Ethics

Executive summary
There are several ethical dilemmas in the Concept Solutions Case. In this report I strive to bring out these dilemmas in an exhaustive and unique manner. In this report I will first identify the various situations and the attendant stakeholders. I will then objectively try to align their actions against the principle ethical theories of Relativism, Kantianism, Utilitarianism and Social Contract theory just to establish if there might have been clear or otherwise case of unethical behaviors from these stakeholders.  Indeed an analysis of these ethical dilemmas is not satisfactorily exhaustive as such I will also examine the extent of ethical or unethical conduct by the managers and employees in this case by using the Bommers Behaviour Model of Ethical and Unethical Decision Making.

The Concept Software Solutions case is a cryptic one in as far as establishing with utmost precision whether a situation meets the threshold of being unethical or ethical There are also procedural and substantive factors to be dealt with in this case we also ask ourselves whether a clear case of ethical subversion should not frustrated due to procedural factors.

Concept Software Solutions is a highly progressive company that specializes in products and services for elearning. The company has experienced 50-60 of growth in elearning and Delivery Systems and associated services for the corporate, education and higher education market. It has also developed strategic alliances with many of its clients and content partners. This company has 25 staff at its headoffice in Melbourne a salesoffice in Hongkong has raised a new office in UK, and has a development team in Amsterdam and a global support in Brisbane.

From the humble beginnings of being a custom engineering house that provided tailor-made solutions for small to large organs to the expansive status it currently enjoys, Concept Software Solutions is a company that does not only need a wide array of technological and managerial expertise, it also needs a strong work ethic that would guide its workers and managers even as it moves to higher heights.
However, the company just got embroiled in a case that would easily tarnish its ethical reputation. Just a day after taking up the office of the Project Manager, Angela Edwards who until then had been a system analyst for Concept Software Solutions and working in a software team consisting of 5 other members, he was notified that he first task was to sort out a defect that had been released in a previous product. This he learns was a decision reached after a heated debate that obviously touched on ethical issues.

For while the decision reached was that the clients should not be informed of this defect but that they will fix each clients problem when the problem occurs, charging each one for the companys time and effort, the counter-argument was that the company should send the patch to all of their clients at no additional charge as a way of demonstrating good will towards the client, and helping them to avoid potential losses. The decision reached, it was reasoned, was productive as it meant that there would not only be more money to be made from clients with deep pockets, but that course of action would also mean that their clients perception of the companys product would not have been diminished.
Clearly, there was an ethical dilemma here. This problem touched a lot of stakeholders. Some would be found to be guilty of gross ethical violation and some not based on the ethical theories to be explored herein and the Bommer Behaviour Model of Ethical and Unethical Decision Miaking.

1.0 Introduction
Purpose
The aim of this report is to establish whether there were instances of ethical violations in the case study of Concept Study Solutions. To this end the report is a will first and foremost highlight some ethical dilemmas that came out of this case. The situations that each stakeholder in this case gets entangled in can be categorized into

Ethical Analysis
Two things will be done under this section. First the scenario that the stakeholder gets entangled in shall be described and then this will be put under normative ethical theories lens and be examined for possible ethical violation conduct.

Stakeholder Identification
It is important to identify the main principles behind these ethical dilemmas. Therefore, the second part shall bring out these players and their role in this dilemma also identified.

Bommer Model Analysis
Bommer model gives a wide range of factors that influence most of decisions that stakeholders make under their varied capacities in a firm. This section will try to use this model so as to establish some of the factors that might have influenced the decisions made by the stakeholders in this case.

Solutions
In the very last section, tentative solutions to these dilemmas will be offered. The solutions may not be conclusive, but I will try as much as possible to make them as complete and relevant to the case at hand as possible.

1.2. Scope
In this report I get to conduct a thorough ethical analysis on all the ethical dilemmas that emerge from this case. This is done by putting these situations to test against the various ethical theories and the Bommer Model just to get an insight as to the reason behind the varied decisions taken by the stakeholders. Finally, this report tries to find a viable solution to this problem.

1.3. Definitions
Bommers Model A model developed which identifies and describes various factors which affect ethical and unethical behaviour in organizations, including a decision-makers social, government and legal, work professional and personal environments. The model links these influences with ethical and unethical behaviour via the meditating structure of the individuals decision-making process.
It recommends the identification of factors that impact on the social environment, government or legal environment, and so as shown below in analyzing an ethical dilemma. Below is a breakdown of the factors as highlighted by Bommer et al.

