Professional Ethics For Business Process Engineering

Purpose of the Report

Discuss about the Professional Ethics for Business Process Engineering.

Information technology has positively affected how activities are conducted within most business entities. Actually, there are immeasurable pros attributed to the tremendous invention experienced in this discipline. For instance, organizations have embraced the use of technology in almost all the organization processes. And they include but not limited to storage of information, processing and dissemination of the information within the  organization systems, conduct of research and development, business process engineering, production, product design, product packing, and more others. Because of the desire for quality and cost minimization,organizations have completely incorporated IT in the systems. To facilitate such plans, the need for professional ethics surfaced. (Jordan 2010, p. 89-93)

An IT expert is expected to subscribe to a particular set of ethical postulates. Just like other professionals like the accounting professional, law experts, journalists, physicians, teachers, an IT professional is required to uphold a specific level of professional ethics. If there could be no regulations and guidelines depicting the societal expectations of IT experts, cases of personal perpetration of criminal activities by IT employees could be high. Instances like the involvement in malicious programs in the systems of the organization could be common. Further, the creation of virus in the systems of the organization could be commonly experienced. To curb such acts that can be resulted from a poor relationship between the organization and an IT professional, the body governing the profession managed to establish satisfactorily codes of ethics which is explored in detail. (Russo 2006, p. 56-60)

To acknowledge the existence of information technology as a discipline, there is an established code of ethics professionals in this particular field need to ascribe to.  The report is structured to address the ethical issues to an IT professional. In addressing the ethical issues, the report will give an insight of the roles of an IT expert and other metrics pertaining Information Technology matters. With the study of this paper, the reader will get an insight of the societal expectation from the profession. (Jordan 2010, p. 89-93)

The report has been introduced an abstract followed by the following areas as highlighted below. First and foremost, the report has started with the identification of the purpose. As noted above, the purpose is highlighted as the analysis of ethical issues in the Information Technology Profession. Secondly, the report has explored the description of the case study. Also the case study has laid the basis for the identification and description of the ethical issues. Then the following areas have explored a full analysis of the ethical issues, discussions, and analysis of ethical matters and ended with recommendations for the appropriate actions in dealing with the matters from the analysis. (Corrao et al. 2015)

River Valley limited is a private organization registered to offer IT consultancy services to small and medium-sized enterprises. Since the registration of the firm, everything has been great. For the past years the firm has experienced a rise in profits for a successive period of about five years. Unfortunately information a customer’s computer configuration and password was found disclosed to the unauthorized employee. It was reported that an organization named ABC limited was losing thousands of dollars through frauds that was facilitated by the use of the password. During the system audit, it was discovered that most entries were reversed by fraudulent cashiers who ended up pocketing the organization’s money. When the case was taken to the court of law, the defendant mentioned the River Valley Limited as the one who disclosed the passwords. (Ahmed et al. 2012)

Report Structure

 To worsenthe matter, another case was reported accusing the same consulting firm. The customer complained of a wrong configuration of the system by the employees of the consulting firm. The client regretted why he contracted the firm to configure a computer system that was easily hacked leading to the loss of crucial records. The data lost was very confidential and carried relevant information about finances, and other projections about the organization. This was not the only case. Within a period of 3 months, various cases compromising professional codes of standards had been filed in courts against the firms. It reached a level where the body regulating ethical standards for Information Technology had considered deregistering the firm. Meanwhile, a notice had been served to the firm to pause from normal operations until the cases filed against it at the court be solved. (Jacob-Timm 2009, p. 205-217)

Notably, the case presented against the River Valley Limited absolutely relates to ethical issues. And all of the instances mentioned compromised ethical standards expected to be upheld by an information technology professional. A consultancy firm is expected to be a role model, shape, mentor, and impart the expected ethical standards in the workers. It was unfortunate for the above firm as it is the one leading in the perpetration of profession misconduct. (Dekraai et al. 2008)

Therefore, the above scenario presents matters relating to confidentiality, competency, integrity and honesty. Perhaps, there could be more types of professional misconducts because the firm’s breached the primary and basic codes of standards. From most of the research conducted by scholar’s about the most common professional compromise that organizations commits, the conclusion has been based on the analysis of basic principles. Simply, the case justify generalizing the entire firm to be ethically maimed. (Jacob-Timm 2009, p. 205-217)

From the expectation, the firm should have incorporated adherence to professional ethics among its vision statement. This could have been the culture deeply rooted within the employees and could have prevented the occurrence of the instance. Some of the code of ethics expected of Information Technology professionals includes confidentiality, integrity, and competence. These are the requisite metrics that all the professions require to uphold in the conduct on while relating to anyone in the organization. In addition, there are other ethical provisions that are specifically designed to guide the conduct of an information technology expert. They range from promoting information technology, access computing to and communication sources only when authorized to do so, improving the understanding of computing and its consequences, and honouring of contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities by the authority. (Corrao et al. 2015)

In reference to the above case, both stakeholders of the consultancy firm and the involved organization will be affected. The current operation management and operations strategies entirely depend on Information Technology. A decision can be reached by a particular department but the followed activities like processing, implementation and monitoring of a project be facilitated by the information technology. The data relating to the inventory, customers behaviours, sales projections, marketing strategies, research and development and more others primarily depend on the Information technology. Thus, it will be imperative that the loss of the information because of inappropriate system configuration can stimulate untrustworthy employees from misappropriating organization resources. Eventually, the share value and profits attributable to shareholders will decrease. (Fisher 2009, p. 1-7)

