Professional Ethics in

Computing
UNIT 7 - ETHICS OF ICT
ORGANIZATIONS

Presented by:

Clement M. Sinyangwe (Mr)

 Course Outline
At the end of this unit, you should be able to do the following

 Discuss organizational ethics

 Whistle blowing, and what ethical issues are associated with it
 Understand some of the ethical challenges in organisations and how they can be
resolved
 Understand the code of ethics and the types of code of ethics
 Know the code of ethics related to ICT profession
 INTRODUCTION
 Organizational ethics are the policies, procedures and culture of doing the right things in the face of
difficult and often controversial issues.

 Ethics topics that challenge organizations include but are not limited to discrimination, social
responsibility and fiduciary issues.

 Ethics issues and how any organization practices ethics are more important than ever because social
media readily exposes issues that might have been swept aside in previous generations.

 This unit touches on the following ethical topics that are pertinent to organizations in the ICT industry,
as well as to organizations that make use of ICT.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS
 Ethics concern an individual’s moral judgements about right and wrong. Decisions taken
within an organisation may be made by individuals or groups, but whoever makes them will
be influenced by the culture of the company.

 The decision to behave ethically is a moral one; employees must decide what they think is
the right course of action. This may involve rejecting the route that would lead to the
biggest short-term profit.

 Ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility can bring significant benefits to an
organisation. For example, they may bring the following benefits:-
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

Builds a Positive Corporate Culture

 An organization devoting resources to developing policies and procedures that encourage

ethical actions builds a positive corporate culture.

 Team member morale improves when employees feel protected against retaliation for
personal beliefs.

 These policies include anti-discriminatory rules, open door policies and equal
opportunities for growth.

 When employees feel good about being at work, the overall feeling in the organization is
more positive.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

Boosts Consumer Confidence

 An organization can lose consumer confidence very quickly with a few bad online
reviews. Organizations have to retain consumer loyalty through ethical practices that
start with fair and honest advertising methods and continue through the entire sales
process.

 One area that organizations can lose consumer confidence is failing to honor guarantees
or negatively deal with complaints. This is why consistent policies and employee
training is imperative.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

 Companies must direct employees on how to treat customers according to its core
values.

 When an organization takes the time to identify what is important to consumers and its
target market, it is better able to set value statements and protocols to meet higher ethical
standards.

 For example, a coffee distributor that focuses on fair trade and farming sustainability
builds a brand supporting environmental and social responsibility.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

Reduces Financial Liabilities

 Organizations that do not develop policies on ethical standards risk financial liabilities.
The first liability is a reduction in sales.

 For example, a real estate development company can lose customer interest and sales
if its development reduces the size of an animal sanctuary.

 This does not mean a company must abandon growth. Finding an ethically responsible
middle ground is imperative to sway public opinion away from corporate greed and toward
environmental responsibility.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS
Minimizes Potential Lawsuits

 The second area of financial liability exists with potential lawsuits. No organization is exempt
from a disgruntled employee or customer who claims discrimination.

 Sexual discrimination in the workplace is costing CEOs, politicians and celebrities their livelihood
because they are not appropriately dealing with accusations and harassment claims.

 Organizations must maintain policies and procedures addressing various types of harassment and
discrimination. Moreover, organizations must remain consistent in the execution of policies
dealing with accusations. This helps reduce frivolous lawsuits that could bankrupt smaller
organizations.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS
Ethical topics are pertinent to organizations in the ICT industry and organizations that make use of ICT.
Some of the vital Ethical Issues for Organizations are given below-

Use of non-traditional workers

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecast, Employment of computer and information
technology occupations was projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all
occupations.

 These occupations were projected to add about 557,100 new jobs. Demand for these workers stems from
greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security.

 However, this is not what is obtaining on the ground. The world has seen many temporal employees as
opposed to this projection.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS
Whistle blowing
 Whistleblowing is the act of drawing public attention, or the attention of an authority figure, to
perceived wrongdoing, misconduct, unethical activity within public, private or third-sector
organisations.

 Corruption, fraud, bullying, health and safety violation, cover-ups and discrimination are common
activities highlighted by whistleblowers.

 Whistleblowers often face reprisals from their employer, who may suffer reputational damage
because of the whistle being blown, or from colleagues who may have been involved in the illicit
activities.

 In some cases, reprisals become so severe that they turn into persecution. In some cases reprisals
come from legal channels, particularly if the whistle has been blown for illegitimate reasons.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

Green computing
 Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of
computers and their resources.

 In broader terms, it is also defined as the study of designing,

manufacturing/engineering, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that
reduces their environmental impact.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

 Green computing is also known as green information technology (green IT).

Green computing aims to attain economic viability and improve the way
computing devices are used.

