CISB412June2014group18

Introduction

Ethics, sometimes known as philosophical ethics, ethical theory, moral theory, and moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct, often addressing disputes of moral diversity. The term comes from the Greek word, ethikos from ethos, which means "custom, habit". The superfield within philosophy known as axiology includes both ethics and aesthetics and is unified by each sub-branch's concern with value. Philosophical ethics investigates what is the best way for humans to live, and what kinds of actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances.

Ethics is a set of standards, or a code, or value system, worked out from human reason and experience, by which free human actions are determined as ultimately right or wrong,good or evil. If acting agrees with these standards, it is ethical, otherwise unethical. Code of value principles that we use in a particular context generally refers to ethics. To be more specific, ethics among it professionals is the study of good and evil, right and wrong just and unjust action of it professionals.

Importance

Corresponds to basic human needs, it is a human trait that man desires to be ethical not only in his private life bu also in his IT Professional affairs where, being a professional, he/she knows their decisions may affect the live of thousands of programmer or software that they build. Importance of ethics for IT Professional is used to control the behavior of professionals in the form of commands to do so and leave the things that cause offense either in the country legally or status as professional.

Based on Mansueto Ventures LLC (2012),companies with strong ethics programs has found that these efforts can reduce potential costly fines,decrease vulnerability,improve reputation,provide access to capital,favorably influence their bottom line, positively affect their employees' commitment to work and enhance customer loyalty.

According to Thea Mcbride(2012), there are five(5) importances of codes of ethics that encourages IT professionals to behave more ethical and responsible in their jobs.

1. Standards
A code of ethics document sets the standards for what is expected of the IT Professional. It reinforces what is considered right and wrong by using verbiage such as "always" or "never" to be as clear as possible.

2. Access
A code of ethics reminds IT Professionals that they are not to impede or manipulate pre-authorized access to the information of hardware of which they are in control.

3. Prevention
A code of ethics helps prevent IT Professionals from behaving in a malicious or harmful manner with cmpany information and equipment.

4. Skills
A code of ethics helps motivate an IT Professional to stay current in her chosen skill set in order to be more effective on the job for his/her employer. A motivated IT Professional may also be encouraged to learn new skill sets as technology changes.

5. Types
Code of ethics documents can be tailored with verbiage that specifically affects only certain types of IT Professional such as programmers, networkers or cyber forensics experts.

Benefits

Based on what Josephson(November 2,2010),the single measure that would most improve corporate governance is the establishment by senior management of an ethical business culture.

As that being said, it shows how ethics will influence senior management to operation management within business or corporate governance to improve their business performance in synchronizing the attitude and behavior of IT Professionals is acceptable in community to impress quality of working indirectly will outstand their credibility where as they should have followed the standard and procedures set by the company or organization. Despite the business return, Josephson (2010) also mentioned that “companies should have to promote ethical behavior – not to enhance productivity, profits or public relations. Still, a sound, well-administered code can benefit a company and its stakeholders in a variety of ways” that exactly explain one’s characters and manners are vital so that it will become the first impression out of whole other matters in working environment regardless to the benefit of the company solely.

Besides that, ethics programs are highly recommended in an organization. Some of the potential benefits associated to a successful ethics program towards IT Professionals includes forming and retaining top-quality professionals, developing a more satisfying and productive working environment, structuring and maintaining association’s reputation within the communities in which operate, maintaining the trust of members to ensure continued self-regulation, verifying open discussion of ethical issues, providing ethical regulation and resources for employees prior to making difficult decisions and aligning the work efforts of staff with the association’s broader mission and vision.

It is supported with this quote mentioned by Vice President of business practices at Baxter International, Winter G (2000) stated “by providing employees with ethics standards, training, and resources to get advice, organizations seek to create a work environment where; it’s okay for employees to acknowledge that they have an ethical dilemma, and resources are readily available to guide employees in working through such dilemmas before making decisions. “It is fine to have a structure that tells people they need to report it when someone does something wrong. “But that’s not the main reason to have an ethics program.”

Winter believes that ethical guidelines, in the form of policies and practices, give employees the basic tools they need to take informed risks on behalf of their organizations which explain necessity of a medium or standard in reporting any misconduct or misbehavior performed by IT Professionals within organization that might probably interrupt the business in making.

Conclusion

Ethics should be considered as a set of principles that every IT professionals should obey. Ethics encompasses social mores, usually expressed today as good manners; an ethical IT professional can be work more properly and effectively in their workplace. The IT professional must have the ability to make a correct decision without any bad impact on a cooperate. The world is operates on trust. Trust is a belief that others will act in accordance with ill defined, but generally accepted standards of behavior and respect for others. If trust is absent then very little of what we deem necessary, to allow the free flow of social intercourse and commerce, will occur. All these matters are governed by ethics.

Indeed, part of professional ethics has to do with the fairness with which issues are handled and cases are decided. IT Professionals have a duty to report colleagues’ wrong-doing and disciplinary measure may have to be taken depends on situation. Plus, procedural fairness is part of ethics, and so there must be adequate warnings, notice, a hearing of all sides and an even-handed and consistency in the approval taken. Like cases must be treated alike

References:

Josephson M. (November 2, 2010) Business Ethics and Leaderships by Michael Josephson, Ten Benefits Of Having An Ethics Code. Retrieved on 23 Feb,2012 from: http://josephsoninstitute.org/business/blog/2010/11/ten-benefits-of-having-an-ethics-code/

https://sites.google.com/site/charityneavejohnson/education/webfolio/foundations-1/importance-of-professional-ethics
McBride. The Importance of a Code of Ethics for IT Professionals?[online]http://www.ehow.com/facts_6060876_importance-code-ethics-professionals.html
Russ Buchanan. Code of Ethics in Information Technology. [Online]http://www.ehow.com/facts_5764997_code-ethics-information-technology.html