Case Study Description

It is ironical that the affected organization dearly pays for a mistake done by the contracted party. It the organization could have got a glimpse of the awaiting uncertainty, the option could be not to contract the River Valley firm. Some of the possible actions that should be undertaken by both the two parties include;

For the organization, it should contract a reputable firm with a vast experience in computer and software configurations. This could enhance standard and quality of the service offered. In addition, the contract should depict the expected competence, the level of service and consequences that will follow if the organization incurs losses as a result of the installed and configured software. (Burns et al. 2008)

For the case of the consultancy firm, it should employ experienced individuals. And they should be people who have mastered ethical code of standards.  Ethical adherence should be totally incorporated into the organization culture. Also, the firm should regularly make a follow-up to their clients and ascertain how their configurations and systems are working. The regular monitoring can enhance discovery of defects before it really occurs. Most importantly, the firm should check on the competency levels and quality and standard of the systems and software. (Haas et al. 2013)

For the case of the consulting firm, the tended image can probably result to reduced number of customers. Also, the court ruling may require them to compensate for the damages caused to the clients. If such penalties are imposed on the firm, then obviously the closure risks become inevitable. Plus the projected reduced income as a result of the reduced number of customers. Worse of all, the board regulating professional codes of ethics in information technology may decide to withdraw the registration certificate. This can eventually render the pull out the firm from existence. In the long-run, the shareholders will end up spending more money in handling these messes. (Jacob et al. 2015)

To sum up, Information Technology discipline is the nerve centre of all the operations in the organization. If either the organization or any party faults from adhering to the principles, the impacts will be felt by the entire organization. Thus, the management must ensure that the department is headed by an experienced expert who will ensure all the ethical demands are appropriately adhered to by his/ her team members. (Weithorn 2013, p. 235-260)

Honestly, the negligence of adherence to the professional code of ethics can be observed as a personal responsibility. For this situation, the mess could have been avoided if at all due care and professionalism was observed by the firm. For instance, the disclosure of the organization password to unauthorized employees was unprofessional.  To discourage such behaviour, those found with liability should not be spared. The law should be applied to them in the full force to act as an example to others in the same profession.  In reference to this case, the perpetrators of the offense should be given pay for damages. Further, the law should prohibit such people from working again as professions.  (McNamara 2008, p. 456-467)

The government and the professional bodies covering ethical codes should remain vigilant and enact appropriate regulations to fully address such matters. Particular metrics should be developed to assist organizations to assess the ability of the firms to execute the assigned duties. Also, a draft of the contract should be forwarded to a lawyer to avoid either of the parties from failing to execute his/her responsibilities. Therefore, the management of any organization should embrace prevention rather than waiting for uncertainties. Thus, it should not remain a matter of chance or fate. (Russo 2006, p. 56-60)

To sum up, the management, the employee’s, shareholders, interested parties, and the government should combine efforts and champion embrasure of professional ethics. If at all professionalism becomes a culture to all the private and public organizations, vices such as corruption can be eliminated. Countries that have faced high cases of corruption have experienced a low level of economic development. Take an example of Nigeria, from West Africa, has experienced low economic growth rate despite being rich in the supply of oil. Information Technology being the heart of the most organization, the employees working in this department should be exposed to a thorough vetting process. This is meant to ensure the right person is given for the right job.

References

Ahmed, N., & Farhan, A. (2012). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct: American Psychologist, 57(43), 1060– 1073

Burns, M. K., Jacob, S., & Wagner, A. (2008). Ethical And Legal Issues Associated With Using Responsiveness-To-Intervention To Assess Learning Disabilities: School Psychology. 46(12), 263–279.

Corrao, J., & Melton, G. B. (2015). Legal Issues in School-Based Therapy: Handbook of behavior therapy in education, 24(78), 377–399.

Dekraai, M., Sales, B., & Hall, S. (2008). Informed Consent, Confidentiality, And Duty To Report Laws In The Conduct Of Child Therapy: The practice of child therapy 23(8), 540–559)

Fisher, M. A. (2009). Replacing ‘‘Who Is the Client’’ With a Different Ethical Question: Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(34), 1–7.

 Haas, L. J., & Malouf, J. L. (2013). Keeping Up The Good Work: A practitioner’s guide to mental health ethics (4th ed.). Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press, 34(67), 78-89

Jacob, S., Decker, D. M., & Hartshorne, T. S. (2015). Ethics and Law For School Psychologists: Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 43(54), 67-71

Jacob-Timm, S. (2009). Ethical Dilemmas Encountered By Members of the National Association of School Psychologists: Psychology in the Schools, 36(6), 205–217

Jordan A.D. (2010).Ethics and Law: Confronting the Dilemmas of Mitigation and Adaptation? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 67(43), 89-93

McNamara, K. (2008). Best Practices In The Application Of Professional Ethics: Best practices in school psychology. Bethesda: National Association of School Psychologists, 12(54), 456-467

Russo, C. J. (2006). Reutter’s the law of public education: New York Foundation Press, 96(7), 56-60

Weithorn, L. A. (2013). Involving Children in Decisions Affecting Their Own Welfare: Guidelines for professionals: Children’s competence to consent, 73(11), 235–260