Example Cases for Code of
Ethics with solution
Ethical decision making: Case 1
• Ali is a database programmer
Large statistical program needed by his company.
Company programmers are encouraged to publicize their work
• Ali has found himself stuck on a problem
He has persisted at this for several months.
His manager does not recognize complexity of problem.
She insists job be completed in the few days.
• Ali remembers:
Co-worker had given him source listings of their current work.
He also has an early version of commercial software developed at another company
• Ali studies these programs
Sees two areas of code which could be directly
incorporated into his own program
He uses segments of code both from his coworker
and from the commercial software
• He does not tell anyone or mention it in the
documentation.
• He completes the project and turns it in a day ahead
of time.
• How does the Code of Ethics help us understand this
case?
Applying the code: Case 1
• This case highlights issues involving intellectual property
• Ali violated professional ethics in two areas:
1. Failure to give credit for another’s work
2. Using code from a commercial package that was copyrighted
• If Ali only “looked” at co-worker’s source code:
Could he then write his own program and still have an obligation
to give credit?
• Yes: He should have acknowledged credit in documentation.
Continued…
• Use of commercial software code was also not appropriate:
Ali should have checked to determine whether or not company was
authorized to use source code before using it.
• In general:
Desirable to share and exchange intellectual materials
But using software is definitely a violation of code.
Ethical decision making: Case 2
• Aisha’s company has been hired by a client to build a security system.
Because of cost overruns, client has decided to opt for a less secure
system.
• Aisha believes information they will store is extremely sensitive.
• With weak security:
Employees on workstations could figure out how to access this data.
Online intruders would also have access
• Aisha feels strongly that system should be much more secure.
• She has tried to explain the risk.
• What should Aisha so? Should she refuse to build the system as they
request?
Applying the Code: Case 2
• This case highlights issues involving privacy.
• Company officials:
Have an obligation to protect privacy of their employees. Therefore they
should not accept inadequate security.
• Aisha’s first obligation:
Attempt to educate company officials
If that fails, she needs to consider her contractual obligations in honoring
assigned responsibilities.
• We don’t have Aisha’s contract, but she may have to choose between her
contract and her obligation to honor privacy and security.
Ethical decision making: Case 3
• A contractor is determining requirements for an
employment agency.
• Client describes what is needed when displaying
applications whose qualifications appear to match
those for a particular job
• Client also further states that names of white
applicants are to be displayed ahead of nonwhites
• Further states that names of male applicants are to
be displayed ahead of female applicants
Applying the Code: Case 3
• This case highlights issues involving fairness and discrimination. In this case,
system designer is asked to build a system that, it appears
• Will be used to favor white males and discriminate against non-whites and
females
• From this is would appear that:
System designer should not do what he or she is told, plus
Should also point out the problematic nature of what is being requested
and ask client why this is being done
• If client answers that they plan to use information to favor white males,
then: Computer professional should refuse to build the system as proposed.
Ethical decision making: Case 4
• A software development company has just produced a new software package.
• It incorporates new tax laws and prepares both individual and small business tax returns
• The president of the company knows that the program has a number of bugs
• He also believes the first firm to put this kind of software on the market is likely to capture the
largest market share.
• The company widely advertises the package.
• When the product is shipped, it includes a disclaimer of responsibility for errors resulting from
the use of the program.
• The company expects it will receive a number of
complaints, queries, and suggestions for modification.
The company plans to use these to make changes and
eventually issue updated, improved and debugged
versions. The president argues that this is general
industry policy:
• “Anyone who buys version 1.0 of a program knows
this and will take proper precautions.”
• Because of bugs, a number of users filed incorrect tax
returns and were penalized by Rev Canada.
Applying the Code: Case 4
• This case highlights issues involving legal liability for unreliable code.
Software Company (and president in particular) violated several
principles in the ACM code of ethics. Since he was aware of bugs in the
product, he did not strive to achieve the highest quality.
• By failing to inform consumers about bugs to system, principle 2.5 was
violated. Here the risks to users are so great they have to pay penalties
for mistakes which result from the program.
• By law companies can make disclaimers only when they are in “good
conscience” (Disclaimer does not meet legal test, violated principle 2.3)
