Strategic and Ethical Issues in Outsourcing Information Technologies

2011 ◽  
pp. 189-204
Author(s):  
Randall C. Reid ◽  
Mario Pascalev
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
External Vendors ◽  
Outsourcing Contracts

Outsourcing of information technology (IT) is the transfer of a company’s information technology functions to external vendors. Ordinarily, such transfer is considered only with regard to its strategic and economic impact on the organization. However, as the recent practice demonstrated, cost-benefit considerations and other strategic considerations are not sufficient to analyze an outsourcing case. Important ethical concerns relating to fiduciary responsibilities, insiders’ bidding for outsourcing contracts, and the like, are also pertinent to the analysis of outsourcing. This chapter will identify major ethical problems and will propose guidelines for ethical conduct in the process of outsourcing IT. Such guidelines could have broad practical implications for the practice of outsourcing. The chapter will analyze literature on outsourcing models and professional ethical standards. It will have the following structure. First, the benefits and models of outsourcing information technology will be discussed. Second, ethical literature in general and professional organizations’ codes of ethics in particular will be considered. Third, a recent case of IT outsourcing will be presented and analyzed. The ethical standards established in the thesis will be applied to the case. Finally, generalized ethical guidelines will be suggested for outsourcing models.

Strategic and Ethical Issues in Outsourcing Information Technologies

2011 ◽  
pp. 232-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall C. Reid ◽  
Mario Pascalev
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
External Vendors ◽  
Outsourcing Contracts

Outsourcing of information technology (IT) is the transfer of a company’s information technology functions to external vendors. Ordinarily, such transfer is considered only with regard to its strategic and economic impact on the organization. However, as the recent practice demonstrated, cost-benefit considerations and other strategic considerations are not sufficient to analyze an outsourcing case. Important ethical concerns relating to fiduciary responsibilities, insiders’ bidding for outsourcing contracts, and the like, are also pertinent to the analysis of outsourcing. This chapter will identify major ethical problems and will propose guidelines for ethical conduct in the process of outsourcing IT. Such guidelines could have broad practical implications for the practice of outsourcing. The chapter will analyze literature on outsourcing models and professional ethical standards. It will have the following structure. First, the benefits and models of outsourcing information technology will be discussed. Second, ethical literature in general and professional organizations’ codes of ethics in particular will be considered. Third, a recent case of IT outsourcing will be presented and analyzed. The ethical standards established in the thesis will be applied to the case. Finally, generalized ethical guidelines will be suggested for outsourcing models.

Gender Differences in Ethics Perceptions in Information Technology

2008 ◽  
pp. 3433-3441
Author(s):  
Leone E. Woodcock ◽  
San Murugesan
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Ethical Perceptions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Security Breaches ◽  
Males And Females

Greater emphasis is now placed on ethics in information technology (IT) which covers a broad range of issues such as privacy, honesty, trustworthiness, software reliability, data storage, the environment, security breaches, hacking, viruses, and acknowledging the intellectual property of others. Further, legal aspects tend to overlap ethics perceptions. For example, issues such as copying computer programs, music CDs, images, or videos are more than just ethical problems; they also pose legal problems. The ethical dimensions also extend to issues such as computer crime and fraud, information theft, and unauthorized information dissemination. These ethical issues are becoming more complex as continuing advances in IT present many new ethical situations and fresh dilemmas. Developments such as the Internet, electronic commerce, and wireless/mobile communications present a new set of ethical issues and challenge current of codes of ethics, copyright laws, and their authors. In addition, computer users’ ethical standards may also vary from one situation to another (Wikipedia, 2005). What is ethical is subjective, and more so in the areas of IT. Perceptions of ethics in IT vary to a degree from individual to individual. Further, there seems to be significant differences in the perception of ethics among males and females. According to Adam (2000), male and female judgment is most often influenced by their personal values and whether an action is considered legal. Woodcock (2002) conducted a study on ethical perceptions among 405 male and female students from universities, technical colleges, and schools in North-Eastern Australia and found significant differences in some ethical situations between males and females. This article presents common issues and dilemmas that confront IT professionals, students, and the general community. In particular, it presents gender differences in perceptions of ethics and legalities in IT and highlights the different ethical perceptions of male and female students. These insights are particularly significant as the ethical beliefs and perceptions that students have may influence their ethical behaviors during their working careers.

