Making Ethical DecisionsOverviewBottom LineProgrammer Modifies Bank Software to Avoid FeeDiscussionEmployee Keeps and Does Not Pay for Software Sent in ErrorProgrammer Uses Company Computer for Personal UseEmployee Uses Proprietary Software Without Paying feeEmployee Copies Government Database when Told to by Boss3/4/02 CSC309 Miller 1Making Ethical DecisionsJennifer Kreie and Timothy Paul Cronan, “Communications of the ACM”, December 2000, Vol. 43, No. 12, pp. 66-71.4/29/02 CSC309 Miller 2OverviewBusinesses are concerned about the ethical behavior of employees and of the security of their information systems. Studies have shown that when a company establishes standardsfor behavior through a company code of ethicsthat this does positively influence employeebehavior. This study uses five scenarios to lookat the question of how the degree of influence of a code of ethics is related to the employees perceived importance of the ethical issue.3/4/02 CSC309 Miller 3Bottom Line“When an ethical issue is perceived as very important, we are more likely to rely on our personal values in judging what is ethical or unethical. However, we are more open to external influences, such as business or professional codes of ethics or the opinion of peers, if we do not consider the ethical issue very important.”3/4/02 CSC309 Miller 4Programmer Modifies Bank Software to Avoid FeeBehavior Unacceptable 85%Acceptable 15%Importance Very 63% Not Very 22%Undecided 15%Do Same? Probably 23%Improbable 66%Undecided 11%Ignore Policy? Probably 37%Improbable 47%Undecided 16%Personal Values very Influential 72%Scenario111/11/02 CSC309 Miller 5DiscussionScenario185% view as unacceptable but23% said they would do same.37% thought the programmer would still do it in spite of a policy against.72% Personal values very influential.3/4/02 CSC309 Miller 6Employee Keeps and Does Not Pay for Software Sent in ErrorBehavior Unacceptable 60%Acceptable 40%Importance Very 39% Not Very 40%Undecided 21%Do Same? Probably 56%Improbable 34%Undecided 10%Ignore Policy? Probably 54%Improbable 34%Undecided 12%Personal Values very Influential 65%Scenario23/4/02 CSC309 Miller 7Programmer Uses Company Computer for Personal UseBehavior Unacceptable 22%Acceptable 78%Importance Very 16% Not Very 66%Undecided 18%Do Same? Probably 74%Improbable 15%Undecided 11%Ignore Policy? Probably 16%Improbable 77%Undecided 7%Personal Values very Influential 52%Scenario33/4/02 CSC309 Miller 8Employee Uses Proprietary Software Without Paying feeBehavior Unacceptable 75%Acceptable 25%Importance Very 61% Not Very 18%Undecided 21%Do Same? Probably 29%Improbable 54%Undecided 17%Ignore Policy? Probably 41%Improbable 46%Undecided 13%Personal Values very Influential 60%Scenario43/4/02 CSC309 Miller 9Employee Copies Government Database when Told to by BossBehavior Unacceptable 73%Acceptable 27%Importance Very 74% Not Very 13%Undecided 13%Do Same? Probably 28%Improbable 61%Undecided 11%Ignore Policy? Probably 25%Improbable 62%Undecided 13%Personal Values very Influential
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