Introduction
Business ethics sometimes called business etiquette refers to the ethical principles or morals in which businesses are supposed to observe as they carry along their activities. More often than not, these values are non-economical but aimed at promoting the social cause. Though they might some voluntary, some of these business ethics are engraved by the law and non-adherence is prosecutable in a court of law. Traditional business etiquette/ethics issues are proving to be somehow obsolete when some new business developments facilitated by technologic change are put into focus. As a result, there have been new business ethics put in place so as to guide the new crop of businesses. In this paper we look at business ethics applicable to technology companies. In this context, technology companies refer to businesses and companies operating in the information technology field and its affiliates.
Business ethics for technology companies
The major and most applicable business ethics in this field are:
- Corporate social responsibility
- Fiduciary responsibility
- Privacy
- Cyberslacking
Corporate social responsibility
Experts and writers do not seem to agree as whether to label social responsibility as an issue under business ethics or an entity by itself. All the same, social responsibility is regarded as an umbrella issue under which there is minor ethics to be considered. Generally it entails a business involving itself in a worthy cause beneficial to all the stakeholders apart from the principal cause of making profits in a capitalistic market. With the high rates of technologic growth businesses in the IT industry such as Google Inc should be at the fore front in such endeavors. For a company such as this, it should for example be donating learning materials and more so computers to underdeveloped states. In doing so they are generating a wider market for their products in future and at the same time promoting education.
Privacy
Though often ignored, privacy is one of the most relevant ethical issues for technology companies. It entails the guarding of certain information of oneself from access by other persons. Technology companies faced with the idea of sharing of information through a complex channel such as the internet have the capacity to access information that is not meant to be accessed by them. By observing the privacy ethics persons are not supposed to access such information. However, the ability to make information private and inaccessible to many is threatened by more advanced surveillance techniques plus increased value of information in business.
Cyberslacking
This is a habit common among employees in the technology business. It involves employees alluding to the lure of playing online games or misuse of computer resources in uneconomically viable actions that are detrimental to an organization.
Ethics dilemma
Many businesses in IT are going beyond their business ethics and getting their “hands dirty”, all in the name of making money. However, many are sometimes evading blame by saying that the wrong way seems to be the only way to salvage their businesses. In such a dilemma, should moral sense hold at the cost of the business? Picture this situation. A firm is involved in developing anti-virus computer programs. Should the firms in times of low business create a market for their products by creating and spreading viruses?
References
Ethical issues for IT professionals by Deb Shinder, 2008. Web.
Ethical considerations inn cooperate takeovers, 2008. Web.
Ethical issues in technology at, 2008, Web.
Four ethical issues in the information age, 2008. Web.
Cyberslacking, 2008. Web.