The role of ethics in developing professionalism within the global ICT community

This paper reports on a series of research and policy development projects investigating the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a profession with a specific focus on the role of ethics. It addresses three main issues: to what extent ethics contribute to the development of the professional identity of ICT practitioners; what practices and policies can promote the development of ICT ethics; how these practices and policies can usefully be coordinated internationally. Within the European policy framework, professional ethics is seen as one of the four pillars of ICT professionalism, the others being: competences; bodies of knowledge; education and training. A diverse range of international stakeholders were consulted over a period of four years. The challenges of agreeing on what it means to be an ICT Professional and the best way to develop and implement ethical frameworks in culturally and economically diverse regions are discussed. Findings include the need to: be sensitive to the cultural and economic factors of different regions; integrate work on ethics with other aspects of professionalism; and promote multiple types of engagement with professional ethics

An Investigation of the Moral Intentions of Chinese Auditors: Conflicts Associated with Maintaining Independence in Auditor–client Relationship Situations

This thesis attempts to construct a model to investigate Chinese auditor’s intentions and their ethical decision-making within audit-client context, based on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and Kleinman and Palmon’s micro-level model. The differences in ethical decision-making between Chinese auditors with various backgrounds are also investigated. The findings can help stakeholders understand Chinese auditor’s ethical decision-making, and provide regulators with empirical evidence for adopting appropriate measures for enhancing Chinese auditor’s moral reasoning levels

Ethics and OR: Operationalising Discourse Ethics

Operational researchers help managers decide what they ought to do and yet this is generally evaluated in terms of efficiency or effectiveness, not ethicality. However, the combination of the tremendous power of global corporations and the financial markets, and the problems the world faces in terms of economic and environmental sustainability, has led to a revival of interest in ethical approaches. This paper explores a relatively recent and innovative process called discourse ethics. This is very different from traditional ethical systems in taking ethical decisions away from individuals or committees and putting them in the hands of the actual people who are involved and affected through processes of debate and deliberation. The paper demonstrates that discourse ethics has strong connections to OR, especially in the areas of soft and critical systems, and that OR can actually contribute to the practical operationalisation of discourse ethics. At the same time, discourse ethics can provide a rigorous discursive framework for “ethics beyond the model"

Information systems ethics – challenges and opportunities

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI linkThe purpose of this paper is to explore the ethical issues surrounding information systems (IS) practice with a view to encouraging greater involvement in this aspect of IS research. Information integrity relies upon the development and operation of computer-based information systems. Those who undertake the planning, development and operation of these information systems have obligations to assure information integrity and overall to contribute to the public good. This ethical dimension of information systems has attracted mixed attention in the IS academic discipline

Outlook: Summer 2000

Alumni publication of the Boston University School of Dental Medicine

Fostering Public Health Ethics Awareness among Medical Students through Interactive Web-Based Values Exchange Learning : A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Medical ethics have traditionally encountered resistance in medical education, with doubts regarding their necessity during preclinical years. Concerns include the practical application of theoretical ethics and favoring the learning of ethics through observation and imitation. Furthermore, ethics courses often focus on codes and regulations and neglect the promotion of moral reasoning and decision-making skills. Therefore, enhancing ethical researcher-training modules is essential for advancing instructional methods and promoting a unified and interactive learning atmosphere. Methods A three-week course was conducted using the Values Exchange (VX) online platform to assess the effectiveness of the VX system in involving students and its impact on their perceptions of the importance of research ethics. Accordingly, a blended course was provided as an optional course to the students, and a qualitative course evaluation survey was administered at the end of the course. Results Sixty-one medical students participated in a pilot-blended research ethics program and the majority (93%) reported a positive learning experience. The course was preferred over traditional classroom-based courses by 80% of the respondents, with 77% reporting increased interest and motivation to study Research Ethics. Over half of the students (57%) reported that the course stimulated their thinking and changed their perspectives on handling medical research issues. Many students (20%) reported improvements in their social and information technology skills. The VX platform was able to meet the expectations of both faculty and students, and fulfilled all dimensions of the Health Professions Learning Environment Conceptual Framework. Conclusions The VX platform provides an interactive and effective simulated learning environment that promotes ethical research Aligned with the Health Professions Learning Environment Framework, VX fosters core competencies, such as ethical reasoning, decision-making, and cultural respect. Medical schools are encouraged to implement VX to enhance the teaching of research ethics.Peer reviewe

When Programs Collide: A Panel Report on the Competing Interests of Analytics and Security

The increasing demand for business analytics and cybersecurity professionals provides an exciting job outlook for graduates of information systems programs. However, the rapid proliferation of devices and systems that spurred this trend has created a challenging ethical dilemma for the individuals responsible for educating future generations of information technology professionals. Many firms collect and store as much data as possible in the hope that technology might uncover useful insights in the future. This behavior results in an ever-increasing challenge for those charged with protecting organizational assets and exerts pressure on executives seeking an analytical edge to remain profitable in a hyper-competitive marketplace. With this dilemma in mind, a recent panel discussion at the 14th Annual Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference explored the delicate balance between unleashing the power of analytics and securing the sensitive data it consumes while respecting consumer privacy. This paper reports on that discussion and its insights

Developing a Medically Informative and Socially Supportive Interactive Online Network (MISSION)

This thesis discusses virtual communities and social networks and their current and potential uses in health and medicine, proposing a novel virtual health network called a \u27Medically Informative and Socially Supportive Interactive Online Network\u27 (MISSION). The purposes of a MISSION are to 1) serve as an information resource for patients, 2) to facilitate conversation between patient and provider, 3) to potentially aid in office tasks (such as scheduling, billing, etc.), and 4) to aid in community-building acts in patients\u27 own local, physical communities. In this thesis, the concept of virtual communities and social networks are explored, the legal and ethical ramifications of a MISSION are surveyed, current applications similar to a MISSION are analyzed, and recommendations for designing a MISSION are offered. This thesis is intended for an audience of health care communication and information systems professionals who can help put a MISSION into action through working with health care providers and organizations

Ethical behaviors and wealth: generation Y’s experience

This research investigates if ethical behaviors and personal finances are related using a large scale U.S. random survey called the NLSY97. Fifteen indicators covering both ethical and unethical behaviors are compared to net worth for people in their 20s and 30s, who are called Generation Y. Breaking rules, stealing and being arrested are associated with less wealth in this generation. Results suggest that among people in their early 20s there is little or no relationship between ethical behaviors and wealth. However, as this cohort ages, a positive relationship between acting more ethically and wealth emerges.Accepted manuscrip