References

Ethical and Social Issues in

Information Systems

Darshan Shakya, Nirab Niroula, Nirmal Kumar Shah, Pradosh Adhikari

Central Campus of Technology

Dharan, Sunsari

Chaitra, 2080
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Table of Content
• Introduction

• Ethical, Social, and Political Issues Raised by Information System

• Key Technology Trends that Raise Ethical Issues

• Responsibility, Accountability and Liability

• Ethical Analysis

• Candidate Ethical Principles

• Professional Code of Conduct

• Real World Ethical Dilemmas

• Information Right and Property Rights

• Quality of Life and Health Risks

• Conclusion

• References
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Introduction

An Information System (IS) is a comprehensive system designed to retrieve,

process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and
control in an organization.

Using information systems effectively requires an understanding of the

organization, management, and information technology shaping the systems.
An information system creates value for the firm as an organizational and
management solution to challenges posed by the environment.
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Introduction (cont.)

Information systems are the backbone of modern organizations, fostering

efficiency, knowledge sharing, and better decision-making across various sectors.

Business firms invest heavily in information systems to achieve six strategic

business objectives:
• Operational Excellence

• New Products, Services and New Business Model

• Customer and Supplier Intimacy

• Improved Decision Making

• Competitive Advantage

• Survival
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Ethical, Social, and Political Issues Raised by Information System

Figure: The relationship between ethical, social and political issues

The introduction of new information technology has a ripple effect, raising new
ethical, social, and political issues that must be dealt with on the individual,
social, and political levels.
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Ethical, Social, and Political Issues Raised by Information System

(cont.)
Five Moral Dimensions of Information System:
• Information Rights and Obligations: This dimension focuses on who owns
information, how it can be used, and the privacy rights of individuals.
• This dimension explores issues like intellectual property protection,
software piracy, and ownership of digital creations.
• System Quality and Accountability: This dimension emphasizes the
importance of reliable and secure information systems.
• Quality of Life: This dimension considers issues like digital divide, access
to information, and the potential negative effects of technology overuse,
such as addiction or social isolation.
• Accountability: This dimension explores who is accountable for biased
algorithms, misinformation spread online, or unintended negative impacts
of technology.
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Key Technology Trends that Raise Ethical Issues

• Computing power doubles every 18 months: The doubling of computing

power every 18 months has made it possible for most organizations to
depend for crucial operations
• Data storage costs rapidly declining: Organizations can easily maintain
detailed databases on individuals.
• Data analysis advances: Companies can analyze vast quantities of data
gathered on individuals to develop detailed profiles of individual behavior.
• Networking advances: Copying data from one location to another and
accessing personal data from remote locations are much easier
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Responsibility, Accountability and Liability

• Responsibility: It means that you accept the potential costs, duties, and
obligations for the decisions you make. Responsibility is a key element of
ethical action.
• Accountability: It means that mechanisms are in place to determine who
took responsible action, and who is responsible. Accountability is the
feature of systems and social institutions.
• Liability: It extends the concept of responsibility further to the area of
laws. Liability is a feature of political systems in which a body of laws is in
place that permits individuals to recover the damages done to them by
other actors, systems, or organizations.
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Ethical analysis

Here is the five-step process to conduct the ethical analysis:

1. Identify and describe clearly the facts: Find out who did what to whom,
and where, when, and how. It helps to get the opposing parties involved in
an ethical dilemma to agree on the facts.

2. Define the conflict and identify the higher-order values involved.

3. Identify the stakeholders.

4. Identify the options that you can reasonably take.

5. Identify the potential consequences of your options.

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Candidate ethical principles

Candidate ethical principles are some helpful principles with deep roots in many
cultures that have survived throughout recorded history:
• The Golden Rule: Putting yourself into the place of others, and thinking
of yourself as the object of the decision, can help you think about fairness
in decision making.
• Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative: If an action is not right for
everyone to take, it is not right for anyone.
• Utilitarian Principle: This rule assumes you can prioritize values in a rank
order and understand the consequences of various courses of action.
• Risk Aversion Principle: Take the action that produces the least harm or
the least potential cost.
• Ethical “no free lunch” rule: If something someone else has created is
useful to you, it has value, and you should assume the creator wants
compensation for this work.
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Professional codes of conduct