Ethical Egoism This is the claim that individuals should always  act in their own best interest. It is a normative claim. If ethical egoism is true, that appears to imply that psychological egoism is false there would be no point to saying that we ought to do what we must do by nature.

Ethical dilemma An ethical problem with no clear solution the problem is of complex nature.
Ethics  The process of determining right and wrong conduct.

Kantianism This theory is attributed to the eighteenth century German philosopher Emmanuel Kant. According to Kant, peoples actions ought to be guided by universal moral laws and that in order to apply to all rationale beings, any supreme principle must itself be based on reason. According to Kantianism, nothing can be good, or indeed bad, without qualification.

Morals  Modes of conduct that are taught and accepted as embodying principles of right and good.
Relativism the theory that there are no universal moral norms of right and wrong. Different individuals or groups can have completely opposite views of a problem, and both can be right. This theory is normally divided into subjective relativism and cultural relativism.

Social Contract theory The theory proposed by Thomas Hobbes in his famous work, The Leviathan. In this work piece Hobbes came up with the theory of social contract which basically asserts that everybody living in an organized society has implicitly agreed to two things (1) the establishment of such a set of moral rules to govern relations among citizens, and (2) a government or organization capable of enforcing these rules. He called such an arrangement the social contract.

Unethical Actions or behaviours that go against the accepted ethical values in a given society.
Utilitarianism This theory predicates that an action is good if it benefits someone, it is bad if it hurts someone. It is also called the greatest Happiness Principle.

Values Learned principles or thought systems which enable individuals to choose between alternatives and make decisions. They are also the view points which are the foundation of professional practice. Values are part knowledge and part skill.

2.0. Ethical Analysis
Questionable Acts Identified
Situation 1 Concept Software compelling its workers to work extra hours which are not specified.
 Situation 2 Angela having time out to chat on MSN just because she feels that her input is great.
Situation 3 Efren and David know pretty well that Angela chats while on work, which is against the companys rules and regulations, but they dont take any action.
Situation4 IT Manager Craig Marrows decision to promote someone from within to become the teams project manager whereas not any of the persons from within has the qualifications to be the companys project manager. This is done because of the tight deadline that the team has to deal with.
Situation5 The facts that Angela, who finally lands the job as the project manager, got the information beforehand from Christine Hanson-the holder of the position who had to take an extended leave due to bereavement-at a local restaurant.
Situation 6 The decision by Concept Solutions not to inform their clients about a defect that was in the product released previously.
Situation 7 The decision by the company to fix each clients problem when the problem occurs and in the event charging each one for the companys time and effort.
Situation 8 David Smith using the companys equipment to do his personal work.
Situation 9 David reading a confidential email that was not meant for him. This was definitely against the companys rule which had it that anyone found doing that would be fired.
Situation 10 Sharing out of the contents of the confidential email to Josephine by David with whom they have intimately grown to know each other.

Situation NumberFromToRelated Theory and
JustificationEthical or UnethicalOneConcept software solutions WorkersNo related theoryEthicalTwoAngelaConcept software SolutionsEgoism and subjective relativismunethicalThreeErne and DavidConcept Software SolutionsSocial contract theory and subjective relativismUnethicalFourCraig MarrowConcept Software SolutionsSubjective  Relativism- he did what is right for the companys immediate needethicalFiveAngela Edwards and Christine HansonConcept Software SolutionsEgoism  Self InterestUnethicalSixConcept Software SolutionsIts clients and the publicUtilitarianism  their actions would bring the least happiness to their clients and even the publicunethicalSevenConcept Software SolutionsIts clientsEthical egotism-they were concerned with how they would make money

Kantianism It is obvious that no where in the universe would it be allowed for one to exploit the otherunethicalEightDavid SmithConcept Software SolutionsSocial Contract-most companies do not allow its staff to bring in their personal work. CSS is definitely no exceptionUnethicalNineDavid SmithConcept Software SolutionsSocial contract-according to the company rules and regulation it is not right to read a confidential email

Utilitarianism Reading the email would have definitely meant that he is in a position to assist his companys clients from being exploited.ethicalTenDavid SmithConcept Software SolutionsUtilitarianism This was great as it meant that the problem having been shared would bring about great happiness to majority of the peopleethical

Stakeholder Identification
Angela Edwards (Systems Analyst)
Angela who was born and raised in New Zealand has been with CSS for two years.  Prior to this position Angela worked as a web developer for her Uncle who is in the pornography industry.
Christine Hanson (IT Project Manager)

Born in South Africa, worked for Systems Telecom 5 years, Project Manager 3 years, married with two children.  Australian citizen.  Her husband, Frank, works for an IT consultancy company.  Christine has developed a reputation for being very diligent in her work.  Her performance reviews have highlighted her excellent leadership and negotiating skills.  Although some staff feel she is tough to work for, they respect her knowledge and her ability to get the job done.
Efren Deane (Software Engineer)

Born and bred in Brisbane, Efren was awarded the University medal during his Undergraduate studies in IT at the University of Queensland.  He is a hard working individual who is extremely task oriented and very ambitious.

