Ethics Moral Reasoning Contemporary Issues -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Ethics Moral Reasoning Contemporary Issues? Answer: Introduction Company X has just signed a business agreement with Company Y, which entitles both of them to access each other clients records. Mr. Faisal, a software programmer at Company Z, was assigned the task of developing a software program that handles the access and retrieval of records from each Companys database system into the other. A first run of the software on real data indicated that the work was well within the state of the art, and no difficulties were found or anticipated. Several weeks later and during a normal test on the software developed, Faisal discovered a serious security hole in the database system of Company Y by which hackers can easily obtain confidential information about clients. He was convinced that while the software he developed could correctly accomplish the task, the code in Company Ys database system could not be trusted as the security hole posed a threat even on Company Xs database system. Faisal told his manager about the problem and explained its signific ance. The manager's response was, "That's not our problem; let's just be sure that our software functions properly." Faisal is not sure what to do. Refusing to work on the project means disobeying his managers orders. Continuing to work on the project, means disobeying one of Gods commands, this requires him to be truthful and sincere in his dealings. Q1. What's going on? The company X is in a business agreement with company Y. The database of company Y contains a security hole due to which it is also affecting the database of company Y. The manager is not listening to the software programmer. He just wants his software to function properly. The software programmer is in dilemma of working on the project. Q2. What are the facts? By testing it was concluded that the database system of company Y has a security hole and it will definitely affect the database system of company Y. Faisal cannot refuse the project because it will be against his managers order and while continuing the project he will be disobeying the Gods commands. Q3. What are the issues (non-ethical)? The issues are that the database system of Y has security hole, the manager is not listening, and the software programmer do not want to disobey his managers as well as Gods commands. Q4. Who is affected? All the three companies i.e. X, Y, and Z is affected. The software programmer is also affected. Q5. What are the ethical issues and implications? It is unethical and wrong code of conduct if company Z do not tell company X that their database is getting affected because of company Y. Company Y should also know about its database. Apart from this, if company Z only think about its business growth at the cost of others business it is against the ethical code of conducts. Q6. What can be done about it? The company Z should acknowledge company X and Y about the security threats and poles. Q7. What are the options? One of the options is to check the database of company Y and analyse the security pole and correct it. Other option is to break the agreement between company X and company Y. Q8. Which option is best - and why? The best option is to analyse company Ys database system and correct the security poles so that they do not affect the functionality of the software. In April 2014, Donald Sterling, then owner of the National Basketball Association (NBA)s San Diego Clippers, was accused of making racist remarks about African Americans. It turns out that Sterlings then (girl) friend, V. Stiviano, had recorded those remarks on an electronic device and then later decided to make them available to a wider audience. This incident received extensive media coverage in the United States and beyond. Many people were appalled by Sterlings remarks, and some also pointed out the irony in this incident, given that the majority of the players on his basketball team (who were largely responsible for generating income for Sterling) were African Americans. Shortly following the fallout from this controversy, Sterling was forced by the NBA to sell his team to a new owner. While most people agreed that Sterling should resign and be required to relinquish his NBA franchise, some were nevertheless troubled by the manner in which his remarks, which were made in confide nce to a close friend, were secretly recorded via a digital device and then (eventually) made available to the public. The practice of secretly recording someones private conversations is not exactly new; after all, law enforcement authorities have used wiring devices to trap suspected criminals into disclosing information that can lead to their arrests. But the idea that ordinary people, especially those in intimate relationships, can now so easily record conversations in deceptive ways via their tiny digital devices can seem chilling. For example, would this practice influence what intimate friends would be willing (or not willing) to say to each other in (supposed) confidence? Would it also alter our privacy expectations in the future with respect to conversations with romantic partners? Q1. What's going on? Donald Sterling who is the owner of National Basketball Association was accused of making racist comments on African American which had great media coverage. He was asked by NBA to sell his company. Few people supported him because it was a private conversation which was recorded and then made public. Q2. What are the facts? The facts include the recordings by a digital medium. Donald Sterling made such racist comments. Along with this, it is also against the laws to record someones private conversations in a deceptive way. Q3. What are the issues (non-ethical)? The issues are that he made such comments and secondly they were made public. Q4. Who is affected? Donald Sterling is affected along with his past girlfriend V.Stiviano. The other members of the team are also getting affected. The NBAs board of members and the African Americans are also in the list. Q5. What are the ethical issues and implications? The ethical issues are that it is purely unethical to record anyones private conversations in a deceptive way and then making it public. Only the law enforcement authorities can do it that too only for the criminals not