Ethical Behavior in the Information Technology Domain

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Ethical Behavior
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Business ethics is the notion that projects moral and ethical principles to business. Business ethics is the framework that managers and employees make correct decisions that will not bring harm or at least will bring the minimal harm. By making unethical decisions, a company may harm its operation results, its employees, suppliers and consumers, community and even the whole society (Miller and Jentz 64).

In this work, essence and importance of ethical behavior on the working place and peculiarities of ethics in MIS are discussed.

Ethical Behavior

The main aspect of ethical behavior is ability to respect others’ interests. The majority of unethical decisions are made when people take their own interests as priority and do not respect interests and rights of their colleagues, superiors and the whole community.

However, a person making an unethical decision rarely thinks about the fact that he/she may suffer from it on his/her own: when such decisions disclose, a person will be punished; besides, unethical decision may harm a company’s operation and reputation. For example, when a company uses harmful substances in the production of their goods, its reputation suffers much when the fact is disclosed, and consumers do not trust to it any more (Andersen 192).

One more important aspect of ethical behavior is ability to take responsibility and meet obligations. If a company’s actions turn out to be improper and harmful, chief should be responsible for them and put effort into eliminating their consequences. The third ethical behavior is fairness: at the work place, one should make fair decisions in order not to harm the colleagues and subordinates. For example, unfair promotion may spoil the atmosphere in the team.

The fourth aspect is fair and clear marketing. A company should not distort the qualities of goods it produces in its advertisements and should not promise more than it plans to give to its consumers. The fifth aspect is social responsibility. A business should be involved into the life of the community and put effort into making it better. One more aspect is absence of discrimination.

Discrimination at the working place is the violation of people’s rights; it creates unhealthy atmosphere within the staff. The sixth aspect is ability to choose the lesser of all evils. Sometimes a company or a manager faces necessity to make decision that may harm someone in any case; it is important to find the optimal decision having analyzed all pros and cons. The seventh aspect is enthusiasm and devotion to the work. Only in this case employees will work well and the company will meet customers’ needs.

The eighth issue is environmental responsibility: a company should think not about its own interests, but about nature, people and future generations. The ninth issue is desire to grow and develop: if a company does not evolve, it collapses. The tenth issue (the last, but of course not the least) is fair accounting: it is the basis that carries a company’s existence and successful operation.

Importance of Ethics in My Major

We live in the information society, which means that information is of great importance now. Information may be a means of helping people and a weapon able to harm them (De George 2). Treating information ethically is a basic requirement to any activity fulfilled in out society.

Ethical Issues in Management information system

The following issues are of big importance in MIS: 1) respect to copyright; 2) protection of personal information; 3) not manipulating and distorting information; 4) communication privacy; 5) use of information with peaceful and ethical purposes; 6) respecting any kind of confidentiality; 6) taking responsibility; 7) respect of law; 8) not using discriminating, offensive information; 9) not using slanderous information; 10) taking responsibility.

Conclusion

Business ethics is important for a company, as unethical decision does not create long-term competitive advantages, but, backwards, has negative impact on its operation and reputation. The information era has brought new ethical concerns connected with usage of information. For a MIS specialist, it is important to work within the framework of ethics in order to be successful and effective.

References

Andersen, Bjorn. Bringing Business Ethics to Life: Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility. Milwaukee, Wisc.: ASQ Quality Press, 2004. Print.

De George, Richard T. The Ethics of Information Technology and Business. Malden, MA Blackwell Pub, 2003. Print.

Miller, Roger LeRoy, and Gaylord A. Jentz. Fundamentals of Business Law: Excerpted Cases. Mason, Ohio: South-Western/Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.

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