David Smith (Software Engineer)
Born in the UK has worked for Systems Telecom 8 years, Team Leader for 4 years, single.  David enjoys his life outside work.  He lives outside the city and commutes each day.  David is a member of his local church, loves competing in triathlons, and is active in the local community.  His family think he will run for politics one day, he is so into standing up for peoples rights.

Josephine Hensley (Technical Writer)
Born in Tasmania, worked for Telstra for 3 years prior to her position at CSS.  Josephine is a very articulate person who enjoys writing and has strong attention to detail.  Josephine is a member of her local church but recently hasnt had much time to attend due to her work commitments.
Craig Marrow
(Head IT Manager)

With an impressive 20 years in the IT industry, Craig brings knowledge and wisdom to his position at CSS.  He was headhunted by one of the Board of directors who has known him personally for many years.

6.0 Boomer et al Analysis
Situation1 Concept Software Solutions has certain goals to achieve as well as certain policies that act as its guidelines.

Situation 2 Angela has her own personal goals that she would like to achieve. Not forgetting that having worked as a web developer for her Uncle who is in the pornography industry must have impacted negatively on her moral levels. It is also against most corporate culture for one to something personal and that does not befit the work environment he or she is working in. This was the case with Angelas chatting on MSN in the office.

Situation 3 Angela, Efren and David have known each other as peers to an extent that they dont consider each as being in very rigid corporate environments. It is this peer group that encourages Angela to go on chatting during office hours despite the fact that it is wrong.

Situation 4 Concept Software Solutions has certain corporate goals that it has to attain and that is always delivering to the clients products on time and with utmost efficacy. This seems like their stated policy and that is why they did not want to go outside their company to pick find a replacement for the project manager. Craig Marrow, the IT manager, was also head-hunted and put in his current position. He seems to have no problem with this kind of method in selecting a successor to Christine Hanson.

Situation 5 The fact that Angela got this information from Hanson means that there is the factor of the relationship between these two, they form some sort of a peer group, having played a bigger part in this situation. This was unethical.

Situation 6 Concept Software Solutions were motivated by both corporate culture and goals in reaching the decision of not fixing the defect in the software released to the clients.  They did not want their reputation as a company tarnished by this incident. They were also wary of the punitive legislative factors that would have affected them badly.

Situation 7 The Company was forced to act as they did so as to maximize profit and minimize on cost. This seemed to be their corporate goal To always take advantage of each and every opportunity that comes their way even if it means harming the client.

Situation 8 David Smith loves his life outside work. That might be the reason why he brought to work his personal assignment to the office.

Situation 9 David is ever curious with those details that does not pertain his job (he enjoys his life outside work). That might have the main inspiration to his reading the confidential email.

Situation 10 Having found out what the email entailed, David decided to share it out with his friend Josephine, the teams technical writer. This was most inspired by Davids concern for others the political activism in him. In his experience David has been championing peoples rights in his community. He certainly feels that his action would go a long way in helping their clients.

5.0 Solutions
Concept Software Solutions is growing at a very fast rate. This is beneficial to the companys prospects but can also be detrimental to the workers welfare, at least in the long run. The tough deadlines would ultimately put a huge strain on the employees of this company actually, this phenomenon has already started being visible as some employees work long hour and find no free time and thus take into such acts as chatting during office hours, and bringing to work their personal work.

Actually, to stem such acts as bringing ones personal chore to work, the company needs to put in place a stringent code of ethics that emphasis above all honesty, sincerity and a strong work ethic. This will help in bringing about efficiency consequently there will be no need for the workers to work late hours.

The defect, according to this report, was such an unwarranted even. The counter-argument would have suited the situation, as it would have portrayed them as being ethical. On the other hand should the clients find out about this problem, the company would suffer more.

The company, therefore need to come up with a program that looks into such defects in all their products before they are released to their clients.