Ethical Analysis

Final Project
Ethical Case Analysis of Your Current Events Topic
Due Dates

• Report due in Canvas.  Due date posted in Canvas.

Aims

1. Confirm that you are able to conduct an ethical analysis of a socio-technical scenario
   (a computing-related issue that affects people).
2. Confirm that you are able to use the ethical theories and professional codes of ethics we have learned to analyze a socio-technical scenario.

Final Project
This ethical analysis will count as the IS 350 Final.  You will write a full analysis of the scenario that was assigned as your current event topic.  This is an individual examination project, not a group project.  Each person will do the full analysis (all parts) on their own, submitting that analysis to Canvas as your Final.
Scenario Notes:   The Final analyzes the current events scenario and ethical dilemma that you were assigned as part of the Current Events assignment.  You can tweak the assigned scenario if necessary, but you first must obtain instructor permission.”
Preparation
Review Week 2 slides on doing an ethical analysis and watch the 5-video series on How to Do an Ethical Analysis., Then practice doing an ethical case analysis on some cases from class or the Quinn text.
Project – Analysis Format
Citation Note:  If you utilize materials you’ve found, be sure use inline citations (e.g., [1] or superscripts¹) at the appropriate places within your statement and analysis sections that refer to the references in a bibliography.
Identification Section
Include “IS 350 Final”, and your name, section of IS 350 and current events topic, as part of the first page.
Statement Section
Describe your Current Events scenario, giving any necessary background on your current events topic.  This section should be at least two full paragraphs.

1. Present and explain your scenario in enough detail so the rest of the analysis is clear. Include any additional information necessary for understanding the rest of your analysis (including, if necessary, any background information regarding your current events topic).  You may modify and use appropriate text from your midterm.
2. Present the ethical dilemma
3. Let the reader know why your topic is an important topic to the Computing field.
4. Clearly state the ethical issue(s) that arise in your scenario.

Analysis Sections
Format: As you know, an ethical analysis includes the following 9 sections.  Write each section separately, marked with its own section title.  You must include your Scenario and Ethical Dilemma in the beginning of the document.
Unique Analysis: Everyone’s analysis will be different.  Your scenario will lead you to identify its particular moral agents, stakeholder, courses of action and consequences.  You will uniquely apply the ethical theories to your scenario and choose the most relevant codes of ethics for it.

1. Identify the moral agents (agency).
2. What of value is at stake?
3. Who/what are the stakeholders and briefly explain why each is a stakeholder?
4. 2 possible courses of action (the moral agent doing the action of the scenario and the. moral agent not doing the action of the scenario).
   • Start a new paragraph for each. Begin that paragraph by stating: “A possible course of action is XXX”.
   • Describe the course of action clearly enough for the reader to understand your analysis.
   • Be sure that one course of action is the action in the scenario and another course of action is not doing the action in the scenario.
5. Consequences associated with each course of action for each stakeholder.
   • For each, state: “A(nother) consequence of the action XXX is YYY”.
6. Analyze the scenario by applying the 5 objective ethical theories
   • You will need 5 clearly marked subsections, one for each theory (Kantianism, Act Utilitarianism, Rule Utilitarianism, Social Contract Theory, Virtue Theory).  How to apply each theory is shown in the assigned materials for Weeks 2 and 3.
   • You are to analyze the scenario based on the premise that the Moral Agent does the action.
7. Identify relevant clauses. in the two Codes of Ethics. Explain why each is relevant and if the clause is violated or not and why that is so You will need 2 clearly marked subsections, one for the ACM Code of Ethicsand the other for the Software Engineering Code of Ethics.
   • You must have a minimum of three (3) clauses from each Code of Ethics.
   • Give the clause number, summarize the actual clause and then state howand why each would apply to this situation.
   • The clauses in the codes are generic enough that several codes can easily apply.
     (Warning: Do not state that no clauses apply because they are software related if your case study is not about software.  There are broader principles that do apply because your ethics scenario does concern computing and/or the design of systems with socio-technical aspects.
8. Which concrete action do you would recommend (supported by your analysis). This must be one of the actions proposed in number 4 above.  Justify by clearly explaining why. State specific results of the analysis that support your recommendation
9. Bibliography: The bibliography is not part of your page count BUT must include at least three (3) sources.    Use APA or MLA format – see the “Understanding Citations” link on Canvas.

 
Deliverables, Length, Format, Timing – What to Submit on Canvas
Your analysis deliverable may be any length up to 9 pages (not counting the bibliography).  Format this double-spaced with one-inch margins all around, 12-point font, Times New Roman.
Late submissions will not be accepted unless there are extenuating circumstances and prior approval of the instructor has been received.
 
SUBMIT ONE DOCUMENT CONTAINING YOUR ANALYSIS to TurnItIn by using the link in the Canvas module for the Final Report. You will also have to copy and paste the sections in your document to the Final Report for Grading assignment to actually receive a grade.
Notes

• Use the Grading Rubric (posted on Canvas) as a checklist to double check your report.
• You must use the subject headings and subheadings from sections 1-9 above
• Late submissions WILL NOT be accepted and will be given a grade of zero.
• You must submit to both links on Canvas (one for Turnitin and one for grading) or your report will receive a grade of zero