Misuse of Office Property IT Ethics

Question: Identify a recent ethical dilemma or ethically questionable situation relating to ICT that you are familiar with. This situation can be either in the media (for example one you have sourced from a newspaper, or online through social media) or through your workplace? Answer: Case Scenario Misuse of office property has always been a considered a serious offense and a breach of code of conduct. This case depicts a scenario wherein the manager of a software development firm finds himself in the midst of an ethical dilemma and is unable to decide whether or not he should terminate the marketing analysts for using his office laptop for visiting unofficial and wired websites and also sharing it with a third person or he should keep quiet and ignore such a small issue because the company is launching a new product and all the marketing activities of this product launch are being handled by this marketing analyst. Doing Ethics Technique Ethical dilemma is a situation where in the person involved has to make a choice between the right and wrong option which are in conflict with each other but are ethically correct when seen from different ethical views (Fisher Lovell, 2006). Doing Ethics Techniques evaluates an ethical situation based on 8 pre-defined questions to find out the best possible solution to an ethical dilemma (Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics, 2015). What is going on? The company is preparing to launch its new product and has invested good amount in its marketing. IT administrator informs the manager that the marketing analyst responsible for handling almost all marketing activities related to new product launch has been found to have visited unofficial and weird website during the weekends on his office laptop which is clear from the logs(Rezaee, 2009). Manager calls up the marketing analysts to inquire about same and is informed by marketing analyst that he did not visit the sites himself however is remember giving his office laptop to one of his friends who might have done it. What are the facts? The marketing analysts is responsible for handling marketing activities related to new product launch and his skills are greatly needed by the firm at this time(Waluchow, 2003). He has failed to adhere to firms code of conduct that prohibits employees from misusing office property in any way. Marketing analyst is well aware of the fact but is so casually responding to the issue. The manager knows that what has happened is a punishable act and must lead to termination of the marketing analyst as stated by the code of conduct but this if done will have serious consequences(Sandler, 2013). What are the issues? Office laptop has been used for personal work by the firms marketing analyst and he has also allowed a third person who in not connected to the organisation to use his laptop. This act is considered highly unethical and is against code of conduct that prohibits misuse or sharing of office property as they are serious threat of data confidentiality and security (Zerbe, et al., 2008). The manager is unable to decide whether or not to terminate the marketing analyst. He also cannot ignore things as then all other employees will take the code of conduct casually. Who is affected? The software development firm, manager, marketing analyst, clients who share their confidential data with the firm and the employees are being affected by this unethical act. What are the ethical issues and implications? Misuse of office property is a serious unethical act. Marketing analyst has failed to adhere to firms code of conduct against misuse of office properties. Marketing analyst has not only visited unofficial banded sites but has also shared his laptop with a third person which is a serious issue and a threat to data security. Anyone who goes against the code of conduct must be immediately terminated from his duties as stated by the conduct. What can be done about it? The manager can either use the deontological or utilitarian ethical theory to solve the problem(Keen, 2012). Utilitarian theory says that an action is right or wrong based on its consequence while deontology theory states person must adhere to his duties and obligations while making ethical decisions(Murithi, 2009). What are the available options? The manager can either terminate the marketing analysts for not adhering to code of conduct or can ignore that matter considering it is not that serious matter and also the firm greatly needs his skills at this stage of new product launch. Which option is best and why? Option one appears to be ethically correct from both deontological and utilitarian views because if the manager fails to live by the code of conduct this time in future all other employees of the organisation will be encouraged to perform such acts and will take the code of conduct very casually. References Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics, (2015) Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics. [Online] Available at: https://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/units/CITS3200/ethics/acs-ethics.htm [Accessed 2015]. Fisher, C. Lovell, A., (2006) Business Ethics and Values. Essex: Pearson Eductaion Limited. Keen, B., (2012) Applied Business Ethics: Power Living Through the Truth. Bloomington: iUniverse. Murithi, T., (2009) The ethics of peacebuilding. Oxford: Edinburgh University Press. Rezaee, Z., (2009) Corporate Governance and Ethics. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Sandler, R. L., (2013) Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Waluchow, W. J., (2003) The Dimensions of Ethics: An Introduction to Ethical Theory. London: Broadview Press. Zerbe, W. J., Hrtel, C. E. J. Ashkanasy, N. M., (2008) Emotions, Ethics and Decision-making. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing.