Business Ethics and Technology, Essay Example

The focus of this chapter is on the ethics of technology in the context of business, so the chapter emphasizes the potential and actual risks and downsides of technology. It also does not delve very deeply into a discussion about how technology has transformed our personal lives. For every aspect of technology that has negative implications, there are also benefits to the way it can facilitate communication, provide educational and developmental opportunities, and otherwise streamline and enhance many aspects of our personal and professional lives.

There is no question that society is intoxicated with technology. Cell phones, computers, ATMs, automobiles and thousands of other types of hardware and software dominate the daily lives of billions of people around the globe. A device such as the iPad, which is largely designed to be used passively, while users “consume” music, films, books, and other forms of media, has been purchased by millions and millions of people. We have become so used to technology that we do not question whether this abundance of technology is a good thing. This is what has allowed the NSA and private organizations to build a surveillance state that monitors our activities and communications.

As the book states, “everything seems magnified in the e-world.” Businesses routinely collected personal information on their customers before the advent of the Internet, but contemporary technology makes it possible to collect, store, and share more information more quickly and easily than ever before. Issues such as identity theft highlight the types of serious problems that can arise when personal information is compromised. A recent news story on the hacking of Target Department stores claims that the store saw clues that it was being hacked and did nothing about it, because beefing up security would also mean giving up a lot of private information on their customers.

Technology may make it easier and faster to get work done, but it also allows employers to monitor employees in ways that sometimes exceed the limits of appropriate behavior. Employers monitor the use of work-related technology, such as visits to websites or cell phone use. Employers are also monitoring off-site And after-hours activity, such as the use of social media, and employees have sometimes lost their jobs for extracurricular activities. This demonstrates how the very definition of what it means to have privacy is changing in the age of the Internet, as nothing that is posted to the Internet is ever truly private. Individuals who wish to have privacy must literally abandon the use of the Internet, cell phones, credit and debit cards, and other technology, a choice which is becoming practically impossible for most people. It is too much of a generalization to say that “business is abusing its power,” but it is clear that in some instances this is the case.

There are very clear ethical implications related to the business use of cell phones, text messaging, and other technology. It is now possible for employers to monitor virtually every aspect of their employees’ use of such technology, from who they call to the content of messages to their location throughout the day. In this context it is a simple matter for an employer to cross ethical boundaries related to the privacy of their employees.

At the same time, this monitoring also protects the employer, as it indicates whether employees are doing their jobs correctly and appropriately. The book offers an example of an employee who lied about being sick and was later caught by his employer, who had GPS technology installed in the employee’s cell phone. This example shows how complicated the ethical issues related to technology are, as employers can now monitor so many aspects of an employee’s daily life even when he or she is not at work.

GMFs raise a legitimate safety hazard, or at least a potential safety hazard, simply because there seems to be a lack of appropriate studies and research to determine whether or not they pose health risks. Also, the range of what constitutes a “GMF” varied widely, from making a plant more resistant to disease to changing its size, shape, or other factor. The FDA has been reluctant to mandate the labeling of GMFs, and producers argue that such labels would create inappropriate fears. According to the book, it is only a minority of scientists and researchers who oppose GMFs. For now the consumer sector seems to be leading the way, as companies are marketing their non-GMF products. In a case where not enough information is known, it seems appropriate to insist that GMF foods be labeled so that consumers can make informed decisions.