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Business Ethics and Technology

Business and Society: Ethics and Stakeholder Management, 7e • Carroll & BuchholtzCopyright ©2009 by South-Western, a division of Cengage Learning.  All rights reserved

Prepared by Deborah BakerTexas Christian University

Chapter 9

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Chapter 9 Outline

Technology and the Technological Environment Characteristics of Technology Ethics and Technology Information Technology Biotechnology

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Technology and the Technological Environment

TechnologyThe totality of the means employed to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort

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Characteristics of Technology

Benefits of Technology

Increased production of goods and services Reduced amount of labor needed to produce

goods and services Made labor easier and safer Increased productivity Increased standard of living Increased life expectancy

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Side Effects of Technology

Side Effects and Challenges of Technology

Environmental pollution Depletion of natural resources Technological unemployment Creation of unsatisfying jobs

http://www.ethix.org@

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Ethics and Technology

Key IssuesKey Issues

Technological Determinism – “What can be developed will be developed.”

Ethical Lag – Occurs when the speed of technological

change far exceeds that of ethical development.

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Symptoms of Society’s Intoxication with Technology

1. We favor the quick fix

2. We fear and worship technology

3. We blur the distinction between what is real and fake

4. We accept violence as normal

5. We love technology as a toy

6. We live our lives distanced and distracted

Find the Right Balance!

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Information Technology

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Electronic CommerceElectronic Commerce

Computer technologyin the workplace

Computer technologyin the workplace

Information TechnologyInformation Technology

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Electronic Commerce

Key Issues in e-Commerce Ethics

Access Intellectual property Privacy and informed consent Protection of children Security of information Trust

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Potential Threats to PrivacyPosed by the Internet

Identity theft Unintentionally revealing information Lost / stolen personal information Fake Web sites Government distribution of information Broadcasting information over the Internet Victim of spying Cyberstalker

Figure 9-1

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Invasion of PrivacyPosed by the Internet

Cookies: Identification tags that websites drop on our personal computer hard drives so they can recognize repeat visitors.

Spam: Unsolicited commercial email.

Identity Theft: Tampering with one’s financial accounts.

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The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999

Governing legislation• Financial Services Modernization Act• Fair Credit Reporting Act• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

Government’s Involvement

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Creating a national Do-Not-Call List

Beefing up enforcement against spam

Helping victims of identity theft

Encouraging consumers’ privacy complaints

Enforcing the telemarketing sales rules

Privacy Agenda of the FTC

Figure 9-2

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Business Initiatives to Protect Privacy

Ethical leadershipEthical leadership

Privacy policiesPrivacy policies

Chief privacy officersChief privacy officers

Data securityData security

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Pornography Gambling Web-based music services Intellectual property Monitoring technology “Phishing”

Questionable Businesses and Practices

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Employee Impression of Technology Employee Impression of Technology

The Workplace and Computer Technology

Expands job-related knowledge

Increases productivity during work and commuting times

Improves communication with clients and customers

Relieves job stress

Improved time management

Expanded professional networks

Development of a competitive edge

Balance of work and family needs

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Surveillance

Computers

Monitoring website employee computer files Blocking access to inappropriate websites Storing and reviewing e-mail

Telephone

Monitoring time spent, numbers called Taping phone conversations

Video

Video surveillance against theft Video surveillance to monitor employee performance

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Unethical Employee Activities

Created a dangerous situation by using new technology while driving

Copied company software for home use

Used office equipment to shop on the Internet

Used office equipment to search for job

Accessed private files without permission

Intruded on co-workers’ privacy

Visited porn Web sites

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Biotechnology

BioethicsA field that has emerged to deal with ethical issues embedded in the use of biotechnology

Proceduralism

The use of elaborate protocols to ensure that classical safeguards, such as informed consent, are notviolated

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Realms of Biotechnology

GeneticallyModified Foods

GeneticallyModified Foods

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering

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Genetic Engineering

Stem cell researchStem cell research

CloningCloning

Genetic testing and profilingGenetic testing and profiling

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Genetically Modified Foods

Safety issuesSafety issues

Labeling issuesLabeling issues