Page 40 - EngineerIT September 2022

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

IITPSA webinar reveals the costs theories). However, ethics is a constant
dynamic force: for example, changing
of not being ethical and more permissive rules around the
use of marijuana. The law is influenced
by ethics, but the law and ethics are
not the same thing. What is legal can
thical behaviour may not deliver sometimes be unethical. Ethics is not
easily measurable profits, but a rule, a law or a religion, it is how we
Ethe costs of not being ethical can reason as a species and cooperate.”
be devastating. This emerged during He noted that the prescripts of
a webinar hosted by the Institute of society are also not always right when it
Information Technology Professionals comes to defining what is ethical. “The
South Africa (IITPSA) Social and Ethics acid test is how we treat the other and
Committee. cooperate,” he said. “Ethics encompasses
The webinar, the first in a series fairness and cooperation, mutualism and
of webinars to be staged on the topic dynamic social processes, which are not
of ethical behaviour, explored the static. We also need context to define
definitions of ethics and why ethical what is ethically right or wrong. At the
behaviour is critical for business and Josine Overdevest heart of ethics is the idea of the self
society as a whole. and the other – me or my organisation,
Josine Overdevest, founder and and the other person or organisation.
MD of 21st century educator coaching has a warning for the IT sector – people We have to balance what is good for
organisation Flying Cows of Jozi, who design systems and software need ourselves with what is good for the other.
non-executive director of the IITPSA to think about the architecture of these The good comes from what you do as an
and chairperson of the IITPSA Social systems and uphold ethics, or there organisation or institution, to deliver on
and Ethics Committee, noted: “All could be dire consequences,” he warned. your mandate and add to the economy.
technology design, development and Dr Vorster said: “If you think ethics From this stems the convictions – the
implementation has a huge impact on is a soft issue, you haven’t read a things that organisations care about
stakeholders, and society as a whole, newspaper. Ethical failures can sink deeply. From that stems the aspirational
therefore the IITPSA Social and Ethics organisations and harm them and their values, rules and policies, and also the
committee believes it is important for all stakeholders. The business case for informal conduct within the organisation.”
IT professionals to understand how to ethics is to avoid risks such as scandal, Dr Vorster said codes of ethics
behave as an ethical IT professional.” fraud and corruption, client alienation, were important to help people and
Organisational ethics expert Dr Paul high staff turnover, financial penalties organisations to define and apply ethics
Vorster from The Ethics Institute said it and legal liability. The benefits of being effectively.
would be a mistake to regard the topic ethical include enhanced reputation, For IITPSA members, these principles
of ethics as a ‘soft’ or boring issue. “It stakeholder trust, client loyalty, staff amount to: contribute to society and
has a lot of implications for how we morale, sustainability and a high human wellbeing, avoid harm, be
operate. Ethics has become a buzzword; performing organisation. Does it pay to honest and trustworthy, be fair and take
professions are prioritising it because be ethical is difficult to answer, so one action not to discriminate, respect the
they have had major ethical scandals. should rather ask ‘what is the cost of work required to produce new ideas,
One of the hardest hit has been the unethical behaviour?’” inventions, creative works and computing
audit and accounting profession: fraud Ethical and legal are not the same, artifacts, respect privacy, honour
and corruption has seriously damaged he explained. “Ethics or morality are confidentiality, do not seek personal
the profession’s reputation and has well founded standards of right and advantage to the detriment of the
even caused a drop in the uptake of new wrong that prescribe what we ought to Institute, and actively seek to enhance
students studying for the profession. It do in social interactions (or normative the image of the Institute.

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