Chapter 2: Vignette and Case Study

Vignette: IT Technicians Fired after Reporting Child Porn

     1.    What message is sent to IT workers by the actions of New York Law School and Collegis even if unrelated job-performance issues justified their actions in firing Gross and Perry?

               For me, I think the message is sent to the IT workers by the actions made by the New York Law School and Collegis is it hard to engage in such scandalous happenings even if you’re not one guilty of doing so. To discover any criminal act might confuse you to disclose it or remain silent, a matter of what are matters. When engaging in that kind of situation, it’s hard for to you to escape, that’s why it very important to be aware for what is around you and takes some extra effort to avoid unethical attractions

     2.  Since this incident, a number of states have enacted laws that require workers to report immediately any child pornography found while servicing equipment. Most of the laws state that the worker who reports such a discovery is immune from any criminal, civil, or administrative liability. Failure to report the discovery can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. Do you think such laws will encourage reporting? Why or why not?

       No, the laws do not encourage employees to report some suspicious happenings. When employees tend to discover wrongdoings such child pornography they might confuse to what is the better thing to do, to speak out and then immune from any criminal, civil or administrative liability. It may bring you into a battle which primarily causes difficulties when accomplishing your duties and tasks in the workplace. On the other hand, employees might choose to remain silent can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. It might hard for the employees to choose what actions to take, to some it might encourage him or her, but to the others, it might just a waste of time, and risking yourself in a undesirable situation.

Case Study # 3: When Certification is justified

1.)  How can organizations and vendors change their certification programs to test for skills as well as core knowledge? What issues might this introduce?

          When we say “certification” the first thing that comes to our mind is that the achievements we’ve already attained or level of knowledge and abilities that are written in a kind piece of paper. It is truly proud to have this kind of appreciation, it is because you’ve undergone trainings, seminars or even forums to enrich, develop and filled with knowledge, skills and abilities in your specific field of interest. But it is really a proof that when you have the certificate is you also have the knowledge really and good enough to be competitive? Are you really competitive enough to meet global standards and expectations? It is a enough evidence that when you have the certificate, means you are really that good? Vendors offered certification as a marketing plot and a source of revenue without any prior care and concern that it is really corresponds to the owners capabilities. Accused managers without technical backgrounds used certification as a “crutch, a poor but politically defensible substitute foe knowing what and how well one’s subordinates are doing.” It is only in the certificates but how about applying it to the real complex situations which may test the capabilities of the particular owner of the certificate. Organizations as well as vendors may change the way they imply certificates, it must have a proper way of good ethics. Organizations must well pretty sure that the things written in that kind piece of paper is really true. Give trainings and seminars in order to know the specific field one’s may journey. They must be aware and fair in analyzing and maybe giving of certificates to the one who is really tested and competent. As well as the vendors, it not wrong to sell certificates but it must in a proper way, in a right way not  just for earning money, but consider also the dignity of our own society.

2.) What are the primary arguments against certification, and how can certifying bodies change their programs to overcome these shortcomings?

          The primary arguments were stated as “IT knowledge does not necessarily translate into quality IT work.” A worker needs good communications and problem-solving skills as well as perseverance to get the job done well. While respondents explained that hard working IT workers focus on skills and knowledge that are related to their current projects and don’t have time for certifications that will quickly become obsolete. The argument between a certification is a just or not? The other side said that IT knowledge does not automatically turn into quality IT work and must not get a certification. She/ He must a good communicator, problem solver as well as the guts to finish the work. While the other side said that, “it is not my business now to entertain or be better at communication, or be a problem solver as long as I have all the attention and focused on my project to finish it before deadline, what’s the use of certifications when it quickly not usable.” And this kind of arguments continues until nobody get the courage to give way or understand the other side. I think, the certifying bodies must change and overcome these shortcomings by simply appreciate the best of skills and abilities the It worker gave to his/her project. It not really to be good at all aspects and it’s not easy to learn all those. As long as we are all dedicated to our work and love our work, and making the right thing, that’s maybe enough.