scholarly journals The Evolution of Social Work Ethics: Bearing Witness

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic G. Reamer
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Bearing Witness ◽  
Work Ethics ◽  
Social Work Ethics ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
History Of

The evolution of ethical standards in social work, and conceptual frameworks for examining ethical issues, is among the most compelling developments in the history of the profession. Since the formal inauguration of social work in the late nineteenth century, the profession has moved from relatively simplistic and moralistic perspectives to conceptually rich analyses of ethical issues and ethical guidelines. This article examines the evolution of social work ethics from the profession's earliest days and speculates about future challenges and directions.

Ethical challenges in the relationship between the pharmacist and patient in Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-323
Author(s):  
Kourosh Delpasand ◽  
Saeid Nazari Tavakkoli ◽  
Mehrzad Kiani ◽  
Mahmoud Abbasi ◽  
Leila Afshar
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Hospital Pharmacist ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Based on the developmental process of pharmacy in medical relationships, it is essential to pay attention to ethical issues in this field and develop a good pharmacist–patient relationship. The present study aimed to mention the frequency of ethical challenges of pharmacy in Iran as a fundamental step towards designing a practical ethical guideline for professionals. Design/methodology/approach In this observational study, data were collected using a two-part questionnaire with 64 items developed after examining relevant texts and conducting unstructured interviews with pharmacy specialists. The first part determined the frequency of ethical challenges that the pharmacist confronts, using 43 short scenarios, whereas the second part comprised 21 questions with short answers. For validation, the questionnaire was sent to 20 medical ethics specialists who were familiar with issues in pharmacy ethics. Findings Data were collected from 48 members of the Iranian Association of Pharmacists (Working Group of Hospital Pharmacists). and the frequency of ethical challenges was determined. The most frequent issues were patient's request for over-the-counter drugs, asking about their lab results, asking drug for another person and returning the drug. Research limitations/implications One of the limitation of our study is its population, there were hospital pharmacist, other pharmacist such as community pharmacist may face different challenges. Practical implications The finding of this study could lead the policymakers to develop ethical guidelines for pharmacy practices. Social implications The pharmacist–patient relationship is one of the important aspects of health system, and therefore regulating this relationship based on the professional ethics guidelines could have a positive impact on therapeutic relationships. Originality/value Results showed that designing codes of ethics and practical guidelines based on the frequency of the noted challenges enhances the quality of treatment, improves the pharmacist–patient relationship, increases the level of cooperation and decreases patient complaints.

scholarly journals An investigation into the ethical standards and values of registered property valuers in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 853-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Currin ◽  
Nompilo Msibi ◽  
Tsebang Chuene ◽  
Andre Kruger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Unethical Behaviour ◽  
Property Valuation

Ethical issues and standards of property professions are being scrutinised. To date, no research has been carried out on the ethical standards in the property valuation profession in South Africa. This research compared the content of codes of ethics and professional conduct of the South African property valuation profession to international standards, and investigated the ethical standards and moral values held by registered valuers in South Africa. A self-administered survey, administered to 611 professional and professional associate valuers, was used. It measured five constructs of unethical behaviour layered into a survey adapted from Hoyt, Wright and Croft (2002). No statistically significant differences were found between different demographic factors in the ethical beliefs of South African valuers. A literature review comparing South Africa’s codes of conduct with those in the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand showed that the standards of ethics and professional practice in South Africa are not in line with international standards. South African valuers appear to be ethical and resist external pressures which could lead to unethical behaviour.

scholarly journals Information Technology (IT) Ethics in the Light of Islam

IIUC Studies ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 243-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Kadar Muhammad Masum ◽  
Md Cholem Ullah ◽  
Md Abul Kalam Azad
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Islamic Ethics ◽  
Moral Principles ◽  
The Right To Privacy ◽  
It Ethics ◽  
The Right

