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Judgements about Computer Ethics: Do Individual, Co-worker, and Company Judgements Differ? Do Company Codes Make a Difference

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Abstract

When faced with an ambiguous ethical situation related to computer technology (CT), the individual's course of action is influenced by personal experiences and opinions, consideration of what co-workers would do in the same situation, and an expectation of what the organization might sanction. In this article, the judgement of over three-hundred Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) members concerning the actions taken in a series of CT ethical scenarios are examined. Respondents expressed their personal judgement, as well as their perception of their co-workers' judgement, and their understanding of the organization's judgement of the actions described in the scenarios. The findings show that there are differences in respondents' judgements for self, co-workers, and organization. Definitive patterns were also found between groups with and without organizational codes related to CT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Math/Computer Science, Georgia Southern University, Box 8093, Statesboro, GA, 30460, U.S.A.

    Margaret Anne Pierce

  2. Management/MIS, Georgia Southern University, Box 8152, Statesboro, GA, 30460, U.S.A.

    John W. Henry

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  1. Margaret Anne Pierce
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  2. John W. Henry
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Pierce, M.A., Henry, J.W. Judgements about Computer Ethics: Do Individual, Co-worker, and Company Judgements Differ? Do Company Codes Make a Difference. Journal of Business Ethics 28, 307–322 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006324404561

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