Problem Action Consequence Technique-Free-Samples for Students

Question: You are required to analyse the Ethical Dilemma you have Identified above using the Problem-Action-Consequence Technique (PACT). Answer: Introduction The case study that has been described in the YouTube video presents the situation of an un-tested system that is being passed for go-live. The test manager associated with the project is Ken and he has been informed about the release of the system in the untested state as per the demands by the project client and stakeholders. Ken refuses to accept the decision as he understands the adverse implications of such a step in the long run (Youtube, 2017). Ethical Problems The project schedule experienced multiple changes during the timeline of the project. The project client has again put up a request to receive the final release of the system before the original deadline. Due to such changes in the project schedule, system testing has not been completed. There are certain modules of the system that are still in the un-tested state that may bring up functional errors and non-functional defects during the usage of the system by the end user. The project lifecycle comprises of a series of steps. Some of these steps are mandatory and extremely significant in nature. System testing is one of such phases that must be carried out. In this case, the release of the system would lead to system delivery in an untested state that may bring up the issues of system defects that may lead to performance and quality issues for the users (Bostrom, 2013). There may be operational errors that may also be experienced by the end-users. Set of Actions The senior management has decided to deliver the system in the untested state. The system might have certain defects and the action may impact the stakeholders associated with the system in the following manner. Client: The project client will not be able to experience the desired functionalities and benefits due to the defects present in the system. End Users: The user engagement and satisfaction levels will be low. Project Team Members: The project team will be held accountable for the defects in the system and their performance will be questioned by the top management. Alternative Actions as per Ethics There are certain actions that the project team may take instead of agreeing with the demand of the project client to deliver the system before its due deadline. One of the essential steps that should have been taken is the project estimations during the planning phase of the project. The client requirements and expectations experienced frequent changes and therefore, the estimations should have been done accordingly (Peslak, 2007). Following are the set of actions that Ken may take during the timeline of the project. Agreeing with the senior management to meet the customer demand by delivering untested system. Resignation from the company Preparation and explanation of the presentation in front of the senior management describing a detailed account of the implications of the decision to go ahead with the untested system delivery. Consequences of the Action Ethical standards and guidelines must be followed by the team members of the project during the project execution (Schultz, 2010). There is a defined series of steps that must be followed in a project timeline that comprise of planning, execution, implementation testing, control and closure. All of these phases must be executed by adhering to the professional and ethical codes of conduct. In the case study, the senior management is willing to miss out on the testing phase in order to meet the customer expectations without letting the customer know about such an issue. There are different ethical theories that have been applied to understand the ethical consequences of such an action. Ethical theory of Consequentialism is a normative theory that evaluates the act on the basis of the series of the outcomes. If the outcomes are evaluated as positive in nature and beneficial to all then the act is termed as ethical and vice versa (Dorsey, 2012). The consequences of the action in this case will include the decreased customer satisfaction and engagement due to the operational and performance issues in the system, deteriorated team and organizational reputation along with losses experienced by the project client. Due to all of these outcomes, the act is termed as incorrect on the ethical grounds and principles of this theory (Slote, 2008). Deontology ethics is a normative ethical theory that evaluates the ethical correctness on the basis of the rules that are defined for a particular task or an activity. As per the rules of a business project, there are certain phases that must be carried out before delivery the project to the client. In this case, the management is willing to miss out on the testing phase without letting the project client know about such a decision. There is a clear non-adherence to the defined rules that is observed. Due to all of these reasons, the act is termed as incorrect on the ethical grounds and principles of this theory (Gaus, 2001). There are certain virtues and traits that are observed in the scenario as described in the case study. Some of these traits include selfish interests before the interest of the client, dishonesty and incompetence. These traits are negative in nature and therefore, the act is termed as unethical as per the theory of Virtue Ethics (Carr, 2004). Recommended Steps There are three options recommended that may be taken by the project team, Test Manager and senior management. The option recommended as an action that shall be taken is the last one that says that the Test Manager must present the set of outcomes that may take place due to the delivery of untested system to the project client. There may be operational and performance issues that may come up as an outcome. Also, there may be security vulnerabilities that may be present in the system that may have an extremely adverse implication. All of such issues must be explained by Ken to the senior management which shall then be informed to the project client. There shall be additional resources that must be included in the team to speed up the testing process to deliver the project before the original deadline. In this manner, all of the project phases will be executed and the client expectations will also be met. References Bostrom, N. (2013). The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://intelligence.org/files/EthicsofAI.pdf Carr, D. (2004). Virtue Ethics and Moral Education. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://ebook.umaha.ac.id/E-BOOK%20ON%20EDUCATION/RELATIONSHIP%20BEETWEN%20EDUC%20_%20MORAL,%20ETHIC,%20RELIGION,%20TRUTH,%20_%20PHILOSOPHY/VIRTUE%20ETHICS%20_%20MORAL%20EDUC,%20David%20Carr.pdf Dorsey, D. (2012). Consequentialism, Cognitive Limitations, and Moral Theory. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://people.ku.edu/~ddorsey/agency.pdf Gaus, G. (2001). What is Deontology?, Part One: Orthodox Viewsa. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://www.gaus.biz/deontology1.pdf Peslak, A. (2007). Information technology intellectual property ethics: issues and analysis. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/70ab/477752c78990466179afd38446bcbce97601.pdf Schultz, R. (2010). The Role of IT in the Ethics of Globalization. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://iisit.org/Vol7/IISITv7p353-368Schultz729.pdf Slote, M. (2008). Satisficing Consequentialism. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://www.princeton.edu/~ppettit/papers/1984/Satisficing%20Consequentialism.pdf Youtube. (2017). A dilemma in IT: Select action end of video and see its consequence. YouTube. Retrieved 13 August 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mugeCY3vbxo