Chapter 1: Ethical Theories and Decision-Making in IT

Vocabulary flashcards covering core ethical frameworks, professional responsibilities, stakeholder concepts, and decision-making models in Information Technology.

Ethics

Principles about what ought to be done, which can involve fairness, rights, harm, honesty, and responsibility.

Law

A formal set of rules enforced by a government.

Policy

Rules and operational standards established by an organization.

Professional Judgment

The application of expertise, ethical principles, evidence, and context to evaluate a situation rather than blindly following instructions.

Competence

The computing professional responsibility to understand the technical and ethical consequences of one's work.

Honesty (in Computing)

The professional responsibility to communicate limitations, risks, errors, and uncertainties openly.

Accountability

The obligation to explain and accept responsibility for professional decisions and actions.

Utilitarianism

An outcome-focused ethical lens that selects the action producing the greatest overall good or least net harm across all affected groups.

Deontology

A duty-, rule-, and principle-focused ethical lens that asks what moral rule or obligation must be followed, regardless of whether the outcome is convenient.

Virtue Ethics

A character-focused ethical lens that asks what action reflects good character, moral excellence, and what a trustworthy, responsible professional would do.

Rights (Ethical Lens)

An ethical perspective centered on respecting and protecting the legitimate claims, fundamental freedoms, and autonomy of every individual.

Justice (Ethical Lens)

An ethical perspective that evaluates fairness and impartiality in how benefits, burdens, opportunities, and risks are distributed.

Stakeholders

People or groups who can affect or be affected by an IT decision.

Primary Stakeholders

Individuals or groups directly affected by an IT decision, such as direct users, employees, clients, or communities.

Secondary Stakeholders

Individuals or groups indirectly affected by an IT decision, such as managers, vendors, regulators, professional bodies, and the wider public.

Six-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model

A structured sequence for resolving dilemmas: (1) Identify the ethical issue, (2) Gather the facts, (3) Identify stakeholders, (4) Generate options and consequences, (5) Test options using ethical principles, and (6) Decide, justify, and document.

Strong Conclusion Formula

The reasoning structure used to document defensible decisions: $\text{DECISION} \rightarrow \text{REASON} \rightarrow \text{ETHICAL PRINCIPLE} \rightarrow \text{STAKEHOLDERS} \rightarrow \text{SAFEGUARD}$.

Ethical Dilemma

A difficult choice occurring when technology causes a conflict between competing legitimate values (e.g., privacy vs. convenience, security vs. usability, efficiency vs. fairness).