Nancy’s Dilemma - L-Università ta' Maltastaff.um.edu.mt/csta1/courses/lectures/bit5303/Nancy'sDilemma.pdf · "Nancy's Dilemma" (2008) Duty for the Duty’s sake Issues were evaluated

Nancy’s Dilemma

University of MaltaMaster in IT

Ethics in IT

Carmel Azzopardi

Doris Grech

Pierre Theuma

Jesmond Silvio

Clive Seguna

Steven Camilleri

"Nancy's Dilemma" (2008)

Case Study

� Nancy Johnson is employed with Quality Technology Solutions (QTS). District Benefit (DB) is a customer of QTS served by Nancy's expertise. Mike Williams works in the Information services department of DB.

� Ethical Issue: Mike proposes to Nancy to carry out support and training services on BENEFIT-p system installed by QTS, personally as a part-time job at a time when QTS is suffering a hard time. Should Nancy accept the job without involving QTS?


Determining the course of action

●Dr.Staff (2008) states that :

“we can apply ethical theories to determine what course of action to take when faced with a dilemma - which will hopefully make us better professionals and treat others more fairly than we might otherwise do”

●Reviewing the three normative Ethics:

ConsequentialismDeontology

Virtue Ethics


Introduction- Consequentialist View

� Consequentialist ethical theory focuses on the outcome of the action based on a valid moral judgement.

� An action is morally right if the consequences are more favourable than unfavourable.

� Consequentialists are also interested in the long-term happiness rather than the short-term happiness.


Three subdivisions of Consequentialism

� Ethical egoism � Action is right if consequences are more favourable than unfavourable to the agent performing them.

� Ethical altruism � Action is right if consequences are more favourable than unfavourable to everyone except the agent.

� Utilitarianism � Action is right if consequences are more favourable than unfavourable to everyone.

Theories are rivals to each other and yield different conclusions


Morality for consequentialists

– to spread happiness and relieve suffering, – to create as much freedom as possible in

the world– to promote the survival of one’s species.

Haines W. (2008), Consequentialism. The internet encyclopedia of philosophy. The University of Hong Kong


If Nancy accepts

5 long-term

2 short-term

3 long-term

6 short-term

Total

− may not be able to get upgrades for

BENEFIT-p system if QTS goes out of

business (lt).

− Expertise of Nancy is secured (st)

− costs will be less (st)

− quicker service (st).

− satisfied by Nancy’s service. (st)

DB

− loses a contract and thus worsening the

position of QTS (lt)

− loses the expertise of Nancy and possibly

potential customers if Nancy is

discharged (lt)

− may lose future contracts of support and

training if Nancy takes over personally

(lt).

− Main office at DB still needs QTS (lt).

− DB is likely to make further contracts

for further systems implementations.

(lt)

QTS

− may lose job with QTS (lt)

− extended hours of work (st)

− not loyal to her employer (st).

− recognition of her good reputation (lt)

− earns extra money (st)

− part-time schedule does not interfere

with her employment schedule (st).

Nancy

Negative consequencesPositive consequences

5 long-term

2 short-term

3 long-term

6 short-term

Total

− may not be able to get upgrades for

BENEFIT-p system if QTS goes out of

business (lt).

− Expertise of Nancy is secured (st)

− costs will be less (st)

− quicker service (st).

− satisfied by Nancy’s service. (st)

DB

− loses a contract and thus worsening the

position of QTS (lt)

− loses the expertise of Nancy and possibly

potential customers if Nancy is

discharged (lt)

− may lose future contracts of support and

training if Nancy takes over personally

(lt).

− Main office at DB still needs QTS (lt).

− DB is likely to make further contracts

for further systems implementations.

(lt)

QTS

− may lose job with QTS (lt)

− extended hours of work (st)

− not loyal to her employer (st).

− recognition of her good reputation (lt)

− earns extra money (st)

− part-time schedule does not interfere

with her employment schedule (st).

Nancy



If Nancy Refuses

1 long-term4 short-term

5 long-term1 short-term

Total

− will cost more through QTS (st)

− anyone may be appointed to

carry the service (st)

− will take a longer time (st).

− no positive consequencesDB

− no negative consequences.− wins another contract from DB (st)

− QTS does not lose future contracts (lt)

− keeps the expertise of Nancy (lt).

QTS

− may lose recommendations

from Mike (lt)

− loses the extra income (st).

