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Ethics Information Technology It Is Commonly Argued Essay

¶ … Ethics Information Technology

It is commonly argued that information technology and information systems is largely value neutral in the same way that other technologies do not necessarily have any ethical implications by themselves. However, one interesting observation is that such advances in technology can largely influence the power structures of organizational hierarchies and create an opportunity for unethical practices to emerge. For example, take Enron. Enron's board of directors virtually waved the corporate Code of Ethics to allow Enron financial officers to complete the now famous off-balance-sheet deals that ultimately led to their bankruptcy (Williams, 2005).

New technologies such as ERP systems allowed top executives to have more control over the organization. This eliminated some levels of hierarchy...

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Thus although the technology in itself was value neutral, it increased the opportunities for the unethical executives to do their bidding and pad various accounts to cook the books. It is reasonable to suspect that if the practices had to be orchestrated through a larger team then there would have been a greater possibility that someone would have objected to the ethical practices.
2). Explain the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing. 200 words

There many advantages to outsourcing that have been responsible for the escalation of the trend. For example, businesses can outsource nonessential business functions to specialists so that they can…

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Flatworld Solutions. (N.d.). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing. Retrieved from Flatworld Solutions: http://www.flatworldsolutions.com/articles/advantages-disadvantages-outsourcing.php

Williams, M. (2005). IT MATTERS: Ethics, Information Systems, and a Steel Ax. Retrieved from Graziadio Business Review: http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/ethics-information-systems-and-a-steel-ax/
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