Relations between IT Professionals and Society - Term Paper Example

Reflection Essay (IT professional and society - ethical and legal issues) Table of content Content Page no Introduction 3 IT Professional and society 3 Interesting topic: big data and 3D printer 3 Key points from others 4 Social impact of IT and the social responsibility of professionals 5 ACS codes of conduct and personal ethical framework 6 Role of an IT professional through legal and moral responsibilities 7 Summary 8 References 9 Introduction Ethics are highly essential for professional conduct. Professionals are an important part of society; consequently, they are required to carry out their professional duties by keeping in view the stakes of society members. And within this context, the IT professionals are no more exception. For this purpose, the concept of religion and ethics, corporate social responsibility, which have been provided in the lectures and tutorials, are highly essential as they are directly related to ethics and ethical way of living. At the same time, these concepts develop relations between IT professionals and society as they have been developed by keeping in view the usefulness of these concepts in the corporate and non-corporate world. At the same time, collective rule-based ethics, which was read in the week six of tutorial, is a very important ethical model as it educates and guides to understand certain actions through applying them in society and analysing their effect on society. IT Professional and Society Professional life is a highly responsible way to carry out professional duties. Previously, my understanding was very limited and narrow as I only considered that all types of professionals were only required to comply with their professional responsibilities and code of conduct; they were not needed to take into account ramifications which were directly or indirectly related to the discharging of professional duties. For example, previously I considered that the IT professionals were not needed to take into account the social effects of developing any software or program that can be used for hacking activity. However, this perception did not prevail particularly after attended the lectures on ethics especially the moral responsibility, social responsibility in which social effects of such developments should be taken into account. Later on, I also studied the cases pertaining to hacking and its serious threat to the integrity of personal and professional confidentiality. Consequently, this study and lecturers, tutorials and presentations enabled me to change my understanding pertaining to hacking. In this regard, it is significant to mention that this consideration was mainly taken into account from the perspective of social media where friends use hacking as a way to obtain illegal access to the personal accounts of other friends. Subsequently, when I studied ethics and moral values, I find it reasonable to avoid justifying hacking even to access to friends’ account; in this regard, it is important to mention that this activity was mainly done for the purpose of fun and enjoyment. However, now I consider this type of fun highly unethical and unacceptable as well. For me, the most interesting way to analyse a situation involving ethics would be the use of collective rule-based ethics, which was read in tutorial week 6. For instance, it is not written anywhere that staring should not be done. In that case, how it will be determined that staring is ethical or unethical. The best way to analyse this situation would be through applying the concept of collective rule-based ethics. This ethical framework enables to think that if everyone starts staring at others, many will not tolerate this action and chaos will spread in the society as tolerance will be decreased. As a result, it is highly essential that staring must be avoided under all circumstances. Interesting topic: big data and 3D printer The entire presentation experience brought remarkable understanding pertaining to 3D printer and big data as well. Historically, many innovations have been made in a number of industries including information technology. And the purpose of these innovations is and has been to decrease limitations that humans encounter while carrying out any human activity. For example, access, time and cost are three factors that have remained a major part of problem for human innovations and growth as well. For some, access is not allowed as they are irrelevant or have no idea about the asked procedure. And recently, thanks to the 3D printer, many innovations can be easily accessed by everyone. My first expression about this technological innovation was that 3D printers are highly technical and it will not be possible for non-IT personnel to understand this technology and use it for making many things easier. However, after going through tutorials, lectures, and especially presentation, I was able to gain deeper understanding and application of this technology. While preparing and after delivering the presentation, I felt that this technology can be accessed by everyone and it can facilitate the process of additive manufacturing through using the appropriate guideline. For example, for a non-IT personnel, it is highly suggested that she should have access to the manual used for operating 3D printer and must understand it before operating it. Through this access, technology is and will fulfil its role for today’s society. At the same time, the importance of big data cannot be undermined. Traditional methods for processing large and complex for structured and unstructured data have become obsolete as the world have become a global village and it is highly essential that the global village and its data must be provided to everyone in the virtual and physical society of this world. This topic has gained my attention and interest as well as it is nearly impossible to collect a large amount of data and process it for converting into a useful piece of information. For example, Ebola, disease spreading throughout Africa and has also spread fear across the developed world as well. To identify the symptoms, patients, treatments, types of patients, nature of patients, age of patients, gender of patients, medical history of patients, before and during the disease, the medical, physical, psychological condition of patient are some of those factors that can be collected and processed through using the technological support of big data for producing a useful information for rescuing life of many people living in the world. In this regard, it is important to highlight that technological advancements’ main objective is to improve