Computer ethics: an engineering management paradigm

Most information technology (IT) products have for exhibited exponential unit growth performance annually. This rapid development, alongside the subsequent increased volume use, has led moral philosophers to examine problems raised by IT less by moral judgement than through methods such as normative ethical theory and scenario analysis. This research, though often based in small samples and largely restricted to the USA, indicated a dramatic change in ethical indicators, often termed 'the applied or public turn in philosophy'. Alongside this there appears to be a heightened awareness of the moral repercussions of IT within the computer industry itself; particularly poignant being that of the new generation of computer scientists and engineers within the university sector. The author analysed and compared data from three types of user of IT: postgraduate student, undergraduate student and professional. These were further divided into technical and nontechnical, giving six categories in all. Scenario tests were used to help address nominative difference between various classes. The results showed a considerable similarity with those from an earlier USA survey; in particular professionals were remarkably consistent in their scenario replies. As an output of this survey the author drafted an ethical policy document to act as a focus for engineers and management discussion. The other developments are reported on and the rationale behind them discussed.<>