you will choose an ethical dilemma scenario from slides 1-7 and then following the process listed on the slides in Module 9 (and 10) for helping to solve ethical dilemmas, write out the process (listing stakeholders, etc) using the facts in the scenario. Come up with a final decision on what to do in this situation based on following the process you have listed IN DETAIL for your particular scenario chosen.

Models for Determining Ethical Dilemmas

Introduction and Methodology

Brainstorming phase

List all the people and organizations affected (the stakeholders)

List risks, issues, problems, and consequences

List benefits. Identify who gets each benefit

In cases where there is no simple yes or no decision, but rather one has to choose some action, list possible actions

Analysis phase

Identify responsibilities of the decision maker

Identify rights of stakeholders

Consider the impact of the options on the stakeholders (consequences, risks, benefits, harms, costs)

Categorize each potential action as ethically obligatory, prohibited, or acceptable

When there are multiple options, select one, considering the ethical merits of each, courtesy to others, practicality, self-interest, personal preferences, etc.

Scenario 1

Scenario 1: Protecting Personal Data

Your customer is a community clinic that works with families with problems of family violence. It has three sites in the same city, including a shelter for battered women and children. The director wants a computerized record and appointment system, networked for the three sites. She wants a few laptop computers on which staffers can carry records when they visit clients at home and stay in touch with clients by email. She asked about an app for staffers smartphones by which they could access records at social service agencies. At the shelter, staffers use only first names for clients, but the records contain last names and forwarding addresses of women who have recently left. You have been asked to develop both the mobile app and the program for the laptops.

Scenario 2: Webcams in School Laptops

As part of your responsibilities, you oversee the installation of software packages for large orders. A recent order of laptops for a local school district requires webcam software to be loaded. You know that this software allows for remote activation of the webcam. You install the software on all laptops.

Scenario 3: Specifications

You are a relatively junior programmer working on modules that collect data from loan application forms and convert them to formats required by the parts of the program that evaluate the applications. You find that some demographic data are missing from some forms, particularly race and age. What should your program do? What should you do?

Scenario 4: Schedule Pressures Safety-critical

Your team is working on a computer-controlled device for treating cancerous tumors. The computer controls direction, intensity, and timing of a beam that destroys the tumor. Various delays have put the project behind schedule, and the deadline is approaching. There will not be time to complete all the planned testing. The system has been functioning properly in the routine treatment scenarios tested so far. You are the project manager, and you are considering whether to deliver the system on time, while continuing testing and making patches if the team finds bugs.

Scenario 5: Schedule Pressures Product to market

You are a programmer working for a very small start-up company. The company has a modest product line and is now developing a truly innovative new product. Everyone is working 60-hour weeks and the target release date is nine months away. The bulk of the programming and testing is done. You are about to begin the beta testing. (See Section 8.3.1 for an explanation of beta testing.) The owner of the company (who is not a programmer) has learned about an annual industry show that would be ideal for introducing the new product. The show is in two months. The owner talks with the project manager. They decide to skip the beta testing and start making plans for an early release.

Scenario 6: Going Public

Suppose you are a member of a team working on a computer-controlled crash avoidance system for automobiles. You think the system has a flaw that could endanger people. The project manager does not seem concerned and expects to announce completion of the project soon. What should you do?

Scenario 7: A Test Plan

A team of programmers is developing a communications system for firefighters to use when fighting a fire. Firefighters will be able to communicate with each other, with supervisors near the scene, and with other emergency personnel. The programmers will test the system in a field near the company office.