Introduction
Online ventures provide a new way for individuals and groups to raise funds for causes, provide services, and make money. It does this by connecting both donors and recipients through the web. Numerous companies have succeeded by using the Internet to raise funds for their services and programs (Winston & Edelbach, 2013). In addition, a new generation of non-profits has managed to extend their reach beyond geographic borders using communication mechanisms made possible by the Internet (Tranter, 2019). In the quest to raise money for causes, many people come together as entrepreneurs to utilize an online business model. However, there are some ethical concerns related to these ventures that must be taken into consideration before proceeding with them. Furthermore, social impacts and legal issues must be addressed before embarking on an online experience. A sound plan will have these details clearly defined. This paper aims to develop a plan for an online venture. This online venture will have social, ethical, and legal implications, and these potential concerns must be considered in the venture’s development and implementation.
Overview of the Online Venture
The online venture is a social media platform connecting people with causes they care about to promote social change. This venture would be a Not-for-Profit and aim to sustain causes through crowdfunding (Kirkpatrick, 2019). Donors can donate money to support reasons they are passionate about, while organizations and individuals can create campaigns to raise funds for their cause or project. The platform would provide users with information about the reasons they are donating and other related causes that may be of interest. The overall mission for this venture is to create a safe and secure platform for connecting people with causes and empowering them to make a difference.
Online Business Model
The online business model for this venture will be that of a donation-based platform where users can donate money to support the causes they are passionate about. This business model is the most ethical and sustainable for developing an online venture. It is cost-effective and provides the highest ROI (Kirkpatrick, 2019). The main reason why this model is so ethical is that it relies on donations rather than ad revenue. In other words, people do not have to worry about advertisers stealing their content or misusing it. Instead, one can make money by having people donate to their cause. Another advantage of this business model is that it can be used in various ways, including not-for-profit organizations and for-profit ones, allowing maximum flexibility.
In addition, the platform will have an additional marketplace component where organizations or individuals can set up campaigns to raise money for their cause or project. Through the marketplace component, organizations can showcase their projects or causes and attract donors who can contribute directly to their efforts (Lester & Dalat-Ward, 2019). For example, an organization might set up a campaign on the platform to raise money for a new school they are constructing in an underserved community. Supporters can donate to the movement and help realize the organization’s vision. Monies raised through donations and campaigns will support their respective causes or projects. No profits will be made from this platform; instead, funds generated from donations and movements will be used solely for their intended projects or causes.
Appeals to Various Cultures
This venture has a wide variety of potential appeals for various cultures worldwide. One main attraction of this platform is that it gives people an opportunity to make a difference by donating. This may particularly appeal to individuals who have experienced injustice or oppression within their own culture, as it provides an avenue to support others who have been through similar circumstances (Duan, 2020; Andrews et al., 2020). This platform may also appeal to individuals who feel disconnected from larger-scale social issues due to geographic or financial constraints. This gives them an easy way to get involved in global movements without leaving their communities. Moreover, this venture will appeal to the culture of success because it is a goal-oriented business that strives to make a difference in the world. This is something that many people may not have considered before, but it is an idea that is very appealing to many who want to make a difference in their community.
Furthermore, this venture will appeal to the culture of entrepreneurship because it is an online venture that can be run from anywhere with an internet connection. This means that anyone can participate in this venture, and even if they do not have any money, they can still help by contributing their time or expertise to help develop the project. It will also appeal to the culture of philanthropy because it will involve working with groups or individuals trying to make a difference in the world (Noor, 2020). This will allow these groups or individuals to reach more people than they usually would be able to do if they were giving them money instead of helping them find a solution for their problem(s). Finally, this venture may also appeal to individuals who want to use their resources for good. It holds promise for a more equitable society in which all members can participate in giving back to those in need.
Potential Impacts on Cultures
This venture could potentially have various positive impacts on multiple cultures across the world. First, it could help foster solidarity among oppressed communities by providing them a platform to come together and support each other in everyday struggles (Kirkpatrick, 2019). Additionally, it could endow these communities with greater access and visibility, as donations raised through the platform could help fund projects that might otherwise not receive much attention due to limited resources or logistical constraints (Chondros et al., 2019). Furthermore, this platform could allow marginalized groups to showcase their projects and efforts on a large scale. Thus, helping erase traditional disparities in resources and capital availability among underserved communities worldwide (Backman & Hedenus, 2019). However, the potential adverse effects are minimal as long as the project is executed ethically and according to local laws. The primary risk is that people may not understand how this type of venture affects others, but as long as it is handled correctly, there should be no problems.
Ethical Issues
There are several ethical issues associated with operating such an online venture. First is the subject of privacy: donor information must be kept secure and confidential, not compromising individual privacy rights (Noor, 2020). Second, it is essential that all donations are used exclusively for their intended purposes, so organizations or individuals operating campaigns should be held accountable for how they use donor funds. Third, any campaign should ensure the accuracy of information regarding its cause so as not to mislead or misinform donors about how donations are being used or how successful projects have been implemented. Finally, any fundraising goals should also be reasonable so as not to create false expectations amongst donors about how much can realistically be achieved with donations from a given project or cause.
