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Ethical And Societal Impacts Of Ict (Bbit 412) Question Paper
Ethical And Societal Impacts Of Ict (Bbit 412)
Course:Computer Information Systems And Business Information Technology
Institution: Kenya Methodist University question papers
Exam Year:2010
TIME : 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS Answer Question ONE and any Other TWO Questions
Question 1
a) Define the following terms:
i) Ethics
ii) Information rights
iii) Privacy (6marks)
b) Ethical theorists say, “Ethical issues long preceded information and communication technology (ICT)–they are the abiding concerns of free societies everywhere”. Nevertheless, ICT has heightened ethical concerns, put stress on existing social arrangements, and made existing laws obsolete or severely crippled. Discuss with examples, the four (4) key technological trends that have heightened ethical concerns.(8marks)
c) It is said that ethical, social and political issues are connected. Briefly discuss the ethical, social and political issues raised by ICT. (9marks)
d) You are employed as an IT administrator in a School and have been asked by the headmaster to monitor the school''s computers for websites visited by the teaching staff. What are the professional issues relating to this request (7marks)
Question 2
a) Differentiate between:
i) Responsibility and Accountability
ii) Liability and Due process (4marks)
b) Outline the five (5) steps in conducting an ethical analysis (5marks)
c) Identify and describe six ethical principles. (6marks)
d) Discuss with examples, as an IT professional, the reasons contemporary information systems technology pose challenges to the protection of individual privacy and intellectual property. Use the Internet environment as a reference. (5marks)
Question 3
a) What is a “Professional Codes of Conduct” (2marks)
b) Give three examples of associations of professional bodies in Kenya that have promulgated Professional Codes of Conduct and the scope under which they operate.(6marks)
c) Discuss the roles that informed consent, legislation, industry-self regulation and technology tools play in protecting individual privacy and information rights of Internet users. (8marks)
d) Mwana-Arusi is a single mother who has a full-time job and is studying 2 evening courses per semester and is under pressure to graduate at the end of the year but also wants to spend time with her child. One professor requires 4 assignments for the course (far more than is usual)–she has ‘A’ grades for the first 3 assignments but she does not have time to study and produce the final report. She purchases an essay from an online company and passes it off as her own. In your opinion is Mwana-Arusi’s action morally justifiable? Give reasons for your answer. (4marks)
Question 4
a) Name and describe four (4) ‘quality of life’ impacts of computers and information systems. (8marks)
b) Internet access is increasing worldwide, but its cost can exacerbate cleavages between urban and rural areas as well as between different social classes and ethnic groups. Information, knowledge, computers, and access to these resources through educational institutions and public libraries are inequitably distributed along ethnic and social class lines, as many other information resources. Required:
i) Explain what the Government of Kenya is doing to narrow this ‘digital divide’. (6marks)
ii) Will social, economic, and cultural gaps that exist in Kenya and other societies be reduced by ICT or will the cleavages be increased, permitting the ‘better off’ to become better off relative to others? Give reasons for your answer.(6marks)
Question 5
a) Distinguish between computer crime and computer abuse. Use illustrative examples.(4marks)
b) Give two (2) examples of Internet crimes and two (2) examples of Internet abuse. Show how ICT can be used to control them. (6marks)
c) Most organizations have not developed corporate ICT code of ethics, leaving their employees in the dark about expected correct behaviour. Explain how organizations can develop corporate ICT policies (both code of ethics and social responsibility policies). (10marks)
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