living standard by eliminating or minimising the threats posed by issues, such as diseases and security. And these two issues can only be better tackled through using the big data. Key points from others Interplay between law and ethics is considerably difficult one. In one of presentations given by my class mate, she provided a very interesting point while highlighting the nature and type of relationship exist between law and ethics as well. For example, she said that it is not possible to regulate everyone production or manufacturing activity through regulation. For example, type of quantity, nature of mix used for manufacturing medicine cannot be determined by the law as they are highly technical and professional in their very nature. Consequently, it is a part of professional’s responsibility to take utmost care while determining the related medical formula for the drug or producing it. In other words, it is a part of professional’s responsibility to remain ethical by discharging duty without due care and due diligence as well. Subsequently, she says that if the professional fails to discharge responsibility professionally, ultimately, the professional will not only violate the ethical or moral code but simultaneously legal action will also be taken against the professional negligence. In a nut shell, she emphasised that remaining ethical means adhering to the related laws. Social impact of IT and the social responsibility of professionals Information technology has both positive and negative effects on society. Broadly speaking, information technology has considerably affected society as it has challenged and changed the conventional activity and methods of communications. Previously, many people relied on the postal services as a way for communicating with their friends, business partners, relatives, associates, colleagues and others. This method was time consuming as the post man and delivery boy was required to collect letter from the dispatcher and forward it to the receiver through aeroplane, train or any other form of physical mode. In other words, it took 2 to 10 days to reaching to its destination. Later on, thanks to the technology that has not completed eliminated the postal services because still some form of paper communication is done through courier companies throughout the world; and this information technology has facilitated the communication process by providing an additional option of communication particularly in the shape of text message, electronic mail which take seconds to reach at the specified destination, making communication more cost effective, easier, faster and convenient as well. For example, in the tutorial Week 2 topic IT Professional and Society, discussion about religion and ethics was very helpful as it highlighted that religion and ethics are closely related; the better the religious reading, the more people will in a position to contribute to the society through doing good deeds. Negative effects of technology cannot be wished away. In its very nature, technology and its uses are not harmful for society but it is the intent of the user that makes it bad or harmful for others. For example, use of the Internet can be utilised for infringing personal privacy. In a recent example, Edward Snowden, former spy operator in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the United States, clearly highlights the dark uses of technology in which he has claimed that even personal messages of heads of states, including Germany, France, and others, have been illegally intercepted by the CIA and this illegal interception has been carried out for many years besides using it for political purposes. Similarly, Snowden also points out that spyware and other forms of related softwares are being developed and used for spying and tapping the telephonic conversations of dignitaries of the world. Based on this report, it can be deduced that many agencies and governments have been negatively using information technology for serving their political, international, racial and other forms of negative agendas. Social responsibility means accountability of personal or professional actions to the other members of society. Professionals, such as software engineers, are also important part of society; they have friends, family, relatives, neighbours, students, teachers and associates as well. Consequently, they cannot be separated from society instead they are more responsible for their actions besides being accountable as well. At the same time, they are also accountable for their actions before law as their actions have both direct and indirect effects on society members. For example, in Australia, human medicines are regulated through Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and all medical and technological professionals are required to properly read and understand the related Acts given in the Act and ensure that their actions fully comply with the Act and they act within the prescribed boundary of the Act. Here, technological professionals refer to those individuals who provide 3D printer services to companies, individuals and international buyers as well. Their actions and dealings should be carried out by keeping in view the industry norms and ethics as well. For example, if a software engineer develops spyware and sells openly in the market, then she would be responsible and accountable for this action and she has to pay all legal damages of the affected members because there are various privacy laws, operational in Australia, protect the privacy of individuals and patent rights as well. For example, in the lecture 1, I studied different aspects of ethics and their relevance with society and with related professional activities. And I found that it is ethical and legal responsibility of a professional to protect the confidential information of clients, including their assets, dealings, bank information, supplier information and all data which is directly or indirectly related to the client and that information must not be given to the third person without getting permission from the client. ACS codes of conduct and personal ethical framework The ACS code of ethics is highly essential for appropriate professional conduct. The ACS code of ethics encompasses: the primacy of the public interest, the enhancement of quality of life, honesty, competence, professional development and professionalism (Australian Computer Society, 2014). The first code refers to the supremacy of public interest which means a professional has to disregard serving personal, racial, organisational interest instead the professional is required to strive for the primacy of public