Social and Legal Impacts
The online venture can educate people on how to make decisions regarding unethical business practices and encourage them always to do the right thing. This would lead to less social inequality between people who use corrupt business practices and those who do not (Winston & Edelbach, 2013; Lester & Dalat-Ward, 2019). It is essential because it allows for progress toward equality between all people regardless of class, gender, or race.
The online venture could help prevent passed laws that would negatively impact society if implemented correctly. For example, if there was an online platform where customers could rate businesses on the quality of service, those businesses were ranked based on customer satisfaction with their products or services. This would help prevent bad companies from growing large because they would not be able to get enough customers willing to give them positive reviews (Tranter, 2019). Eventually, they would stop doing business altogether due to a lack of revenue.
Potential Risks
There are several potential risks associated with operating such an online venture: first, there is the issue of security; donors’ personal information needs to remain secure at all times to protect them from fraud or identity theft. Second, there is also the risk of loss of funds due to technical errors or other unforeseen incidents, so appropriate measures must be taken to protect against such losses, such as insurance coverage (Paalz, 2020). In addition, the venture must consider consumer safety and privacy, including stolen data, identity theft, and malicious attacks. The venture also needs to be aware of the potential for cyberattacks, which can take the form of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or ransomware (Duan, 2020). Moreover, there is the potential for regulatory violations; for example, changes in data privacy laws could cause significant disruption if the venture does not comply. Finally, there is the risk of reputational damage if customer information is exposed or mishandled or if customers are exposed to deceptive marketing or advertisements.
Strategies for Protecting Privacy
In today’s world, there are many challenges facing individuals and organizations. These challenges can affect how an organization’s data is collected, processed, stored, and shared with third parties. To ensure that an individual’s privacy is protected, there are several strategies the online venture should consider. First and foremost is implementing security measures such as encryption, access controls, and authentication protocols to ensure that only authorized users can access customer data (Kirkpatrick, 2019). This has the advantage of being easy to implement and requiring little technical knowledge. The venture should also have a clear privacy policy outlining how customer data will be collected and used (Andrews et al., 2020). This policy should also include an opt-out option for customers who do not want their data to be used. Finally, the venture should use reputable third parties for necessary services such as payment processing and customer relationship management systems to ensure that customer data is secure.
Copyright, Trademark, or Patent Considerations
The nature of this venture may necessitate the use of copyrighted content, trademarks, or patents. Therefore, the venture should consider obtaining a license from copyright holders or registering trademarks and patents before releasing any products or services. Copyright laws protect original works of authorship from being copied without permission or compensation (Lester & Dalat-Ward, 2019). Companies should ensure that all materials used in their products or services have been appropriately licensed before production so as not to violate any intellectual property rights of others. Furthermore, the venture should monitor for infringing content or activities, such as imitation products, and take appropriate action if an infringement is detected.
Potential Benefits Brought About by This Venture
The risk of undertaking any new online venture is weighed against its potential benefits. In this case, the benefits could be considerable. The venture could create new opportunities for customers to access the goods and services they need conveniently and quickly (Kirkpatrick, 2019). It could further provide entrepreneurs a platform to sell their goods and services, creating new jobs and stimulating economic activity. These businesses allow entrepreneurs to reach potential customers worldwide, especially in developing countries with few opportunities for traditional companies. They also offer flexibility for entrepreneurs who may not be able to travel or work full-time outside their home country.
Furthermore, it could allow customers to interact with each other in ways not previously possible; it may even create new markets in areas once under-served by traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. For instance, an entrepreneur can make money while maintaining a high level of control over their business operation. They can also use this model to provide health care services, education programs, and many other services that would not be possible using traditional methods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, since technology is rapidly changing how people do business, it will be necessary for everyone to keep up with these changes and be aware of potential issues. Any online venture plan outline must address the ethical and social issues involved with the project. Even such a minor issue could seriously compromise the overall goal, making the venture unviable. Therefore, it is vital to examine each concern thoroughly and devise a solution to ensure the venture’s viability without compromising its moral standing or integrity. Additionally, launching an online venture requires careful planning and consideration of potential ethical concerns, social impacts, and legal issues. The plan outlines strategies for protecting customer privacy, copyright considerations, and potential benefits from such an undertaking. With proper planning and execution of this plan, this online venture could become a success while still ensuring customer safety and satisfaction with its products and services.
Relevance of Sources
Andrews, J. C., Walker, K. L., & Kees, J. (2020). Children and online privacy protection: Empowerment from cognitive defense strategies. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 39(2), 205-219.
The article is relevant to the project because it shows how children can protect themselves from cyberbullying and other online abuse by creating a safe space to think through their decisions before acting on them. This paper also shows that children can use cognitive defense strategies to protect themselves from computers and technology if they know what they are doing.