− free time after work (lt)

− remains loyal to QTS (lt)

− good reputation with DB (lt).

Nancy



Freedom

� Nancy has the right for freedom of choicewhich implies autonomy. Freedom means:

– the ability to act in accordance with the dictates of reason;

– the ability to act in accordance with one's own true self or values;

– the ability to act in accordance with universal values (such as the True and the Good); and

– the ability to act independently of both the dictates of reason and the urges of desires, i.e. arbitrarily (autonomously).


Conclusion

Consequentialist analysis:� If Nancy accepts the proposal:- short-term > long-

term positive consequences while long-term > short-term negative consequences.

� If Nancy refuses the proposal:- long-term > short-term positive consequences while short-term > long-term negative consequences.

� This analysis concludes that for all stakeholders, it is best for Nancy to refuse the proposal since there are more positive consequences involved.


Conclusion

Nancy’s acceptance :-� DB may still need the services of

QTS for building new systems.� Probably no contracts would be

lost because Nancy can only provide support and training.

� May trigger a wider relationship between DB and QTS leading possibly to QTS revising its support and training policy.


Conclusion

� If there is a contract between QTS and Nancy, then she is ethically bound to reject Mike’s offer.

� But….Should an employee update his/her contract with the employer as circumstances change? Does a contract terminate with employment? If an employee is bound to refrain from working for a competitor before two years have elapsed since employment termination, how ethically correct is this manoeuvre vis-à-vis the employee-employer relationship? Is this a case of using the person as a means rather than an end?


Conclusion

� From consequential analysis it transpires that Nancy’s decision leads to positive and negative consequences both long-term and short-term but it is also evident that a decision being negative to a stakeholder may trigger and open other branches of possible outcomes that may eventually be positive at a later stage.


Staff (2008) summaries Normative Deontology as follows:

� “Duty Ethics : focus is on rightness or wrongness of the actions themselves

� Moral Absolutism : If it is wrong to lie, then you must never lie even if a murderer asks you for the location of the next victim

� Normal deontologists : sometimes, telling the truth is “intrinsically good” but sometimes lying is ok, depending on the consequences”.

Introduction- Deontological View


The available options

Initially the options available to Nancy were defined. These are:

� Nancy accepts DB’s offer without informing QTS.

� Nancy accepts DB’s offer and informs QTS.

� Nancy rejects DB’s offer and does not inform QTS.

� Nancy rejects DB’s offer and informs QTS.


Main Ideas presented

●Whether to accept or not .●Whether she is to inform her employer, QTS, about both the offer itself and also about DB’s negative comments on QTS’s service and costs.●Nancy’s loyalty and her duty to inform her employer.●Whether telling the truth is a moral duty .●The issue of “conflict of interest ” and the “Code of Ethics ”.●Correctness of Mr Williams’ request. Was it right or wrong for him to ask Nancy?


Duty for the Duty’s sake

Issues were evaluated using the philosophy of the 18th Century Philosophy, Emmanuel Kant.

The heart of Kant’s ethics is duty for duty’s sake and not for the sake of the consequences , whether one’s own good or the greatest good for the greatest number.


Core decision

That she has the duty of not competing with her employer and that she is to inform her employer about DB’s offer and view point of QTS service.

It is important to validate if the rule authorising the act can become a universal one for all human beings to follow.


Universal Rule

If Nancy decides to accept the proposition made by Mike Williams and formulates her action as a rule:

“I am employed with QTS which has implemented BENEFIT-p at DB and I will give support to DB on my own as part-time”.

Now transform this rule into a universal law. What are the consequences of such law if everyone were to obey it?

Large companies will lose contracts because their employees are carrying support services as part-time.

The employees lose their main job and subsequently their part-time occupation as there will be no further systems to support.

Action is immoral because it cannot be made universal without contradiction.


� From the deontological perspective the outcome is that Nancy has the duty of not being involved in a conflict of interest . She also has the duty of informing her employerabout the complaints from DB which led Mr Williams to asking Nancy to do the job in her free time. If she follows her duty, she will be behaving morally.

Conclusion


Introduction Virtue ethics - View

� Virtue ethics reflects character

� In Plato times the importance of character flourished. Plato discussed virtues such as courage and piety


3 main concepts

Virtue ethics identifies three main concepts:

� Arête - excellence or virtue� Phronesis - practical and moral

wisdom� Eudaimonia - human flourishing

(happiness)


Asking the right questions

� To ethically think through our case we need to ask 2 questions:

1. How should Nancy act?2. What kind of person

should Nancy be?