interest. For me, the major question was the definition and understanding of the public interest; what is it and how will it be satisfied within the professional domains? Initially, these two questions were major hurdle before understanding and applying the ACS code of ethics. Later on, I discussed it with my friends, colleagues and teachers but the major support was provided by my personal effort by reading ethics journals, tutorials and presentation as well. This major problem was mainly caused by the extent and ascertainment of public interest. Later on, I concluded that the public interest can be defined as that type of interest in which the stakes of majority are involved and certain actions may directly or indirectly harm those stakes. In other words, the professionals should work as protector of society by not subscribing to the illegitimate practices besides going against those who work at the cost of society. The second code refers to improving the quality of life. After protecting from harm, it is the responsibility of professionals to work for improving quality of life. This can be done in numerous ways. For example, if a professional develops new software detecting a difference current water level and the required level in human body, this software will reduce the problem of dehydration commonly faced by humans. Through this invention, quality of life will be improved and better and effective use of water will be employed as well. Honesty helps retaining relations and trusts as well. For a professional, it is highly essential that (s) he should maintain strong moral character and this moral character is mainly reflected through honest talk, approach, thinking and vowing to talk truth. Consequently, I personally believe that without honesty I cannot develop and retain trust of my relationship inside my formal and informal life. For this purpose, I will prefer to develop my relations with those individuals and professionals who have similar honesty policy because it is a well known saying that a person is known by friends and people around him. Competence and professional development is nothing without protecting the interests of other stakeholders. For me, both have separate dimensions: external and internal as well. In the external dimension, it is highly essential to updating the professional competence through completing the latest courses in the relevant field. Internally, it is highly imperative that due diligence should be carried out while carrying out professional duties; similarly, professional should consider all stakeholders as a part of his family and only through this thinking paradigm, the professional will be in a position to protect and retain the competence and professional skills. Professionalism refers to respecting society norms by adhering them. For example, if I lie in front of my friends, this will provide excuse to my friends for justifying their lie as well. In this way, honesty, moral values and ethics will be compromised in the society and the society will start experiencing the fall of ethical way of life. In order to avoid this situation, it is highly significant to promote honesty, truthfulness and ethical values in society. And this approach should not be in words but it should be displayed through actions because only saying and supporting honesty and moral values will not be sufficient enough to validate my stance in society. Role of an IT professional through legal and moral responsibilities IT professional must adhere to legal and moral responsibilities. It is the role of IT professional to fully understand the role and this understanding can only be better grasped through knowing the work ramifications on society and society members. For this purpose, it is highly essential that the IT professional should know the needs and uses of consumers and users of the products and devices which are developed by the IT professional. At the same time, the IT professional should remain vigilant while providing services to individuals and firms as well. In certain recent examples, it has been observed that hackers, criminals and terrorists hide their true identity for accessing to certain type of software. In this regard, the IT professional should check customer background and try to ascertain and assess the true need of the customer. In case, the customer fails to justify the requirements, the IT professional should avoid dealing with the customer. Additionally, if the IT professional finds that the customer has dangerous motives that could severely harm the interests of society; the IT professional should inform the law enforcement agencies so that they take essential measures for apprehending the suspects. This example clearly demonstrates that the IT professional has fulfilled the moral and legal responsibilities as well. in contrast, if the IT professional does not inform the law enforcement agencies, there would be chances that the IT professional may face certain legal action as the IT professional did not fulfil legal responsibility despite knowing that the customer had harmful intentions against the society. For instance, corporate social responsibility is the most important ethical activity within the corporate world. In the Lecture 6 (IT Professional and Society), we studied CSR, which expects that enterprises should not be unethical but ethical through minimising their negative effects, such as green house gases, pollution, carbon footprint on environment and society as well. Previously, I was of the opinion that no ethical framework existed for organisation. However, after reading corporate social responsibility concept, I am convinced that the organisations can also be responsible and ethical part of society. Summary The ACS has developed professional ethics. The main objective of these ethics is to improve the quality of life of people living in society and this can only be done through adhering to the moral codes provided by the ACS. In my opinion, the lectures and tutorials have provided ample information regarding ethics and IT professional and the role of IT professional in the society. However, it is still important to mention that these tutorials and lectures provide theoretical framework and understanding which may not be faced by every IT professional. Thereby, every IT professional will have different ethical situations in which he or she has to make ethical decisions. References Australian Computer Society, (2014). ACS Code of Professional Conduct. Available: https://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/4901/Code-of-Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf Accessed: 24 October, 2014 Summary (200) Read More