Backman, C., & Hedenus, A. (2019). Online privacy in job recruitment processes? Boundary work among cyber-vetting recruiters. Links to an external site. New Technology, Work & Employment, 34(2), 157–173.
This source would be pertinent to the Online Venture project because it studies online privacy issues in job recruitment processes. This study focuses on how cyber-vetting recruiters deal with these concerns and whether they can put in place a set of guidelines to protect their client’s privacy.
Chondros, N., Zhang, B., Zacharias, T., Diamantopoulos, P., Maneas, S., Patsonakis, C., Delis, A., Kiayias, A., & Roussopoulos, M. (2019). Distributed, end-to-end verifiable, and privacy-preserving internet voting systems. Links to an external site. Computers & Security, 83, 268–299.
This article would be pertinent to the Online Venture project because it provides a detailed overview of the research conducted on internet voting and how it has been used to help improve internet voting systems.
Duan, C. (2020). Of Monopolies and Monocultures: The Intersection of Patents and National Security. Links to an external site. Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal, 4, 369.
This source is relevant to the project because it discusses the need for invention laws that prevent monopolies and encourage innovation. The article argues that there needs to be a balance between patenting inventions and protecting national security, allowing both types of innovation to thrive without one type taking over the other.
Kirkpatrick, K. (2019). Ethics in Technology Jobs: Employees are increasingly challenging technology companies on their ethical choices. Links to an external site. Communications of the ACM, 62(6), 19–20.
This source would be pertinent to the Online Venture project because it focuses on the ethical choices that technology companies make. The author discusses how employees are becoming more aware of technology companies’ moral choices and are challenging them to make better decisions.
Lester, L.-J., & Dalat-Ward, Y. (2019). Teaching Professionalism and Ethics in IT by Deliberative Dialogue. Links to an external site. Information Systems Education Journal, 17(1), 4–17.
The source is relevant to the project because it explains how to teach professionalism and ethics in IT. This is important because the project aims to help people develop the skills necessary to be successful in the industry.
Noor, M. U. (2020). Indonesian Millennial Awareness to Privacy and Personal Data Protection on the Internet. Links to an external site. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 40(2), 83–88.
This source would be relevant to the project because it highlights the need for education about privacy to avoid the potential consequences of not understanding such concepts. This source provides information about how millennials are exposed to privacy breaches in their everyday lives.
Paalz, A. (2020). Patent Wars: The Attack of Blockchain. Links to an external site. Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, 28(2), 241–274
It would be pertinent for the Online Venture project because it has the potential to revolutionize online business models and provide more transparency for customers.
Tranter, K. (2019). Welcome to the Multiverse: Law, Technology, and Humans. Law, Tech. & Hum., 1, 1. Web.
The source would be pertinent to the project because it discusses how the law is changing to better respond to rapid technological changes. The writer argues that law must adapt to continue being relevant and effective in a world where new technologies are constantly emerging.
Winston, M., & Edelbach, R. (2013). Society, ethics, and technology. Cengage Learning.
The source is pertinent to the project because it can help one understand how society and ethics are influenced by technology. The book describes how technology has changed how people interact with one another and the world around them and how it has shaped people’s views on what is ethical and not.
References
Andrews, J. C., Walker, K. L., & Kees, J. (2020). Children and online privacy protection: Empowerment from cognitive defense strategies. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 39(2), 205-219.
Backman, C., & Hedenus, A. (2019). Online privacy in job recruitment processes? Boundary work among cyber-vetting recruiters. Links to an external site. New Technology, Work & Employment, 34(2), 157–173.
Chondros, N., Zhang, B., Zacharias, T., Diamantopoulos, P., Maneas, S., Patsonakis, C., Delis, A., Kiayias, A., & Roussopoulos, M. (2019). Distributed, end-to-end verifiable, and privacy-preserving internet voting systems. Links to an external site. Computers & Security, 83, 268–299.
Duan, C. (2020). Of Monopolies and Monocultures: The Intersection of Patents and National Security. Links to an external site. Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal, 4, 369.
Kirkpatrick, K. (2019). Ethics in Technology Jobs: Employees are increasingly challenging technology companies on their ethical choices. Links to an external site. Communications of the ACM, 62(6), 19–20.
Lester, L.-J., & Dalat-Ward, Y. (2019). Teaching Professionalism and Ethics in IT by Deliberative Dialogue. Links to an external site. Information Systems Education Journal, 17(1), 4–17.
Noor, M. U. (2020). Indonesian Millennial Awareness to Privacy and Personal Data Protection on the Internet. Links to an external site. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 40(2), 83–88.
Paalz, A. (2020). Patent Wars: The Attack of Blockchain. Links to an external site. Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, 28(2), 241–274
Tranter, K. (2019). Welcome to the Multiverse: Law, Technology, and Humans. Law, Tech. & Hum., 1, 1. Web.
Winston, M., & Edelbach, R. (2013). Society, ethics, and technology. Cengage Learning.