3.)What are the benefits of certification? How might certification programs need to change in the future to better serve the needs of the IT community?

          The benefit of certification is that, when you have that, and read by the manager, he/she gets interested for what was there or what was written. He/she maybe impressed and sooner or later, you will get the job already. The certificate tells the manager what level you attained already, you skills, knowledge and abilities in doing work. And it also tells them the training you’ve undergone, that though this, they can say that you’ve been in a battle to be what you are right now. Certification programs need to meet the unbiased critics to the IT community. It can be more practical and complex level of training and even other aspects of knowledge to be teach and hope that will maybe later help the IT workers do get a when they apply to companies. Seminars maybe and other spontaneous and practical events will be done in order to meet new IT community who are more competent.

Chapter 1: Vignette and Case Study

Vignette: Dubious Methods Used to Investigate Leaks by Hewlett-Packard Board Members

1.    Which issue is more disconcerting, the fact that a board member leaked confidential information about the firm or the tactics used to investigate the leak? Defend your position.

          For me, I would go with the fact that a board member leaks confidential information about the firm. It is more disturbing in a sense that, you do not know who is truly trustworthy enough to be considered as advantage to the company or who are the foe who pretends to be a friend and part of the circle. And there is no issue at all about the tactics used to investigate the leak when it is first prevented one of the board members who secretly leaked confidential information. But it’s quiet impossible.

  2.    Can the use of pretexting to gain information ever be justified? Is it     legal under any circumstances?

          I don’t think so, pretexting is the use of false pretenses to gain access to telephone records it might help to those detectives who really need to use that kind of tactics but it somehow disregard the private, personal life of the certain individual. When the intention was really genuine and true, it might be justified in order to give justice to the majority, but when the intention is doubtful it’s another issue. In can be legal in some circumstances but it somehow illegal to some situations. It merely depends on the kind of scenario one might engage into.

Case Study # 3: Is there a Place for Ethics in IT?

1.) Discuss how a CIO might handle Schrage's Scenarios using the suggested process for ethical decision making presented in this chapter.

          Should CIOs be ethical? If so, in what kinds of situations should they be ethical and how should they exercise their ethics? Schrage published an article entitled “Ethics, Schmethics” which mainly tells that CIOs “should stop trying to do the ‘right thing’ when implementing IT and focus instead on getting their implementations right.” He also asserted that the demand for ethical behavior interferes with business efficiency. And for me, what a kind of thinking he had? Its sounds stupid but well I respect his opinions. And I wondered, what’s really the essence of making its implementations right without doing the ‘right thing’? I agree that IT is a business thing, but I strongly disagree that there is no place for ethics in IT and must and should not in IT only. There are suggested process for ethical decision making that are given and these are those: Develop problem statement, you should gather and analyze facts and be sure to study it well. Make no assumptions and identify stakeholders affected by the decision. Next, Identify alternatives, involve others, including stakeholders, in brainstorming. Followed by Evaluating and choosing alternatives, what laws and principles apply? What’s the impact in the organization, evaluate in multiple criteria. Next is implementing decision, develop and execute plan, provide leadership to overcome resistance to change. Second to the last, evaluate results, were there any unintended consequences? And lastly, it is successful? If yes, it is finished but if no, go back to the first step. Ethical decision making is very important and must be implemented in any field of interest. It is the best way to solve the problem without making any unethical moves. And I believe that doing the ‘right thing’ leads to the implementations right and a job well done.

2.) Discuss the possible short-term losses and long-term gains in implementing ethical solutions for each of Schrage's scenarios.

          In the first scenario, a company is developing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and the staff is working hard to meet the deadline. The company plan to outsource the maintenance and support of the CRM systems once it is developed, meaning there is a good chance that two-thirds of IT staff will be laid off. And the worst thing here, someone asked to Schrage, ‘would you disclose this information?’ he answered, “I don’t think so.” He’s really that unkind type of person, shortsighted and crazy. The possible short term losses here based on implementing ethical solutions are maybe, probably two-thirds of the IT staff will be laid off, and maybe losing one project in which everybody was participating, the skills and abilities, the knowledge and hard work are intense but at a sudden the company plan to outsource the maintenance and support of the CRM systems once it is developed. And the long term gains are maybe the perseverance and the courage of the IT staff to do the best of their abilities, skills and knowledge, in which will help the company improve and competent among the others.