for common people. Q6. What can be done about it? The recording should be considered invalid and strict law actions should be taken against V.Stiviano. Apart from this laws should be implemented to authenticate the privacy and confidentiality of common people. Q7. What are the options? First option is that Donald Sterling makes an apology on the media taking back his offensive words. The other way is taking legal actions on his girlfriend for accusing his confidentiality publicly by unethical means. After this, Donald Sterling can be suspended from his team for a while but he doesnt have to sell his team. Q8. Which option is best - and why? The best option is that he make a public apology stating that he take his words back. After that he should be suspended from a team for a short span of time. You are a computer programmer working for a small business that provides specialized financial services to local, mostly small businesses. You have been working for company X for about six months. Recently X has been occupied with reengineering the inventory system of a local hardware chain, ABC Hardware. The objective is to enable ABC to keep better track of their inventory, to be more responsive to changes in customer demand, and to adopt a just in time strategy to reduce inventory. Your supervisor calls you into his office. Do you know of any existing software products to help ABC keep better track of its inventory? You mention a particular product that you have worked with in another job and point out that ABC could use it without any modification. The only drawback, you point out, is that this software is somewhat expensive. Your supervisor leans back in his chair, puffs on his cigar and says, Thats no problem. We have that software. Why dont you just install it on ABCs computer s? You diplomatically indicate that this would violate the licensing agreement X has with the developers of the software. Do it anyway, your supervisor says. Nobodys going to find out, and ABC is a very important client. We need to do all we can to keep them happy. Q1. What's going on? The company X which provides specialized financial services to local now gets occupied with reengineering of the inventory system of ABC Hardware. ABC Hardware wants software which adopts just-in-time strategy and manages the inventory. The supervisor of company X asks the computer programmer to use the software of his old company. The computer programmer knows that it will violate the licensing agreement of X with the developers of the software. But the developer forces the computer programmer(Shafer-Landau, 2011). Q2. What are the facts? The facts are that using the software of the previous company will violate the licensing agreement of company X. The conversation between the supervisor and the computer programmer tells that the supervisor wants the software any which ways. Q3. What are the issues (non-ethical)? The issues are that the programmer cannot disobey the orders of his software. But if ABC Hardware uses that software it will be expensive for them. Q4. Who is affected? The computer programmer and his old company where thee software was used before will be affected. Along with this, ABC Hardware will be affected too as they will have to pay more. Q5. What are the ethical issues and implications? The supervisor asked to use the software in any condition. But the computer programmer knew that if he will do it this will violate the licensing agreement of company X with the developers of the software which is against the ethical code of conduct. Q6. What can be done about it? The company X can create its own software and can take ideas from the old software. Q7. What are the options? The supervisors of company X can take authenticate permission from the developers of the software to use their software. The computer programmer can suggest making new software in accordance with the old software(Moreland, 2016). Q8. Which option is best - and why? The best option is if the supervisor of company X takes permission i.e. signs an agreement with the developers of the software. By this method, they wont be violating the licensing agreement. They will not have to make new software. Analyse the above case study (i, ii, iii) using either two or four classical ethical theories. So, it is always from the four classical ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue and contract. In case study 1, the software programmers follow the virtue ethics theory because he fined the way of doing the project unethical. He follows virtue moral values by himself. This theory also reflects the character of the programmer which is good. Along with this, utilitarianism theory is followed by the manager because he thinks that the actions he is taking are morally right until and unless the consequences are not known although he can easily predict the results(Foster, 2016). In case study 2, Donald Sterling follows the virtue ethical theory because it reflects his character about the African Americans. The way he feels about the people of his team and about other individuals. The contact theory is followed by his girlfriend because she recorded the conversation and made it public disrespecting the moral values and human rights(Vaughn, 2015). Deontology theory is also followed by his girlfriend because she thinks that whatever she done is right according to her irrespective of the consequences of his actions on Donald Sterling. In case study 3, the supervisor is forcing the programmer to use the software in any condition. Hence he follows deontology theory because he is not worried about the consequences and according to him this is the best way to provide good software to ABC Hardware. The programmer follows the virtue and contact theories because he is a person with a good character and he dont want to violate any rules. Secondly, according to the contact theory the programmer is following the basic laws and code of conduct of business and he know agreeing to the supervisor will violate the licensing agreement of the company with the developers of the software(Hailey, 2006). Over the years a number of systems have been developed which record coded information across a range of factors about disabilities in ethnic communities. A new coding convention has been developed to rationalise the inconsistent coding conventions of these