Ethical Analysis

24.07.2012

Ethical Analysis

Today we continue the previous days' lecture on Ethics. There are two main parts in ethical analysis.

• First we identify the stake holders involved in the ethical issues and fact that pertaining to the information technology issues.
• Secondly we discussed about what exactly happens to the those information technology issues.

It describes in four ways.

1. Conflicts - This can be happen in among two or more than two people. Lecturer explain it in this way.

                        ex: Imagine that Sahan is taking pen from Thaiyaba's bag with out knowing her. It is unethical    to take anything from someones bag. This can be a conflict to Thaiyaba.

     2.  Dilemma - According to Sahan's example we can not say that taking something from someone's bag is                     good or bad thing either they are friends.

    3.  Direct involves - Check who was the directly involved people to the situation. Who effected by that   incident.

    4.  Alternatives - We can select the different alternatives. It effects to all in the organization, because of the sequences of this incident. It is a win win situation to bath parties.

                             ex: We can warn to Sahan not to take anything from others with out knowing that person.

Business Ethics.

Business ethics are the study of business situations, activities and decisions where issues of right and wrong are addressed.

                      ex: A well-known pharmaceutical company caused with ethical issue. They distribute a anti depressants drug which suitable for adults. They didn't analyze it for children but they advertised it for both children and adults. That company going with an unethical practice.
                               Elephant House used to put their garbage in to Bere lake. It also a unethical incident.

According to those two examples that we can identify what the businesses are doing right or wrong thing.

Because of these unethical practices customers would face many difficulties. To avoid these unethical practices people establishes consumer protected agencies to protect them from businesses organizations.

Characteristics of Business Ethics.

Characteristics of business ethics are what they should do and how it will give the guild lines that need to follow. There are two characteristics in business ethics.

• Tells people what they ought to do.
• Set of principles or rules.

Ethics comes with social responsibilities. It is a win win situation.

Concepts of Business Ethics.

These concepts are developed by moral philosophers over generations. Also these concepts are distinguish ethical from unethical behaviors. Given below concept has problems.

• Relativism

           - There is no human standards. Because actions should be justifiable.

           - It depends on society to society.

           - Ethics are relative with morality.

                      ex: Some people in Africa who eats cannibals. They believe that it is justifiable for them but it won't for other societies.

• Egoism

           - One person should act as that person's set of personal interests.

           - Egoism believes that self interests are should not against laws.

           - Ethical behaviors are promotes person's own self interests.

                         ex:  Drive fast.

                               Do not ware seat belts.

• Utilitarianism

           - This action could be ethical or not.
           - The morality of the action can be determine by its consequences.
           - That action is ethical if it promotes the greatest good for the greatest amount.
                     ex: Harry Truman decided to drop the bomb to Hiroshima.
        - Although this action was unethical consequences was good because if this not happened the 2nd world war will still continue.

• Deontologism

           - Actions are not justified by their consequences.
           - Factors other than good outcomes determine the rightness of action.
                         ex: Killing a murderer.

There are different between utilitarianism and deontologism. Utilitarianism ends with justifying the means and deontologism means which are important.

General Ethical Behavior.

• Builds security.
• Friendliness.
• Cooperation and trust in a society.

Ethical Tests.

1. Is it Ethical?

          i Ethical - Legal

         ii Ethical - Illegal

        iii Unethical - Legal

        iv Unethical - Illegal

i and iv are easy to do.

iv and iii are difficult to do.

     2.   Benefit Cost Test

           - Benefits exceed to cover the costs.

                   ex: According to the nuclear bomb, United Status government costs for it. But benefits are more that costs.

The action can be justifiable.

     3.   Light of Day Test.

           - What would happen if your reaction were bought into the public.

                   ex: Imagine that you were organized a party in your home. If something unethical thing happened in your home premises. When it is goes to public, other people will react it as a wrong thing. Because public will think it as a unethical thing, but to you it is a okay for you.

     4.   Do Unto Others Test.

           - If something good happened to you then it is ethical.

     5.   Ventilation Test.
           - Something happens , seeks out from others views.

After discussing all of these ethical tests, lecturer gave us to following incidents to choose the each incident.

• Robbing a bank.
• Driving above the speed limit.
• Cheating on an exam.

Learning gain of the Lecture

Got to know about what was ethical analysis, business ethics, characteristics of business ethics, concepts of business ethics, what are the tests that do for check the ethical issues.

Personal Opinion

It is really good for knowing all the following topics. Identify how to categorize ethical issues.