Theories of ethics are used to explain different sets of moral principles. In some theories, decisions may be based on choosing to do whatever will be best for the most people. Another theory sees ethical behaviour as a duty or obligation one must fulfill regardless of the benefit it brings. Still others see ethics as a relative concept that can change with group, place or time or as the following of a divine command. The way we think and feel about ethics, even if we haven’t given much thought to the theory behind it, will affect our behaviour in different situations.

In your IT professional career, you will face many situations that will require making an ethical judgement. Your ethical theory, or framework, will be the light in which you will analyse such situations and reach your decisions.

- Discuss in detail an ethical theory that closely matches your ethical principles. If none of them is close enough, explain your own professional ethics philosophy and principles.

- Explain a recent incident or situation at your workplace, or in another workplace that you are familiar with, that required ethical judgement. Provide the necessary details to explain why there was an ethical dilemma or issue.

- Analyse the incident in the light of the ethical theory you chose. Draw a conclusion on whether the behaviour was ethical according to your ethical framework, and if not, what the ethical way to behave would have been.

- Evaluate the incident in the light of a different ethical theory. Explain how someone who adopts a different ethical theory might have reached a different conclusion or decision.