Code of Conduct: Ethics in Information Systems

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary of the Business
Analysis of the Selected Code of Conduct
Similarities and Differences
Conclusion
List of References

Introduction

This report is written with the purpose of demonstrating the knowledge and understanding of ethics in information systems. For the purpose of this study, the code of conduct for Australian Migration Agents has been analysed for comparison with the Australian Computer Society professional code of conduct.

The report begins with a brief overview of the selected business, where things such as its structure and objectives are clearly observed and highlighted. There is also a detailed analysis of the code of conduct currently applied by the organisation in its missions and objectives.

The observed code is then compared and contrasted with that of the Australian Computer Society (ACS), to identify any similarities and differences. In this context, any notable omissions to the selected code of conduct are noted, and recommendations for future inclusions as well as revisions are proposed. Finally, the report closes with a conclusive paragraph which summarises the key elements presented in the paper.

Summary of the Business

Australian migration agents are business organisations which specialize in migration issues in the country. These businesses are accredited with the right to offer experienced and professional advice on immigration services ranging from visa processing to the provision of legal advice on immigration.

Australian migration agents who have already registered under the relevant regulations are authorised to carry a number of services related to immigration (ACS 2012). Some of these services would include advice on immigration procedures as well as visa provision and processing on behalf of clients.

Australian migration agents are known to have a long history of operation considering the fact that Australia is one of the most visited regions of the world. Australia is characterised by a strong political stability plus a thriving economy; these two options are enough to justify the huge numbers of visitors and immigrants entering the country every year.

The operations of Australian migration agents are regulated by the Migration Agents Registration Authority, simply known as the MARA. This is a government authority that deals with the registration and control of migration agents in the country. The migration agents are required to have a sound knowledge and understanding of the Australian Immigration Law, which is a mandate to any business which is involved in immigration matters.

Some Australian migration agents have gone a step ahead to become dedicated members of the Migration Institute of Australia, a body that offers immigration-related updates and relevant seminars to its members (Morgan 2006).

More importantly, all Australian migration agents are expected to maintain a constant professional development by remaining loyal to the code of conduct which has been presented to them. In order to ensure strict adherence of the provided ethical standards, all Australian Migration Agents are expected to display the codes openly in their offices or places of work where they can be seen by the clients.

Analysis of the Selected Code of Conduct

The code of conduct for Australian Immigration Agents is divided into eleven key parts which provide an in-depth focus on the expected ethical standards for all registered agents. The first part of the code is the introduction section, which offers a detailed focus on the key elements of the Code to the registered agents as it is required by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

This section also provides useful information on the registration process as well as the requirements for registration with the MARA authority. More importantly, the section gives a clear guidance on the code together with the role it is intended to play in this business setting. Also the main benefits and costs that can be associated with the compliance or non-compliance of the code by the agents are observed in this section.

The second part of the code revolves around the standards of professional conduct that all registered migration agents must adhere to in their duties. One of the key areas featured in this section is a sector that emphasizes on the need for migration agents to act in accordance with the Australian Immigration Laws, among other key regulations surrounding the immigration department.

This part has also reflected on the fundamentals of immigration as they are stipulated by Australian Migration Act and Regulations. This section also provides a guideline on the steps which Australian Migration Agents must follow in order to maintain high standards of professionalism in their work. Part three of the code is based on the commitment as well as the obligations which the immigration agents would have on their clients.

This section has highlighted some of the crucial details which registered migration agents should observe when dealing with their clients. The main role of this section is to equip the migration agents with some pieces of advice on the measures they need to take to ensure that their work is satisfying to clients.

Part four of the Australian Migration Agents Code of Conduct is based on the relationships of migration agents with each other as far as their services to clients are concerned. This section equips the migration agents with an in-depth guideline on how they should behave towards other registered migration agents.

The content of this section does not only advis e agents on how to treat each other, but they also emphasise on the need to maintain good business relationships among themselves (Castles 2004). Section five of the Code is about fees and charges, and it provides a focus on matters regarding the normal charges which migration agents obtain from their clients in exchange to the services they are offering.

Part six of the Code offers an in-depth guideline on record keeping and management. The section revolves around all the actions that should be taken in maintaining proper business records as required by the Law.

Part seven of the Code offers advice regarding financial duties and the procedures which migration agents should follow in the course of their work. Part eight of the Code is about the duties of registered migration agents to their workers and their clients. Part nine is about complaints, and it provides a guideline on how migration agents should deal with any form of complaint coming from either the clients or their employees.

Part ten is about termination of services, and it advices migration agents on the rightful procedures which they need follow, when terminating their services on clients. The final part of the code is a reminder of the need to ensure that agents are always focused on the ethical standards governing their professional environment. This section also emphasises on the actions that would be necessary in ensuring that the clients are also aware of the code followed by their agents in serving them.

Similarities and Differences

As it would be observed, there are some similarities as well as differences between the Code of Conduct followed by the Australian migration agents and the Professional Code of Conduct of the Australian Computer Society. One similarity about the two codes is that they are both intended to guide members of their relevant organisations to act within the law, in their respective jobs to clients and stakeholders.

Another way by which the codes are similar is through the value of competence, which has been emphasized in the two codes. Competence in work, which is one of the core values of the ACS, has also been applied in part three of the Australian Migration Agents Code of Conduct. Another outstanding similarity here is the value of honest, as it is observed in the two codes.

In the Australian Migration Agents Codes of Conduct, the value of honest is manifested in parts 4 and 5 about relations between migration agents, fees and charges, respectively. The two codes also share the value of professional development. This is clearly stated in the ACS values and also in part 2 of the Australian Migration Agents Code of Conduct, which focuses on the standards of professional conduct expected of the agents in their work.

As it is observed, there are differences as well, between the two codes. One of the main differences here is that each of the two codes has some ethical values which the other lacks. For instance, values such as the primacy of the public interest and the enhancement of quality of life highlighted in the ACS professional code of conduct are missing in the Australian migration agents code of professional conduct.

Likewise, there are parts which the Australian migration agents code of conduct has, which are not present in the ACS professional code of conduct. Another significant difference here is that the two codes appear to have been set in different aspects in respect to the missions and objectives of their member organisations.

In other words, the professional code of conduct of the ACS revolves around computer technology while the Australian migration agents code of conduct is about immigration services. The Australian migration agents code of conduct appears to be having every useful detail. However, it would be more effective if it included the values of the primacy of the public interest and the enhancement of quality of life, as applied in the ACS professional code of conduct.

Conclusion

This report has successfully demonstrated the knowledge of ethics in information systems. Using the Australian migration agents as the selected business, the report has offered an in-depth analysis of the code of conduct currently applied by the organisation in their business objectives. As it is observed from the report, Australian migration agents uses a strong code of conduct in their professional objectives (Crock 1988).

The main role of this assignment is to compare and contrast the code of conduct of the selected business with that of the Australian Computer Society. This objective is well achieved in the report, thus providing room for some of the inclusions that need to be added to the selected code of conduct.

The report concludes with a recommendation of two values; the primacy of the public interest and the enhancement of quality of life should be included in the Australian migration agents professional code of conduct so as to make it stronger and more effective in its directives.

List of References

ACS 2012, ACS Code of Professional Conduct, Australian Computer Society. Web.

Castles, S 2004, The Factors that Make and Unmake Migration Policies, International Migration Review, vol. 38 no. 3, pp. 852-884.

Crock, M 1988, Immigration and refugee law in Australia, Federation Press, Sydney.

Morgan, S 2006, Australian immigration archives as sources for business and economic history, Australian Economic History Review, vol. 46 no. 3, pp. 268-282.

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