish the program within the specified time scale without delay
- Jean is required to publish the work in professional journals showing her contributions in what she has been able to do.
- She is required to cover all aspects of the program so that all modules are followed in eth development of the program.
What are the issues?
There are issues that come up with the development of the database program.
- The timeframe that is given for the program, to be up and running is not enough. There is a need to have more time to develop the program.
- There is a need to undertake the research so that all the problems that Jean is currently facing are followed to the latter. She is required to work on the problems herself. This way, she will be able to produce original work.
- She is required to produce work that can be published in professional journals.
- There is lack of communication concerning the status of the project and the problems that Jean is facing while undertaking the programming exercise.
Who is affected?
- Jean, if the work does not get finished on time. She might have negative rating from the manager and may even lose her work. This is if she decides to work on the problems herself. The time that is required to solve all the problems that she is facing regarding the program is not enough.
- The company will be affected if they get a program that is not complete. The business processes that the program is required to solve will not be fully met.
- The users of the program will be affected if they get a system that does not solve all the problems that were intended to be solved.
- The professional bodies which publish the journals will be affected because there will be no new information that will be researched and presented to them. This will affect the rating in these organizations.
- If Jean decides to copy the code of similar programs, she will be practicing unprofessional ethics and will affect the rating of the company from professional bodies.
- Programmers in the company because their work will no longer be acceptable to be used in the professional bodies. This is because their reputation will no longer be accepted.
- The manager will also be affected because if Jean does not submit the work on time, then the work plan for the whole team will be affected.
- The programmers whose code have been copied and indeed, their respective companies will be affected because they will no longer be able to submit the code to professional bodies if they had not done this before.
Positively
- If Jean does the programming and finishes on time, then she will be able to earn herself a good name as a good programmer.
- The company as they will have a working database system that will be used to solve a given problem in their company.
- The programmers will also benefit because of the new way of solving a given problem. They will buy programming tips from Jean and will be able to work on new programs.
- Everyone, including programmers and users, if the work is done on time and all the business challenges that were supposed to be solved with the program will be solved.
Hence, what are the ethical issues and implications?
- Commitment and trust between the organization and the professional bodies.
- Realistic timeframe definition of the program to be achieved.
- Realistic programming challenges and the courage to convey these issues and problems to the manager.
- Setting realistic goals on project tasks and how these tasks.
- Clarification of the programming tasks that are faced by Jean and being able to seek for realistic timeframe to complete these tasks.
- Professional standards for programming. Jean is not supposed to copy any code from any source unless this action is fully acknowledged. If this is done, the organization will have bad image.
- Discover the realistic need for the database program
- Discover the real assessment for the tasks that have been assigned to Jean. The tasks could have been over-assigned.
- Particular attention to the tasks that are assigned to different programmers. There are programmers who have too much tasks assigned to them.
What can be done about it? - What options are there?
- Have Jean discuss with the manager about the challenges that she is facing in the development of the program. This way, they will be able to have realistic timelines and be given more time to deliver the work on time.
- Ask for assistance in the areas that she feels are not working out right.
- Ask that the program be submitted in phases so that the phases which have not been completed be completed after they are completed.
- Ask the manager to undertake job and task evaluation in future in order to understand the jobs that are assigned to programmers and understand the job weight that are assigned to individuals.
- Assess the task that Jean is undertaking and look for ways in which this task could be broken down so that other programmers can be assigned to help solve the task.
Which option is best? – and why?
In this scenario, we have not been told if the program was to be implemented with other programs which have been developed by other programmers. The best option is that of having a discussion with the manager and assesses the challenges that she is facing. This discussion will yield a better assessment of the whole project (Calluzzo, & Cante, 2004).
Perspective from ACS Code of Ethics
This section will argue the ethical considerations from the perspectives of ACS Code of Ethics.
2.2 Public interest
Basing on this clause of the ACS Code of Ethics, the case has some elements and components of public interest. The public interest should be treated more intently than personal and private interest that one may have in a given situation. In the Jean programming case, there are issues that concern public interest. One of the issues is that the program affects the reputation of the company and she decides to copy the code without acknowledging the co-worker who developed the code. This will be a breach of public interest.
According to ACS Code of Ethics section 2.2 (a), the primacy of the public interest should be considered. One should strive to satisfy the public and should ensure that the users of the product or service they are attached benefit from it. They should not value their own private values more than the values and interests of the public. In the case of Jean, she should consider the effect if her code of conduct of copying the code is known by professional bodies. She was concerned about her name and how she could be regarded after the project has been undertaken.
Another clause of the ACS Code of Ethics is that of 2.4(f) which regard honesty. In section f, we are required to acknowledge those who have adversely contributed to the work and acknowledge their efforts in their development process. In the case of Jean, she is required to acknowledge the work of the co-worker. This way, she is not considered to have stolen work from the colleague. This is considered professional and up to standard.
Perspectives from ethical theories
One of the theories that can be used in this case is that of utilitarianism. The decisions of the manager have some ethical dimensions. In this ethical theory, the decision making process will be based on the overall process and implications of the decision that the management will take. The decision makers will make decisions looking at the overall good and benefits that the organization will get. If the manager does not accept the explanation of Jean and goes ahead and pressurizes her to submit a complete code, this will mean that the program that will be obtained will not be complete (Weckert, & Adeney, 1997). The overall assessment will be undertaken and the overall benefits that will be obtained will be looked into. This will guide the decision that will be undertaken. If the decision will require that some components and part will be harmed for the overall good to be realized, then that is what will be undertaken. Sometimes, there will be the use of cost benefit analysis where the overall costs and the benefits from the decision to be computed. After the computation is done, the better path will be followed (Simpson, Nevile, & Burmeister, 2003).
There is also another theory of Kant. Kant theory states that one should strive to do good to all humanity and should ensure that the actions that we do should be achieved. Basing on this theory, Jean should ensure that the actions she undertakes benefit the people she will directly affect. By copying the code from the co-worker, she will not be good to the employer. She will affect the rating of the employer. The employer will not be regarded with the respect they have been having in this case. Kant theory strives to have people to do well in all situations. Jean should have explained to the manager what she was facing and argue a way forward (Dakin, 1993).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that ethics is an important factor that should be considered when undertaking any task. It is important assess a situation from all perspectives and understand the people who will be affected. All the issues pertaining a given case should be taken into consideration. The ethics that are outline in ACS Code of Ethics should be considered. Also of importance are the requirements and the standpoints of all classical theories. All these important elements address a part in an ethical situation.
References
Calluzzo, V. J., & Cante, C. J. (2004). Ethics in information technology and software use. Journal of Business Ethics, 51(3), 301-312.
Dakin, G. (1993). Shaping the future: business design through information technology. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 44(12), 1249-1250.
Hongladarom, S., & Ess, C. (2007). Information technology ethics: Cultural perspectives. Information Science Reference.
Mason, R. O. (1995). Applying ethics to information technology issues. Communications of the ACM, 38(12), 55-57.
Simpson, C., Nevile, L., & Burmeister, O. (2003). Doing ethics: A universal technique in an accessibility context. AJIS. 10(2). 127-133
Weckert, J., & Adeney, D. (1997). Computer and information ethics. Greenwood Publishing Group Inc..
