ETHICS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS: THE CORPORATE DOMAIN.

Author List: Smith, H. Jeff; Hasnas, John;
MIS Quarterly, 1999, Volume 23, Issue 1, Page 109-127.
IS-related ethical quandaries are receiving an increasing amount of attention. However, linkages to the normative theories of business ethics, which can be used in resolving these quandaries in the corporate domain, have been lacking. This paper enumerates and explains the three major normative theories. The stockholder theory holds that managers should resolve ethical quandaries by taking actions which increase the long-term profits to the stockholders without violating the law or engaging in fraud or deception. The stakeholder theory claims that managers should resolve ethical quandaries by balancing stakeholder interests without violating the rights of any stakeholder. The social contract theory states that managers should increase social welfare above what it would be in the absence of the existence of corporations without violating the basic canons of justice. The application of these theories to IS-related ethical quandaries is discussed and a specific quandary dealing with a real-world example--Blockbuster Video's reported plans to market customer lists--is explored in depth. The managerial challenges associated with the theories are then explored.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility; ethical quandries; Ethics; theoretical frameworks
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#156 0.154 ethical ethics ambidexterity responsibility codes moral judgments code behavior professional act abuse judgment professionals morality effect issues unethical intentions personal
#110 0.114 theory theories theoretical paper new understanding work practical explain empirical contribution phenomenon literature second implications different building based insights need
#54 0.108 approach conditions organizational actions emergence dynamics traditional theoretical emergent consequences developments case suggest make organization point outcomes recent trajectory claims
#294 0.094 development systems methodology methodologies information framework approach approaches paper analysis use presented applied assumptions based proposed described examines basis proposes
#122 0.090 attention utilization existing codification model received does limitations theories receiving literature paying causes additional building examine examination focusing technological initial
#68 0.086 business units study unit executives functional managers technology linkage need areas information long-term operations plans mission large understand knowledge current
#150 0.070 issues management systems information key managers executives senior corporate important importance survey critical corporations multinational managing interviews study results concerns
#3 0.067 problems issues major involved legal future technological impact dealing efforts current lack challenges subsystem related highly present addressing likely recommendations
#234 0.064 social networks influence presence interactions network media networking diffusion implications individuals people results exchange paper sites evidence self-disclosure important examine