Social and Economic Impacts of IT

1. Social and Economic Impacts of IT Professor Matt Thatcher

2. Today • Who am I? • Introduction to IT issues and problems • Course overview and organization • syllabus • schedule • assignments • Course website • http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748 • Frameworks for ethical analysis • Get your email addresses and pictures

3. Who am I? • Associate Professor of MIS • The Wharton School, University of Penn • Ph.D and M.S. in Information Technology / Economics • B.S. in Finance and Decision Sciences • Research interests • economic impact of IT on firms/industry • IT value • software patent policy design • It offshoring • Course information • http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748 • matt.thatcher@unlv.edu

4. What Are the Benefits of IT? • Computer games • Digital technologies (movies, tv, music, library retrieval) • Business applications • Internet • Automobiles and trucks • Education and training • Crime fighting • Health and medicine • Tools for the disabled

5. What are the Problems, Risks, and Controversies with IT? • Information Privacy • consumer privacy vs. access to information • workplace privacy vs. access to information • civil liberties vs. law enforcement • Freedom of speech vs. control of content on the internet • Intellectual property rights • Computer security and computer crimes • IT safety and reliability vs. fast market entry

6. How Do We Examine These IT Issues? • What? • what is the description of what is happening? What new technology is being implemented in what context? • So what? • what are the benefits of the IT and the concerns and problems introduced by the IT? What are the different perspectives in the context? • Now what? • what are the potential solutions to the problem?

7. ATMs:A Simple Example • What are the benefits of ATMs? • What are the negative aspects of ATMs? • unemployment • lower levels of customer service • crime • loss of privacy • errors • Does this mean that ATMs are bad? • How can we manage and minimize the problems? What are some solutions?

8. Other Examples

9. Course Administration • Course website • http://faculty.unlv.edu/thatcher/mis748 • course materials, notes, announcements, etc. • Course goal • learn about the social, economic, ethical, and legal issues generated by the use of computers and computer networks, including the Internet. • I want you to be able to see, express, and discuss different perspectives of controversial and complex issues related to IT. • Teaching style • lectures • case studies (every class) • interactive, in-class assignments and discussions • student presentations

10. Administrivia - Class Structure • Registration • everyone registered? • Syllabus • look over very carefully • Readings • required book • downloadable documents • Schedule • this is the most important resource for class

11. Administrivia - Class Structure • Grading • Exams (2) 30% • Term Paper 15% • Presentation 5% • Case Reports (6) 30% • Participation 15% • Attendance 5% • Regarding missed exams • Honor code

12. Frameworks for Ethical Analysis Professor Matt Thatcher

13. Ethical Frameworks • Teleological • ends/outcome • gives priority to the good of society in general over the rights of individuals • the right action is that which produces the most net benefit to society (or optimizes social welfare) • the right action depends on the outcome or consequence • no intrinsically evil acts • Deontological • means/process • gives priority to the rights of individuals or obligation of duty over the good of society in general • the right action is independent of the outcome or consequence • actions are intrinsically wrong or right based on duty or rights

14. Ethical Frameworks • Teleological • end (utility, happiness,…..) • utilitarianism • maximize social utility (not just individual utility) • moral calculus • how do you measure happiness, benefits, costs? • automobile example • how do you avoid self-serving assumptions and biases? • Lockheed (American aerospace company) • long-run vs. short-run • how can it go wrong?

15. Ethical Frameworks • Deontological • duty based • Immanuael Kant • Kant’s categorical imperative -- “ I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law.” • Universal Acceptability • would disinterested and affected parties agree • publicity test • moral law = respect for other human beings • rights based • human or legal rights (free speech, privacy, property rights) • what are moral rights or duties? What happens if two moral duties or rights conflict?

16. Steps for Ethical Analysis(Case Reports) • Identify the “ethical dilemma (or question)” in the case. • pose an open-ended question that generated many potential answers, not one that can be answered with a “yes” or “no”. • Discuss the role that information technology played in creating the special circumstances of the case. • List the stakeholders in the case. • clearly state a right or duty of each stakeholder. • List and describe alternative courses of action that may be taken and determine the likely consequences of each proposed action for each stakeholder. • list and describe at least four (4) alternative course of action. • Analyze the case from a teleological perspective. • Make sure to explain!!!!! Think about a cost/benefit analysis. • Analyze this case from a deontological perspective. • Make sure to explain!!!!! If there are competing rights which rights have priority and why? • Describe your normative recommendation in this case (what actions would you recommend – law, norms, market forces, technology). What is the basis of your recommendation (teleological or deontological)? • This is worth the most points. Do not cut this discussion short!

17. Types of Solutions to Consider • Law • copyrights, patents, trademarks, privacy laws • Industry norms (self-regulation) • Common Industry Formats (CIFs) • third-party enforcement programs such as privacy seal programs • Market forces • consumer awareness and action and competition • management solutions (corporate privacy policies) • Technology solutions • cookies, anonymizers, filtering software, encryption, digital rights management systems

18. Next Time • Read through the materials provided on the course website. • Read the “Capital One” case and complete the “Short Essay” assignment for next class • note that “Short Essays” have different requirements than “Case Reports” • Purchase the book required for this course from the UNLV Bookstore (phone: 736-3955) • Spinello, Richard A. Case Studies in Information Technology Ethics (2nd Edition). Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2003.