MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

Ethical Legal and Cultural Issues of MIS



Ethical Legal and Cultural Issues of MIS

Introduction

In the context of ethical practices at the workplace while monitoring employees' computers, we will discuss the ethics behind the mentioned task. The monitoring software used to spy on a person's Internet activities. There are software programs today that can track everything you do on the computer; record instant message conversations, emails sent and received for registration, and registration of all websites visited. Programs can be hidden from the unsuspecting user, and the user usually has no idea about the task.

The purpose of remote access is primarily to troubleshoot a remote user without the need to travel or move the machine, a password must be provided at the time of access, information on the screens allow the remote user to know that someone gains access to his machine, these tools are used most often at work, so privacy is not at stake here and then ethically it must also count (Parker, 1979). By cons, hackers are always trying ways to infiltrate anywhere with any possible means.

The responses appear to be widespread fear that could be defined as "big brother syndrome." It is accepted invasion of privacy by either the government or firms. They prefer more indirect means such as increasing the allocations to the employees to understand and change their unethical behaviours. However, other studies have shown an increase of monitoring the companies to their workers whether computer monitoring, for video, investment, entry and parking, especially the growing ability to control the growing number of mails that are exchanged daily. This behaviour by the companies, made without workers' knowledge is not considered ethical.

Moreover, these new forms of work also weaken the participation and social cohesion in the workplace. In the centres of virtual work, there is no place for concepts such as work culture, solidarity, teamwork, social responsibility, and ethical values. Today's world with information technology so widespread and growing is certainly different from the world of yesterday. Seem to have been a process of feedback between society and technology that has determined the structures which today we face. This is also conditional responses to emerging issues (Wang, 2011).

Discussion

An essential component in the success of managing data is the Management Information System (MIS), a database of personal information about each employee. Because of the power to access and use MIS data, managers must be aware of the ethical and legal issues associated with both the creation and use of those data in the MIS (Johnson, et al., 1994).

Ethical Issues

"Privacy issues are maturing and employers are going to have to act responsibly in order to preserve [employees'] rights". There is no general federal or state law creating or protecting privacy in the workplace.

The privacy and the protection of personal data are among the major challenges in the development of information and Communication technology (ICT) systems and applications. Potential vulnerabilities caused by technical and human Vulnerabilities arise (e.g. aggressive unsolicited commercial e-mails (Spam), malware, phishing), ...