Description

Due Date:

No later than (earlier if possible) Midnight of Friday 24 April 2020, (week 8), Weight: 40% (40 marks)

Task Description:

As an IT professional, from time to time you will face ethical conflicts in the workplace, this case study will enable you to practise analysing a situation and making an ethical decision.

You are to construct a written analysis (3410ICT 2000 words; 7101ICT 2500 words) which identifies and characterises all ethical factors from a given case study. Ethical factors will come from the different points of view of the main characters. As you analyse the factors you will refer to theory, particularly Normative Ethical Theories. These factors are then to be prioritised, according to the Ethical Decision Model, from most important to least important. You are then required to present an evidence-based decision for the ethical course of action for the characters and give a discussion of related theory to explain your choice of prioritisation and your decision.

Templates:

o    For 3410ICT Assignment 1, use this template:   3410ICT Assignment 1 Template.docx 3410ICT Assignment 1 Template.docx - Alternative Formats

o    For 7101ICT Assignment 1, use this template:   7101ICT Assignment 1 Template.docx 7101ICT Assignment 1 Template.docx - Alternative Formats  

Notes:

·         Do Scenarios 1.1 and 1.2 for this assignment.

·         When analyzing the case, put yourself in the position of each character to iidentify as many ethical issues as you can using the EDM, in-depth analysis will find subtle issues. Some issues are applicable to a few categories (legal, professional, employment etc) you should list them in multiple categories. List everything that you can see, you can report an issue twice by treating it as a separate issue and looking at it through the lens of the different category. If appropriate, include information about acquired factors from family, religious communities, peers, etc. If appropriate, include information about personal attributes contributing to morality

·         When giving your decision, your reasoning should be made clear (show how you arrived at the decision, don't just present the decision).

·         In making your decision you might consider:

o    Is this solution in accord with what is natural?

o    Is this solution balanced between an approach that might be excessive on the one hand and deficient on the other?

o    Would there be majority agreement that is solution is the most efficient means to the end?

o    Will it produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people?

o    Is this solution the one you feel most committed to in your own conscience, regardless of whether or not it benefits you personally? 

·         References only from the course text are satisfactory, from other sources is also useful however, referencing legal texts is not needed.

·         Word count can be plus or minus 10% of the required length without penalty. Word count is calculated from the beginning of the Introduction to the end of the Conclusion. The table of contents, and references are not included in the count. You should not quote from the case study.

·         Assignment exemplars from previous years and different cases will assist you in better understanding the task. (Link below).

 This assignment revolves around working out what to do in a situation where there is no simple solution. There is inherent ambiguity in ethical analysis and so there is no 1 right solution to this complex case. Your solution can be whatever you think is the best course of action for the situation, but you need to back it up with a rational, logical, reason based on evidence. You need to say “I would do this… because 1, 2, 3, 4… Different solutions can achieve a High Distinction.