Management Information Systems

Management Information Systems
Chapter 4
Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems
Ethical, Social, and Political Issues

Information technology is introducing changes for which laws and rules of acceptable
conduct have not yet been developed. Increasing computing power, storage, and networking
capabilities—including the Internet—expand the reach of individual and organizational actions
and magnify their impacts. The ease and anonymity with which information is now
communicated, copied, and manipulated in online environments pose new challenges to the
protection of privacy and intellectual property. The main ethical, social, and political issues
information systems raise centre on information rights and obligations, property rights and
obligations, accountability and control, system quality, and quality of life.
Key Technology Trends that Raise Ethical Issues

1. Computing power doubles every 18 months
2. Data storage costs rapidly decline
3. Data analysis advances
4. Networking advances
5. Mobile device growth impact
Basic Concepts: Responsibility, Accountability, and Liability

Responsibility means that you accept the potential costs, duties, and obligations for the
decisions you make. Accountability is a feature of systems and social institutions. Liability is
a feature of political systems in which a body of laws is in place that permits individuals to
recover the damages done to them by other actors, systems, or organizations. basic concepts
form the underpinning of an ethical analysis of information systems :
1. information technologies are filtered through social institutions, organizations, and
individuals.
2. responsibility for the consequences of technology falls clearly on the institutions,
organizations, and individual managers who choose to use the technology.
3. in an ethical, political society, individuals and others can recover damages done to them
through a set of laws characterized by due process.
Five-Step Process For Ethical Analysis
1. Identify and describe the facts clearly
2. Define the conflict or dilemma and identify the higher-order values involved
3. Identify the stakeholders
4. Identify the options that you can reasonably take
5. Identify the potential consequences of your options
Six Ethical Principles For Judging Conduct

1. Golden Rule,
2. Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative,
3. Slippery slope rule,
4. Utilitarian principle,
5. Risk aversion principle
6. Ethical no-free-lunch rule.
Challenges to Protect The Individual Privacy

1. The European Directive on Data Protection
Contemporary data storage and data analysis technology enable companies to gather
personal data from many sources easily about individuals and analyze these data to
create detailed digital profiles about individuals and their behaviors. Data flowing over
the Internet can be monitored at many points.
2. Internet Challenges to Privacy
Cookies and other web monitoring tools closely track the activities of website visitors.
Not all websites have strong privacy protection policies, and they do not always allow
for informed consent regarding the use of personal information.
3. Technical Solutions
there are a few technologies that can protect user privacy during interactions with
websites. For the most part, technical solutions have failed to protect users from being
tracked as they move from one site to another
Property Rights: Intellectual Property

Intellectual property is defined as tangible and intangible products of the mind created by
individuals or corporations. Intellectual property is subject to a variety of protections under
four legal traditions:
1. copyright,
2. patents,
3. trademarks,
4. trade secrets.
The Effect of Information Systems on Laws for Establishing Accountability and Liability
and The Quality Of Everyday Life
New information technologies are challenging existing liability laws and social
practices for holding individuals and institutions accountable for harm done to others. Although
computer systems have been sources of efficiency and wealth, they have some negative
impacts. Computer errors can cause serious harm to individuals and organizations. Poor data
quality is also responsible for disruptions and losses for businesses. Jobs can be lost when
computers replace workers or tasks become unnecessary in reengineered business processes.
The ability to own and use a computer may be exacerbating socioeconomic disparities among
different ethnic groups and social classes. Widespread use of computers increases opportunities
for computer crime and computer abuse. Computers can also create health and cognitive
problems such as repetitive stress injury, computer vision syndrome, and the inability to think
clearly and perform complex tasks.

Management Information Systems - Chapter 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Management Information Systems - Chapter 4

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Management Information Systems - Chapter 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethical, Social, and Political Issues

Key Technology Trends that Raise Ethical Issues

Basic Concepts: Responsibility, Accountability, and Liability

Six Ethical Principles For Judging Conduct

Challenges to Protect The Individual Privacy

Property Rights: Intellectual Property

You might also like