 Green IT practices include the development of environmentally sustainable

production practices, energy-efficient computers and improved disposal and
recycling procedures.
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS
To promote green computing concepts at all possible levels, the following four
approaches are employed:
 Green use: Minimizing the electricity consumption of computers and their peripheral
devices and using them in an eco-friendly manner

 Green disposal: Repurposing existing equipment or appropriately disposing of, or

recycling, unwanted electronic equipment

 Green design: Designing energy-efficient computers, servers, printers, projectors and

other digital devices

 Green manufacturing: Minimizing waste during the manufacturing of computers and

other subsystems to reduce the environmental impact of these activities
 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

 Government regulatory authorities also actively work to promote green computing

concepts by introducing several voluntary programs and regulations for their
enforcement.

 Average computer users can employ the following tactics to make their computing
usage greener:

 Instead of purchasing a new computer, try refurbishing an existing device

 ETHICS IMPORTANT TO ORGANISATIONS

 Use the hibernate or sleep mode when away from a computer for extended
periods

 Buy energy-efficient notebook computers, instead of desktop computers

 Activate the power management features for controlling energy consumption

 Make proper arrangements for safe electronic waste disposal

 Turn off computers at the end of each day

 Refill printer cartridges, rather than buying new ones

 ICT code of ethics
 A code of ethics is a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business
honestly and with integrity.

 A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or
organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles
based on the organization's core values, and the standards to which the professional is
held.

 A code of ethics also referred to as an "ethical code," may encompass areas such as
business ethics, a code of professional practice and an employee code of conduct.
 ICT code of ethics
Understanding a Code of Ethics

 Business ethics refers to how ethical principles guide a business's operations.

 Common issues that fall under the umbrella of business ethics include employer-
employee relations, discrimination, environmental issues, bribery and insider trading,
and social responsibility.

 While many laws exist to set basic ethical standards within the business community, it is
largely dependent upon a business's leadership to develop a code of ethics.
 ICT code of ethics
 Both businesses and trade organizations typically have some sort of code of ethics that
their employees or members are supposed to follow.

 Breaking the code of ethics can result in termination or dismissal from the organization.

 A code of ethics is important because it clearly lays out the rules for behavior and
provides the groundwork for a preemptive warning.

 Regardless of size, businesses count on their management staff to set a standard of ethical
conduct for other employees to follow.

 When administrators adhere to the code of ethics, it sends a message that universal
compliance is expected of every employee.
 ICT code of ethics
Things to know about a Code of Ethics

A code of ethics is a guide of principles designed to help professionals

conduct business honestly and with integrity.

Breaking the code of ethics can result in termination or dismissal from the
organization.

In some industries, including banking, specific laws govern business conduct.

In others, a code of ethics may be voluntarily adopted
 ICT code of ethics
Compliance-Based Code of Ethics

 For all businesses, laws regulate issues such as hiring and safety standards.

 Compliance-based codes of ethics not only set guidelines for conduct but also determine penalties
for violations.

 In some industries, including banking, specific laws govern business conduct.

 These industries formulate compliance-based codes of ethics to enforce laws and regulations.

 Employees usually undergo formal training to learn the rules of conduct.

 Because noncompliance can create legal issues for the company as a whole, individual workers
within a firm may face penalties for failing to follow guidelines.
 ICT code of ethics
Value-Based Code of Ethics
 A value-based code of ethics addresses a company's core value system.

 It may outline standards of responsible conduct as they relate to the larger public good and the
environment.

 Value-based ethical codes may require a greater degree of self-regulation than compliance-based codes.

 Some codes of conduct contain language that addresses both compliance and values. For example, a
grocery store chain might create a code of conduct that espouses the company's commitment to health
and safety regulations above financial gain.

 That grocery chain might also include a statement about refusing to contract with suppliers that feed
hormones to livestock or raise animals in inhumane living conditions.
 ICT code of ethics
Code of Ethics among Professionals

 Financial advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a

state regulator are bound by a code of ethics known as fiduciary duty. (a duty of
loyalty)

 This is a legal requirement and a code of loyalty that requires them to act in the
best interest of their clients.

 Certified public accountants, who are not typically considered a fiduciary to their
clients, still are expected to follow similar ethical standards, such as integrity,
objectivity, truthfulness, and avoidance of conflicts of interest, according to the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
 ICT code of ethics
Codes of Conduct related to ICT

 Codes of Conduct related to ICT might cover things such as usage of the Internet, for
example, the internet should not be used during work time to shop online or book
holidays.

 It would probably cover downloading and viewing pornographic material at work or

gambling online during work time.

 Other things that are often covered by Codes of Conduct are the security and use of user
names and passwords,

 for example, not leaving your workstation logged on if you are not present or not telling
anyone else your password.
 ICT code of ethics
Most ICT Professionals, unlike doctors and other professionals, do not have a general rule
making body; they may have many professional organizations specialized to specific groups.

