Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable populations in Malaysia through an ethical lens: A study of non-state actors involved in aid distribution

Background: Globally, vulnerable populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent responses, such as lockdown measures and mass vaccinations. Numerous ethical challenges have arisen at different levels, be it at the policy-making level or on the ground. For example, policymakers have to contain a highly contagious disease with high morbidity using scarce resources, while minimizing the medium- to long-term social and economic impacts induced by containment measures. This study explores the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in Malaysia by using an intersectional framework that accounts for overlapping forms of marginalization. Methods: This study utilizes in-depth qualitative data obtained from 34 individuals and organizations to understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable populations in Malaysia. We utilize four principles of ethics to guide our coding and interpretation of the data – namely beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy. We utilize a frequency analysis to roughly understand the types of ethical issues that emerged. Using hermeneutic content analysis (HCA), we then explore how the principles interact with each other. Results: Through the frequently analysis, we found that although beneficence was very prevalent in our dataset, so was a significant amount of harm – as perpetuated through injustice, the removal or lack of autonomy and maleficence. We also unearthed a worrying landscape of harm and deep systemic issues associated with a lack of support for vulnerable households – further exacerbated during the pandemic. Conclusions: Policy recommendations for aid organizations and society to mitigate these ethical problems are presented, such as long overdue institutional reforms and stronger ethical practices rooted in human rights principles, which government agencies and aid providers can then use in the provision of aid to vulnerable populations.

Teaching Offensive Lab Skills

This chapter identifies and discusses the learning outcomes to be achieved because of hands-on lab exercises using ethical hacking. It discusses the ethical implications associated with including such labs in the information security curriculum. The discussion is informed by analyses of log data on student malicious activities, and the results of student surveys. The examination of student behavior after acquiring hands-on offensive skills shows that there is potentially a high risk of using these skills in an inappropriate and illegal manner. While acknowledging the risk and the ethical problems associated with teaching ethical hacking, it strongly recommends that information security curricula should opt for a teaching approach that offers students both offensive hands-on lab exercises coupled with ethical practices related to the techniques. The authors propose steps to offer a comprehensive information security program while at the same time minimizing the risk of inappropriate student behavior and reducing institutional liability in that respect and increasing the ethical views and practices related to ethical hacking.

Digital Ethics in Technology and Investments

This chapter focuses on aspects of digital ethics in technology and investments and covers the background of the growing surface area of the technology and its concerns related to data; it provides an overview of the data-related challenges and their ethical uses by organizations and people. It also covers emerging technology like artificial intelligence and its impact on ethical challenges. It provides an overview of the potential ethical challenges of technology that investors should consider and focuses on the criticality of the framework requirement and its implementation within businesses to make the right decisions. The author lays out the view on ethics and regulations and why companies should commit to ethical practices for their growth.

SUSTAINABLE E-LEARNING ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING SATISFACTION IN ONLINE BIOLOGY EDUCATION

This study was set out to determine the sustainable e-learning engagement and the level of learning satisfaction of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students at The Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc. This study employed a descriptive-correlational research method and used Mean and Pearson r for the data analysis. This study was conducted in the Integrated Basic Education Department of The Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc., with a non-probability purposive sampling technique to identify the respondents. The respondents of this study were Grade 11 and Grade 12 STEM students who are currently enrolled in this academic year to answer the set questions about their sustainable e-learning engagement and the level of learning management. On the other hand, the questionnaire was validated by three experts to ensure the validity and reliability of the questions. Furthermore, the study revealed that sustainable e-learning engagement and learning satisfaction have a positive relationship. KEYWORDS: charismatic leadership, ethical practices, working relationships, engaging environment.

Exploring the Moderating Role of Social and Ethical Practices in the Relationship between Environmental Disclosure and Financial Performance: Evidence from ESG Companies

Environmental disclosure is the latest novelty in the corporate reporting field. In fact, it is a tool that can better represent the capacity of companies in creating financial performance over time. Therefore, this paper analyzes whether environmental disclosure (ED) practiced by firms listed on the ESG index affects their financial performance (FP) using the moderating effect of social and ethical practices. The analysis includes a linear regression using panel data from Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg databases. Panel data were collected from a sample of 523 companies listed on the North American and West European stock exchanges. The obtained results show a positive and significant relationship between environmental disclosure (ED) and financial performance (FP). This implies that a strong environmental disclosure increases financial performance while a weak one decreases it. Furthermore, the study suggests a moderating effect of social and ethical practices in the link between environmental disclosure and the firm’s financial performance. In fact, these findings provide interesting insights for academic practitioners and regulators who are interested in discovering environmental disclosure, firm’s performance, and social and ethical practices. These findings also provide insights to stakeholders and regulators on the crucial need to integrate more social and environmental regulations to promote sustainability. Moreover, this paper fills the gaps existing in previous studies that ignore the moderating role of social and ethical practices in the relationship between environmental disclosure and financial performance.

Lessons Learned from BP: Deepwater Horizon and the Transition to Renewables

This paper analyzes the gradual transition of British Petroleum (BP), one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, into a renewable energy company focused on sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions. BP's leadership and ethical practices are compared before and after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The purpose of the comparison and the broader analysis of the transition is to identify how effective leadership can be used to transform a company with a suspect social responsibility record into a leader among its peers. Lessons learned from the disaster, and the subsequent transition conclude the research.