Globalization and digital convergence in the emerging knowledge society has raised complex ethical, legal and societal issues. We are faced with complex and difficult questions regarding the freedom of expression, access to information, the right to privacy, intellectual property rights, and cultural diversity. To overcome these issues, it requires qualified and educated IT (Information Technology) beneficiaries professionally and ethically. Professional organizations like ACM, IEEE and ABET have established codes of ethics to help IT professionals, specially end users to understand and manage their ethical responsibilities. Islamic ethics comprise moral principles and guidance that differentiate between right and wrong, which are comprehensive, stable, fair, and historically proved success in building ethically great societies. The estimated 1.5 billion of Muslims should have an effective role in IT related activities and life, which requires them to understand and implement ethics, specially the Islamic ethics in their IT related works. This paper is a roadmap for modeling the IT user principles, which show the main phases for solving such problems. It focuses mainly on adopting a new version of IT user principles based on Islamic ethical values.IIUC Studies Vol.9 December 2012: 243-260

Gender Differences in Ethics Perceptions in Information Technology

2011 ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Leone E. Woodcock ◽  
San Murugesan
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Ethical Perceptions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Security Breaches ◽  
Males And Females

Greater emphasis is now placed on ethics in information technology (IT) which covers a broad range of issues such as privacy, honesty, trustworthiness, software reliability, data storage, the environment, security breaches, hacking, viruses, and acknowledging the intellectual property of others. Further, legal aspects tend to overlap ethics perceptions. For example, issues such as copying computer programs, music CDs, images, or videos are more than just ethical problems; they also pose legal problems. The ethical dimensions also extend to issues such as computer crime and fraud, information theft, and unauthorized information dissemination. These ethical issues are becoming more complex as continuing advances in IT present many new ethical situations and fresh dilemmas. Developments such as the Internet, electronic commerce, and wireless/mobile communications present a new set of ethical issues and challenge current of codes of ethics, copyright laws, and their authors. In addition, computer users’ ethical standards may also vary from one situation to another (Wikipedia, 2005). What is ethical is subjective, and more so in the areas of IT. Perceptions of ethics in IT vary to a degree from individual to individual. Further, there seems to be significant differences in the perception of ethics among males and females. According to Adam (2000), male and female judgment is most often influenced by their personal values and whether an action is considered legal. Woodcock (2002) conducted a study on ethical perceptions among 405 male and female students from universities, technical colleges, and schools in North-Eastern Australia and found significant differences in some ethical situations between males and females. This article presents common issues and dilemmas that confront IT professionals, students, and the general community. In particular, it presents gender differences in perceptions of ethics and legalities in IT and highlights the different ethical perceptions of male and female students. These insights are particularly significant as the ethical beliefs and perceptions that students have may influence their ethical behaviors during their working careers.

Ethical Issues Relevant to the Assessment of Suicide Risk in Nonclinical Research Settings

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Wilson ◽  
Bruce K. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Schizotypal Personality ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Genetic Features ◽  
Conducting Research

Background: Our laboratory recently confronted this issue while conducting research with undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo (UW). Although our main objective was to examine cognitive and genetic features of individuals with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), the study protocol also entailed the completion of various self-report measures to identify participants deemed at increased risk for suicide. Aims and Methods: This paper seeks to review and discuss the relevant ethical guidelines and legislation that bear upon a psychologist’s obligation to further assess and intervene when research participants reveal that they are at increased risk for suicide. Results and Conclusions: In the current paper we argue that psychologists are ethically impelled to assess and appropriately intervene in cases of suicide risk, even when such risk is revealed within a research context. We also discuss how any such obligation may potentially be modulated by the research participant’s expectations of the role of a psychologist, within such a context. Although the focus of the current paper is on the ethical obligations of psychologists, specifically those practicing within Canada, the relevance of this paper extends to all regulated health professionals conducting research in nonclinical settings.

scholarly journals Reflective Choice in Health Care: Using Information Technology to Present Allocation Options

1999 ◽  
Vol 25 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 387-402
Author(s):  
Arti K. Rai
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Medical Technology ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Alternative Funding ◽  
Health Care Interventions ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Care System

Over the last few decades, the U.S. health care system has been the beneficiary of tremendous growth in the power and sheer quantity of useful medical technology. As a consequence, our society has, for some time, had to make cost-benefit tradeoffs in health care. The alternative—funding all health care interventions that would produce some health benefit for some patient—is not feasible, because it would effectively consume all of our resources.

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