Second scenario, Schrage asked readers if they would consider deliberately withholding important information from their boss if they knew that its disclosure would provoke his or her immediate counterproductive intervention in an important project. The short term losses here based on implementing ethical solutions are getting to the point that information from the boss will now disclose and would provoke his/her. And the long term gains here are that, employees must be connected with their employers, in a sense that, they should trust each other and will not make each other put in a shame of trouble. As well as help each other to improve each one’s ability and skills.

3.) Must businesses choose between good ethics and financial benefits? Explain your answer using Schrage's scenarios as example.

         For me, it is not needed to choose between good ethics and the selfish want in financial benefits. As what I agreed, IT is a business thing as well as a place for ethics. It doesn’t necessarily mean that when you choose good ethics, you didn’t consider financial benefits or vice versa. Business is business, ethics is ethics. Business mainly exist for financial benefits but it must have a mixed of good ethics to make it successful. What’s the essence of business without financial benefits? And what’s more the essence of business without a good ethics? Business is ethics. Business must come next to ethics, because doing the right thing is what much more important, than doing it right.

And as addressed to Schrage scenarios, I bet he chose the business efficiency corresponds to financial benefits and I choose both, the good ethics and the financial benefits. We are living in a globe where in everybody is competing, in every aspects of life. What I’m trying to say here is that no matter how worse the situation is, never ever be choose to be unethical. Be a man with values and virtues, anyway, all material things are just temporary. But the values and virtues may stand still and remains in us until were no longer here in this mortal world.

What takes to be an IT Professional?

“Amateurs hope, Professionals work."

          It is not truly easy to be the best among the best in your chosen field. To be a professional is a deadly hard battle, deadly in a sense that your competing among all the rest. You should go through a roller coaster of up's and down's. Must and should experience those sleepless nights and even sudden breakdowns due to stress. In the field of Information Technology, it is truly overwhelming and proud when you become a professional someday. It feels like you defeat all your opponents and you are the only one remains standing. To be an IT Professional you should have the following traits:

Goal oriented: In everything you do, in every reason you take and in every decision you make it must always correspond to your goal, goal to reach success and no matter how tough and rough the road is, you still want to continue and go on and even willing to journey no matter what.

Patience & Self Control: There's a lot of problems occur even conflicts and sometimes you just can't take to bear it all. But despite of all the negative vibes just pretty sure to be stay in calm, control your temper and at least have time to listen and hear the voice of others.

Dealing with Unexpected: If everything and as hoped for, that would

 be great. But it would also be a miracle. Stuff happens, things change, and the true professional rises to the occasion. They make a new plan, change their direction if necessary and never look back - because that's the only road to success.

Competence: We all know competent. We describe the person as someone who 'knows his/her stuff.' He/She gets things done. Knows how to work through complicated situations and arrive at solutions. Learn from past experiences. And just like a good wine, her strengths grow with time.

People Skills: We also recognize strong relationships skills when we see it, We describe the person as being 'solid.' works well with others, focused on doing the right thing. He/She cares about things beyond his/her own world. Stays true to his word. He stands up and takes blame when something fails. Steps aside and let others receive credit when a job is well done. Knows how to work effectively through delicate situations.

         

          I'm sure you know people who are competent, but you cringe at the thought of spending any time with them. I'm sure you know people who are incredibly nice but can't seem to get a darn thing done. To be successful, you need to be strong on both sides of the see-saw. and you should never consider yourself finished honing other side. A true professional will always be disciplined and will know what has to be done and how it has to be done, be it a personal or professional. This is what makes a leader stand out wherever he or she goes.

“A professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn't feel like it.”