Lecture 1 and 2: IT and Ethics

1950’s IT

computational data processing, decision support, and business software.

Modern IT

computer tech support, business computer network and database administration, business software deployment, and information security.

1990s Dot-com boom

software development, computer systems architecture, and project management.

Information ethics

branch of ethics that focuses on the relationship between the creation, organization, dissemination, and use of information, and the ethical standards and moral codes governing human conduct in society.

Ethics

a code of behavior that is defined by the group to which an individual belongs.

Ethics

comes from Greek “ethos” meaning “character”

Ethics

are external and socially constructed

Morals

personal principles upon which an individual bases his or her decisions about what is right or wrong.

Morals

comes from Latin “mos” meaning “customs”

Morality

is internal, so it can be argued that it is subjective

Virtue

a habit that inclines people to do what is acceptable. E.g. fairness, generosity, loyalty

Vice

a habit of unacceptable behavior. E.g. vanity, greed, envy, anger

Integrity

quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Laws

enforced by a set of institutions, a system rules that tells us what we can and cannot do.

Corporate Social Responsibility

a concept that an organization should act ethically by taking responsibility for the impact of its actions on its shareholders, consumers, employees, community, environment, and suppliers.

Supply Chain Sustainability

a component of CSR that focuses on developing and maintaining a supply chain that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Supply Chain Sustainability

Takes into account issues such as fair labor practices, energy and resource conservation, human rights, and community responsibility.

Code of Ethics

a statement that highlights an organization’s key ethical issues and identifies the overarching values and principles that are important to the organization and its decision making.

Association for Computing Machinery

is one of the oldest professional IT organizations. It is a global community of computing professionals and students with nearly 100,000 members.

Computer Trade Industry Association

may perhaps be best known for its certification programs.

IEEE

calls itself "the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology,” and it currently has more than 430,000 members from more than 160 countries

Association for Women in Computing

was founded in 1978 and is dedicated to helping women advance their IT careers

EDUCAUSE

is a nonprofit association and the foremost community of IT leaders and professionals committed to advancing higher education