The case of Nancy - Arête

� From one side Nancy knew the consequences of her actions (consequential ethics). From the deontology ethical approach she tried to follow the rules of her company by avoiding conflicts of interest and also doing her duty in helping Mike.


The case of Nancy - Arête

� Nancy tries to be charitable to DB by trying to reach an agreement with Mike on the phone, suggesting him to contact the QTS office for support.

� First ethical judgement – reflects duty (don’t steal, keep promises)

� Second ethical judgement – reflects human excellence (happiness and good life)

� Nancy might want to refuse job because of moral duties with QTS

� Nancy might want to accept job because it would provide more money (in times that is of need) and therefore leading to a better life


The case of Nancy - Phronesis

� Virtue ethics might at face value imply the wrongness of Nancy accepting the job (Arête – what kind of person do you want to be?)

As the previous slides highlighted Nancy has a moral duty towards DS especially in times of need

� Concept of phronesis (using common sense and practical wisdom)

� What if Nancy badly needs the money? Should she accept in such a case?


The case of Nancy - Eudaimonia

� What about the happiness and good life ?

� Would Nancy ultimately feel happier if she stays loyal to DS or if she gets extra cash?


� From the virtue perspective Nancy should not accept the job as she would not feel good with herself afterwards

� This conclusion was arrived to after reading the case study which showed Nancy predisposition of feeling guilty if accepting the job

Conclusion


� Computing and public policy, principle 2 states the software engineer should "Accept no work detrimental to the work they perform for their primary employer ". This is a principle taken from the "Software Engineering Code of Ethics".

� This principle together with a number of others is a guideline which forms the basis of the ethical responsibilities for individuals whose activity is related to software engineering. Since Mike’s proposal may effect Nancy’s employer in a negative way, she should not accept.

The Code of Ethics


References

� Johnson D.G., (2001), Computer Ethics. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-083699� "Software Engineering Code of Ethics" IEEE-CS/ACM Joint Task Force � <http://www.computer.org/portal/cms_docs_computer/computer/content/code-of-ethics.pdf> (access date: April 2008)� Solomon Robert C., (1996), A Handbook for Ethics, Thomson Learning Inc.� ISBN 0-15-502964-9� Staff C., (2008), Ethics in IT - University of Malta Department of Artificial Intelligence� <http://www.cs.um.edu.mt/~cstaff/courses/lectures/bit5303/> (access date: April 2008)� Russo Michael J., (1999) ,“Deontology and its discontent: A brief overview of Kant’s ethics”� <http://www.molloy.edu/sophia/kant/deontology.htm> (access date: April 2008)� Bayles Michael D. , 1981, “The Professional-Client Relationship” <http://falcon.tamucc.edu/~sencerz/Bayles_Professional.htm>

(access date: April 2008)� Freedom (philosophy) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_%28philosophy%29> (access date: April 2008)� Utilitarian Consequential Ethics <http://faculty.samford.edu/~whbunch/Chapter12.pdf > (access date : April 2008)� Utilitarianism- <www.utilitarianism.com/hedcalc.htm> (Access date : April 2008)� The internet encyclopaedia of philosophy – Consequentialism� <http://www.iep.utm.edu/c/conseque.htm> (Access date: April 2008)� Consequentialism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia� <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consequentialist> (Access date: April 2008)� Front page photo <http://ethics.wharton.upenn.edu/Images/Media/Ethics%20pix%20036.jpg > (Access date : April 2008)� Charles Ess., “Aristotle's Virtue Ethics”� <http://www.drury.edu/ess/Reason/Aristotle.html> (Access date: April 2008)� “The Three Parts Of The Soul According To Freud And Plato”� <http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=31955> (Access date: April 2008)� Velasquez M., Andre C., Shanks T., Meyer M.J., “Ethical Relativism”� <http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html> (Access date: April 2008)


Thank you for your attention

Documents

Nancy’s Dilemma - L-Università ta' Maltastaff.um.edu.mt/csta1/courses/lectures/bit5303/Nancy'sDilemma.pdf · "Nancy's Dilemma" (2008) Duty for the Duty’s sake Issues were evaluated