 Information and Communication Technology Association of Zambia (ICTAZ)

 Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
 Cybersecurity Institute (CSI)
 Independent Computer Consultants (ICCA)
 Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
 Association for Computer Operations Management (AFCOM)
 Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
 ICT code of ethics
 The existence of these bodies is made necessary due to the lack of respect for ethics in society in
general, requiring not only the validation of these types of bodies but also their power to enforce
sanctions when ethical violations are made evident.

 Something that could be well covered by the state and the academia.

 It can be argued that these ruling bodies should be in fact unnecessary, since ethical
considerations do not depend on one’s profession, even if very specific considerations can seem
restricted in the function they will be shared by another profession.

 These bodies will also promote the exertion of corporate influence toward their specific groups
interests, one such interest is reducing competition by limiting or increasing the difficulty of
access to functions and a general increase in prices since they permit a coordinated fixing of
payments in a monopolistic way
 Importance of Ethics among the ICT
Professional
 Ethics among information technology professional can be defines as the attitude of information
technology professional in order to accomplish something based on their behavior.

 It is because based on their behavior, it can show their successful either they can achieve the
goals or not. It is depends on the level of ethics strangeness.

 Information technology professional must have high of motivation or ethics in them self because
they faced with the information technology where they need facing on the information
technology which can process the data that need to manage, analyze, design, implement, control,
maintenance and storing.
 Importance of Ethics among the ICT
Professional
 It is mostly referring to the hardware that is familiar to process the data or information like
computer.

 As the information technology professional, sometimes they need to face with any challenges when
their work in order to accomplish something work that need to be done.

 It is the problem that the information technology professional in their profession.

 When the challenges or any issues that they need to faced, information technology professional
need to try the best to find the solution to overcome their problem and it is their roles and
responsibilities.

 It is mostly refer to the ethics of information technology professional on how they handle some
issues or any challenges in their work or job.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
 There are several common challenges in developing ethical in information technology
professional.

 Information technology needs to alert with their surrounding because many challenges that
they need to faced when they complete their task within the organization.

 Below are the challenges that are faced by information technology professional in managed
their information technology equipment and services.

Facing with computer crimes

As we know that, nowadays is the modern world. Therefore, all the technology that is
used today mostly shows the advanced technology.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
 We know that media technology or the communication technology is very familiar to the
people and the importance things is to the organization that are used the technology to
implement and maintained the task in order to achieve the goals of an organization.

 However, when we deal with the advanced technology, the information technology
professional need to be careful and ethical as they undertake their tasks.

Intellectual property rights connected with software ownership.

 In this aspect of challenges ethics or the right. Many people think that software
should be own able.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
 Intellectual property is the one of the controversial areas of computer ethics.

 Some people think that software ownership not be allowed at all and all the information
should be free; all programs should be available for copying.

 In term of that, it is very wrong ways according to the laws that are provided.

 As the information technology professional ethics, they need to know who take their
intellectual property properly.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.

Computer condition in the workplace that need to be concern

 As the information technology professional, the challenges that they faced is condition of
the computer itself.

 Because of the computer always run to manage the data that are store in the system and
to implement the data, maybe it will make the system down because the computer itself
does not rest.

 When the system down happened that would make the information technology
professional lack of ethics in order to monitor the system.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
Information privacy
 Privacy is the one of the computer ethics that need to be develop by public interest.

 The efficiency of the computer network can be used to gather the information, store, and search and
retrieved the information making the computer technology treating anyone to keep various kind of
information that are privacy.

 It is the challenges also that are faced by the information technology professional especially sensitive
information like medical record.

 Because nowadays, the people think so far in order to get the information and make it as the basic
information that is not importance. It is because of the hacker that wants the information.

 Therefore, information privacy nowadays also does not secure in hundred percent.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
Globalization fraud in using business transaction.
 In term of globalization, computer ethics today is rapidly involved in more importance field.

 It is also can be known a global information ethics.

 Global networks like internet will connect people all over the world.

 Globalization refers to the variety of used like global cyber business, global education and so on.

 The world is very close to the technology, which can provide electronic privacy and security on the interne
in order to connect the international business transactions.

 This challenge is very familiar nowadays, because in transaction of the business today cheating and fraud in
business always happened.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
Solutions to the challenges

In response to the challenges that are stated above, several recommendations are proposed as
follow:

Government Intervention.
 To address the challenges, I recommended that government of each country in the world should be
strict to the computer crime based on the computer crime act.

Intellectual Property Act Sensitization

 Some of the organization should organize the seminar so that all people involved in the seminar
programmed know what a can they do and what the things that cannot they do when they deal with
the any software that they used.
 Ethical behaviour challenges among ICT
professionals.
Work discussions
 Information technology professional that are deal with the information technology, should
discuss everything about the problem or the challenges that they faced in manage the
technology and the system.

Educate the public on privacy

 We know that, government today implement the act of privacy but the society does not
know about the act anymore.

Motivate the information technology professional in term of globalization.

 In order to motivate the information technology professional, the top management in an
organization should lead them in order to motivate them.
END