Computer Ethics: Men & Women Rachel L. Weller

“How Men and Women View Ethics” By: Jennifer Kreie & Timothy Paul Cronan

Scope of Ethics Research in IS Businesses affected by billions of dollars per year Premeditated Preventions Behavior

What Might Influence Our Ethical Judgment? Acceptable or Unacceptable? Environmental Factors Individual Societal Belief System Legal Professional

What Might Influence our Ethical Judgment? Personal Values Experiences Values Perceptions Person’s Characteristics Gender Age Education

Background of Study Focus: Gender Men: 179 Women: 128 Work Experience: Avg. 2.2 years (55%) Ethical Dilemma: 42%

Scenarios 1: Is Making Unauthorized Program Modifications Acceptable? 2: Is it Okay to Keep Something you Didn’t Pay For? 3: Can I Use Company Resources on My Own Time? 4: Do I Have to Pay for Programs I Use? 5: I Have a Copy of the Data, Can’t I Use it as I Wish?

Conclusion Men and Women differing factors Strong Influence Men: less likely to consider a behavior unethical Women: More likely Strong Influence Personal Values Environmental factor: Legal Management Plan

Ethical Summary 1.2 Avoid harm to others. 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy. 1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent. 1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property. 1.7 Respect the privacy of others. 1.8 Honor confidentiality.

Ethical Summary 2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence. 2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work. 2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks. 2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities. 2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so.

Main Ethical Issues 2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so. 1.7 Respect the privacy of others. 2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work. 2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities.

Opinion Thorough study Detailed Evaluation Realistic Manger Responsibility

Case Study While you are visiting a research facility, you find a lab instructor’s ID card lying on the floor that has access to his recent study in creating a new version of a computer processor. You are a computer designer and this new research could greatly help you develop your up and coming product. Since no one is looking, you take the card and scan into the lab. You save the files on the computer and walk out, with no one in sight. You use the research to aid you in designing a new product. A few months later, you produce the latest and greatest technology. What are the ethical implications of taking credit for another’s idea? What are some of the possible negative effects?

Ethical Issues 1.8 Honor confidentiality. 1.7 Respect the privacy of others. 1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property. 1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patent. 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy. 1.2 Avoid harm to others.

Questions What is an example of an environmental factor? What is an example of a personal value? Which gender finds more situations to be an ethical decision? What is the factor men consider the most when making an ethical decision?

Thank You!