Transcript Introduction to Design

Social and Economic Impacts of IT
Professor Matt Thatcher
Today
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Who am I?
Introduction to IT issues and problems
Course overview and organization
– syllabus
– schedule
– assignments
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Course website
– http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748
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Frameworks for ethical analysis
Get your email addresses and pictures
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Who am I?
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Associate Professor of MIS
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The Wharton School, University of Penn
– Ph.D and M.S. in Information Technology / Economics
– B.S. in Finance and Decision Sciences
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Research interests
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economic impact of IT on firms/industry
IT value
software patent policy design
It offshoring
Course information
– http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748
– [email protected]
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What Are the Benefits of IT?
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Computer games
Digital technologies (movies, tv, music, library retrieval)
Business applications
Internet
Automobiles and trucks
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Education and training
Crime fighting
Health and medicine
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Tools for the disabled
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What are the Problems, Risks, and
Controversies with IT?
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Information Privacy
– consumer privacy vs. access to information
– workplace privacy vs. access to information
– civil liberties vs. law enforcement
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Freedom of speech vs. control of content on
the internet
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Intellectual property rights
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Computer security and computer crimes
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IT safety and reliability vs. fast market entry
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How Do We Examine These IT Issues?
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What?
– what is the description of what is happening? What
new technology is being implemented in what
context?
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So what?
– what are the benefits of the IT and the concerns
and problems introduced by the IT? What are the
different perspectives in the context?
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Now what?
– what are the potential solutions to the problem?
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ATMs:
A Simple Example
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What are the benefits of ATMs?
What are the negative aspects of ATMs?
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unemployment
lower levels of customer service
crime
loss of privacy
errors
Does this mean that ATMs are bad?
How can we manage and minimize the
problems? What are some solutions?
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Other Examples
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Course Administration
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Course website
– http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748
– course materials, notes, announcements, etc.
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Course goal
– learn about the social, economic, ethical, and legal issues
generated by the use of computers and computer networks,
including the Internet.
– I want you to be able to see, express, and discuss different
perspectives of controversial and complex issues related to
IT.
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Teaching style
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lectures
case studies (every class)
interactive, in-class assignments and discussions
student presentations
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Administrivia - Class Structure
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Registration
– everyone registered?
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Syllabus
– look over very carefully
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Readings
– required book
– downloadable documents
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Schedule
– this is the most important resource for class
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Administrivia - Class Structure
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Grading
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Exams (2)
Term Paper
Presentation
Case Reports (6)
Participation
Attendance
30%
15%
5%
30%
15%
5%
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Regarding missed exams
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Honor code
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Frameworks for Ethical Analysis
Professor Matt Thatcher
Ethical Frameworks
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Teleological
– ends/outcome
– gives priority to the good of society in general over the rights
of individuals
– the right action is that which produces the most net benefit
to society (or optimizes social welfare)
– the right action depends on the outcome or consequence
– no intrinsically evil acts
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Deontological
– means/process
– gives priority to the rights of individuals or obligation of duty
over the good of society in general
– the right action is independent of the outcome or
consequence
– actions are intrinsically wrong or right based on duty or rights13
Ethical Frameworks
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Teleological
– end (utility, happiness,…..)
– utilitarianism
» maximize social utility (not just individual utility)
» moral calculus
» how do you measure happiness, benefits, costs?
 automobile example
» how do you avoid self-serving assumptions and biases?
 Lockheed (American aerospace company)
» long-run vs. short-run
– how can it go wrong?
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Ethical Frameworks
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Deontological
– duty based
» Immanuael Kant
 Kant’s categorical imperative -- “ I should never act except in
such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a
universal law.”
» Universal Acceptability
 would disinterested and affected parties agree
 publicity test
» moral law = respect for other human beings
– rights based
» human or legal rights (free speech, privacy, property rights)
– what are moral rights or duties? What happens if two moral
duties or rights conflict?
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Steps for Ethical Analysis
(Case Reports)
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Identify the “ethical dilemma (or question)” in the case.
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pose an open-ended question that generated many potential answers, not one that
can be answered with a “yes” or “no”.
Discuss the role that information technology played in creating the special
circumstances of the case.
List the stakeholders in the case.
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clearly state a right or duty of each stakeholder.
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list and describe at least four (4) alternative course of action.
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Make sure to explain!!!!! Think about a cost/benefit analysis.
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Make sure to explain!!!!! If there are competing rights which rights have priority
and why?
List and describe alternative courses of action that may be taken and
determine the likely consequences of each proposed action for each
stakeholder.
Analyze the case from a teleological perspective.
Analyze this case from a deontological perspective.
Describe your normative recommendation in this case (what actions would
you recommend – law, norms, market forces, technology). What is the basis
of your recommendation (teleological or deontological)?
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This is worth the most points. Do not cut this discussion short!
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Types of Solutions to Consider
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Law
– copyrights, patents, trademarks, privacy laws
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Industry norms (self-regulation)
– Common Industry Formats (CIFs)
– third-party enforcement programs such as privacy
seal programs
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Market forces
– consumer awareness and action and competition
– management solutions (corporate privacy policies)
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Technology solutions
– cookies, anonymizers, filtering software,
encryption, digital rights management systems
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Next Time
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Read through the materials provided on the
course website.
Read the “Capital One” case and complete the
“Short Essay” assignment for next class
– note that “Short Essays” have different
requirements than “Case Reports”
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Purchase the book required for this course
from the UNLV Bookstore (phone: 736-3955)
– Spinello, Richard A. Case Studies in Information
Technology Ethics (2nd Edition). Prentice-Hall, Inc.,
2003.
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