• Information systems (IS) professionals have special codes to guide their

conduct.
• These codes emphasize ethical use of tech, staying competent, acting with
integrity, protecting user privacy, and being accountable for their work.
• Following these codes helps build trust, promotes ethical behavior, and
ensures high standards in the IS field.
• Examples include the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and ACM
codes.
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Real World Ethical Dilemmas

Many of the large telephone companies in the United States are using
information technology to reduce the sizes of their work forces. Voice
recognition software reduces the need for human operators by enabling
computers to recognize a customer’s responses to a series of computerized
questions. Many companies monitor what their employees are doing on the
Internet to prevent them from wasting company resources on non-business
activities.
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Information right and property rights

Information Rights Information rights refer to the legal and ethical principles
governing the collection, use, access, and control of data and personal
information. Key aspects include:
• Privacy: Individuals have the right to control their personal information
and protect it from unauthorized access or misuse.
• Data Protection: Regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) in the EU ensure that organizations handle personal data
responsibly and transparently.
• Access to Information: The right to access public information held by
government bodies, promoting transparency and accountability.
• sInformed Consent: Individuals must be informed about how their data is
collected and used, and give explicit consent for its use.
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Property Rights

Property rights refer to the legal ownership and control over tangible and
intangible assets, including intellectual property. Key aspects include:
• Intellectual Property (IP): Legal protections for creations of the mind,
such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, and
images. This includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.
• Ownership: The legal right to possess, use, and dispose of property,
whether it’s physical (like land and buildings) or digital (like software and
digital content).
• Usage Rights: The rights to use property, which can include licensing
agreements allowing others to use intellectual property under specific
conditions.
• Transferability: The ability to sell, transfer, or lease property rights to
others, ensuring the property can be monetized and utilized effectively.
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Quality of Life and Health Risks

The impact of technology on quality of life and health risks can be profound,
influencing various aspects of daily living, healthcare, and well-being. Here’s a
summary of how these factors interplay:
Positive Impacts:
• Healthcare Advancements: Telemedicine, wearable health devices, and AI
diagnostics improve access to healthcare, early detection of diseases, and
personalized treatment plans.
• Convenience: Smart home devices, online shopping, and digital
communication tools enhance convenience and efficiency in daily tasks.
• Education and Learning: E-learning platforms and educational apps
provide access to knowledge and skills development, regardless of
geographic location.
• Social Connectivity: Social media and messaging apps keep people
connected, fostering relationships and community building
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Negative Impacts:
• Digital Divide: Unequal access to technology can exacerbate social and
economic inequalities, leaving some populations behind.
• Screen Time: Excessive use of screens can lead to issues like eye strain,
sleep disruption, and reduced physical activity.
• Mental Health: Overuse of social media and digital devices can contribute
to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
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Conclusion

The integration of technology offers numerous benefits but also poses ethical
challenges that must be addressed thoughtfully:
• Ethical Principles: Deontological ethics emphasize duty and honesty, social
justice promotes fairness, and privacy principles protect personal data.
• Professional Conduct: IS professionals follow codes of conduct to ensure
integrity, competence, and accountability, building trust and ethical
behavior.
• Real-World Dilemmas: Practical challenges often involve conflicting ethical
principles, requiring careful decision-making and trade-offs.
• Information and Property Rights: Information rights cover privacy and
data protection, while property rights address ownership and control over
tangible and intangible assets.
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References

[1] E. Frick, Information Technology Essentials Volume 1: Introduction

to Information Systems (Information Technology Essentials Series).
Independently Published, 2017, isbn: 9781708175146.
[2] J. O’Brien and G. Marakas, Introduction to Information Systems.
McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2010, isbn: 9780070167087.
[3] K. Laudon and J. Laudon, Management Information Systems:
Managing the Digital Firm. Prentice Hall, 2012, isbn:
9780132142854.
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