legacy systems. The new coding convention uses codes which had different meanin gs in the legacy systems. This means that time series analysis gives inconsistent results, particularly showing both under and over reporting of numbers of particular disability categories. This is significant when making policies for people based on the size of the communities. To fix this would take a lot of work and expense, and management has decreed that historical systems will not be fixed, but new systems will all adopt the new coding convention. There are number of systems which records information on the basis of many factors in ethnic communities. Recently, a new coding convention is developed which resolves the different coding conventions used in the systems. The management announced that the historical systems do not have to use the new conventions but the old systems have to implement it(Chonko, 2016). The management followed deontology theory because they made decisions in accordance to the ethics of the individuals and the society. Utilitarianism theory is also followed because the new convention will be beneficial for everyone. Various professional codes of ethics are also followed, for example, the new code convention is respect and is shared by everyone. The work environment is created in a way that it gets easy for everyone to adapt the new coding convention system. The value of money is also taken into consideration and hence it has been announced that the old systems do not have to adopt the new coding convention. The new coding convention provides consistency in the working environment and it is respected. Along with this, there is a value of work and expense and hence the old systems do not have to adopt the new coding convention system(LaFollette Persson, 2013). A software development company has just produced a new software package that incorporates the new tax laws and figures taxes for both individuals and small businesses. The president of the company knows that the program has a number of bugs. He also believes the first firm to put this kind of software on the market is likely to capture the largest market share. The company widely advertises the program. When the company actually ships a CD, it includes a disclaimer of responsibility for errors resulting from the use of the program. The company expects it will receive a number of complaints, queries, and suggestions for modification. The company plans to use these to make changes and eventually issue updated, improved, and debugged versions. The president argues that this is general industry policy and that anyone who buys version 1.0 of a program knows this and will take proper precautions. Because of bugs, a number of users filed incorrect tax returns and were penalised by the ATO. The software company produced new software which includes the new tax laws and displays taxes for small business and individuals. It is in prior notice of the company that there are many bugs in the software. For the users, the company includes a disclaimer about the bugs. On the basis of feedbacks the company decides to update the bugs. But still the users who used this software filed incorrect tax return and hence were penalised by the ATO. The company has Utilitarianism ethical theory as they knew what will be the outcomes of using the software. Along with this, the virtue theory also comes in picture because it determines the behaviour of an individual. The company launched the software by mentioning the bugs which tells that they possess a good character. Professionally, the company respect the code of ethics of the customers and gave them clarity of the software. The company was also honest with the users(Hailey, 2006). Hence, it can easily be concluded that the companies software contains bugs but they have mentioned about the bugs to their audience. The company was honest to the users and also respected their result. But the outcome of the software was bad as the users filled incorrect returns and were penalised by the ATO. New Australian national security laws will permit hacking by its intelligence agencies and approve the retention of personal web and phone metadata. This will break new ground around the world and raise significant privacy concerns, privacy groups have warned. Discuss this scenario from an ethical and professional perspective and the implications these new laws will have for Australian citizens. The new Australian national security laws will allow hacking with the help of its intelligence departments this will help in retaining the personal data and the metadata. Because of these laws the privacy will be at high concern. These laws follows virtue ethical theories as it will reflect the behaviour of the people involved in the hacking. Along with this, the citizens rights will be followed on the highest priority(Blackstone Lewis, 2013). From professional perspective, this is wrong as it will put the citizens private data on risk. The laws will be violating the principles of the code of conduct of the citizens. Hence, all over the world this will raise significant privacy concerns for the citizens. References Blackstone, W. and Lewis, W. (1962).Commentaries on the laws of England. Boston: Beacon Press. Chonko, L. (2016).Ethical Theories. [online] Available at: https://www.dsef.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/EthicalTheories.pdf [Accessed 1 Feb. 2018]. Foster, C. (2016).Software Licensing: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You | AllBusiness.com. [online] Available at: https://www.allbusiness.com/software-licensing-what-you-dont-know-can-hurt-you-15636003-1.html [Accessed 1 Feb. 2018]. Hailey, K. (2006).Code of professional conduct. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers Judges Pub. Hooker, B. (2012).Developing deontology. Malden, MA: Wiley. LaFollette, H. and Persson, I. (2013).The Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. Moreland, J. (2016).Ethics Theories: Utilitarianism Vs. Deontological Ethics. [online] Available at: https://www.equip.org/article/ethics-theories-utilitarianism-vs-deontological-ethics/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2018]. Shafer-Landau, R. (2011).Ethical theory. Malden, MA [u.a.]: Blackwell. Vaughn, L. (2015).Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues. New York: W.W. Norton Company.