IT Culture Ethical Stigma

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3

Case scenarios..................................................................................................................................3

Model Application...........................................................................................................................4

The case of Hacker..........................................................................................................................5

Recommendation.............................................................................................................................5

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6

References........................................................................................................................................6
Introduction
Organization working in the information and communication sector bears greater responsibility
on their part to remain true to their profession. Computer, internet, networking and software’s
were developed by human innovative thinking were all could be used for dual purpose. The user
using all these ICT based gadgets needs to be a responsible citizen of the country. The same
reasonability clause applies to the employee working in various IT companies. Any business deal
caters to the larger audience or customers, those are general public, for any software designed by
the software professional, and the end user shall be the general masse. So, software employee
must check the ethical status and liability of every product or service. Organization handling the
software development work must focus on the motive of the product development. It is advisable
that such organization should adhere to certain policy guidelines often formulated by the national
software management authorizes (Martinez-Saenz, 2009). Australian organizations working in
the information and communication sector are guided by the Australian society of software code
of conduct. There are certain clauses formulated with the ASC that every software professional
as well as organization need to follow. These clauses direct the employee to make an ethical
stand whenever the employees are struck in a certain business deal.

Case scenarios
The case discussed with regard to the ethical dilemma is related to the professional software
development company headed by the professional software engineer Diana. She is engaged with
a client of Data base management system to deliver the product of security system and
networking. The client specifies in storing the data base information of the general public in
regard to the insurance and other public benefits. While designing the security system, Diana
discussed the product with the client company, but due to the increase in costing, client insisted
to cut the product specification and lower the cost investment. Diana reacted in objection on the
first place. She cited the ASC code of conduct in regard to the supremacy of public benefit and
interest (McFarland, 2012). She advised the client to continue with the product specification as
designed by her due to volume and sensitivity of the data stored and data that needs protection
from various internal and external threats. The client was adamant to cut the cost and hence,
Diana was left with no other option then either to deliver the product or to end the business deal
abruptly. For finding the right path, Diana seeks the help and advices from the ASC code of
conduct, as per her situation following code of conducts were applicable. The first one is,
Primacy of Public Interest, in order to decide the ethical impact of any product, it is must for
the software professional to engage in business deal that would not do any harm to public. By
carrying the present business deal where low security software is installed would out the public
interest in danger. The second one is Honesty, Diana is trying to be honest with her profession
and in regard to showing honesty in her workplace, and she is advising the client not to opt for a
low budget sub standard security system. According to the third clause which demands the
enhancement of quality of life from the product or service delivered by the Software Company or
employee, Diana needs to be reviewed as to what this database management system will improve
upon the quality of life of customers. But as per this clause the enhancement of life, the product
once available to client won’t be doing any unethical impact.

Model Application
Conducting an ethical based business is always a question of individual preferences. The agony
of doing the unethical business is nothing but a moral question that everyone asks himself. But as
far as organizational and employee moral character is concerned, the ethical business operation is
guided by certain theories of work culture and organizational behavior. Employee working
within a software organization must take notice of all the actions taken in interest of the customer
or client with regard to ethical business practices. One agony of doing organization job in
software making and development is that employee could never be pure ethical, when their
action is ethical to workplace and customers they are using the harmful components that will
disturb the natural balance. As per the theory of Utilitarianism, the ethical business operation is
only conducted when it is being cheered up and employee or software professional takes pleasure
in working. This increases the employee satisfaction and thus provides the mental energy to
complete the job. In contrast to this, Deontological work practices are the utopian work theory
that is based on performing the job as per the code and rules governing the set work. This theory
sets the limitations on the employee to adhere to the rule book and never defy or break any rules.
As per the Diana’s case, the ASC code will be the only remedy for Diana to pull herself more
this ethical dilemma in which she is now.
The case of Hacker
The case of business transition conducted by Diana in regard to providing the low graded
security software to Database management firm is a risk in itself. Apart from being a threat to the
security of the information stored in client database. The lucky thing was Diana has herself
informed about the possible intrusion in to the security system. Hence, after six month of
operating with the low security database management system, the online hackers attacked the
company database and valuable consumer information was lost. The company suffered major
setback in terms of loss of its reputation, customer loyalty degraded to par below level and newly
installed database management system badly crashed. The company wants to amend its position
in terms of gaining the trust of the consumer again, hence Diana was needed again, and this time
the approach of the client company was to put the loyal image of the erstwhile company back
into the mind of consumer. Diana needs to work out again in respect to the changes that have
erupted now; she needs to understand the risk analysis of the existing hacked system, the type of
theft attack, and the probable loopholes that the hackers saw as a window of opportunity for
them (Plinio et.al, 2010). She needs to design again the security system, now the security
wireframe shall be reinforced with the cloud based security aspect using the IPV6 technology.
Hence, the cost benefit analysis for a new security system will be much more then what was
originally conceptualized by the Diana. In regard to managing the damage to reputation and
image of the company, the client needs to release a press brief stating the newly updated security
system to be installed, clear communication with those affected from the theft.

Recommendation
The recommendations in the ethical case as well as advice to the database management system
should be divided into two parts, one part will cover the recommended business action in regard
to ethical confusion, and other half will help the database management company improve its
image in the wake of data theft and installation of better security systems.

 For Diana, the right approach is to stick to the ASC clause and deny the business order
from here on, as the software developed by the Diana will be suitable to attack; hence it is
better to observe precaution and not play on the part of consumer’s information.
  The second important thing is to inform the client honestly about the serious security
lapses that security software of low budget will render.
 On the part of database management System Company, the internal security needs to be
pumped up; managing the employee usability of the database system, monitoring and
surveillance is a part of first level security.
 Managing the damage through comprehensive risk management and communication
strategy shall be integral to maintain the consumer loyalty and their confidence in the
future business prospect (Moreno, 2010).

Conclusion
This report highlights the various ethical issues taking the case of Diana managing a software
development company requires the organization to work in regard to the rulebook, ASC code of
conduct guidelines. It is very important to maintain the integrity and professionalism in the
software development sector, the reason lays in the fact that various new risk and hazards are
being developed daily. The field of communication technology is expanding with leaps and
bounds. This report also covers the ethical issues as well as various ethical based theories are
discussed in regard to the Diana’s case discussed. This report concludes the Diana must deny the
work if the low quality software was to be developed, or she shall protect herself using the legal
framework by informing the client about the possible risk from using such a low security system.
She should clearly state that she would not entertain any legal liability if any security lapse of
hacker attack would be made on the database management system.

References
Martinez-Saenz, M. A. (2009). Ethical communication: moral stances in human dialogue. Current
Reviews for Academic Libraries, 47(4), 693-693.

Moreno, C. M. (2010). An approach to ethical communication from the point of view of management
responsibilities. Journal of Applied Ethics, (1), 97-108.

McFarland, M. (2012). An Ethics Case Study and Commentary. Retrieved from