=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1519/paper8
|storemode=property
|title=An Exploratory Study of Ethical problems in Digital Service and Engineering Project Management
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1519/paper8.pdf
|volume=Vol-1519
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/apsec/MoreBM15
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==An Exploratory Study of Ethical problems in Digital Service and Engineering Project Management==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1519/paper8.pdf
An Exploratory Study of Ethical problems in Digital
Service and Engineering Project Management
Santosh K. More Julian M. Bass Farid Meziane
Computer Science and Software Computer Science and Software Computer Science and Software
Engineering Engineering Engineering
University of Salford University of Salford University of Salford
Manchester, UK Manchester, UK Manchester, UK
S.More@edu.salford.ac.uk
This research focuses on ethical issues in project management These preliminary investigations show that there are different
within India’s digital service industry, which we define [1] as ethical issues present in the digital service industries, that ethical
information technology (IT), telecommunications, software issues are a real concern and that these problems are causing
development, consultancy and business process outsourcing people to change their employer. In the past, people wanted to
(BPO). India is the leading digital service industry nation with change their job for the better remuneration but nowadays they
55% of the global market, including the highest market value need sound ethical practices at their current workplace which is not
(above US$150 billion). The digital services industry is comprised available in the industry. The preliminary results of this study
of over 75% staff below average age 35, with 5.8 million skilled provide evidence of the following eight ethical problems:
staff employed [2]. Indian software exports are approximately favoritism, immorality, partiality, enmity and hate, discrimination,
US$75bn in 2014/15 with an additional US$100bn from the BPO gender difference, misuse of management position, internal project
service sector [3]. disputes and conflicts. Favoritism is the practice of giving unfair
preferences to one person or group of people at the expense of
This research study aims to investigate the ethical problems in another. We use immorality to describe the behavior that is
project management within the digital service industries in India. dishonest or does not follow accepted operational standards.
The main objective of study is to test the hypothesis that ethical Partiality means unfair prejudice or bias in favor of person or
problems are causing high staff attrition rates in the digital service group. Enmity and hate is the unethical action and deep-seated
industries in India. hatred among the individuals. Discrimination is the unjust
treatment to individuals on the basis of their caste, ethnic group,
To investigate our hypothesis we used a mixed method economic status and religion. A gender differences refers to unfair
research approach using a quantitative practitioner survey treatment and inequality trial on the ground of gender. Misuse of
questionnaire and to obtain exploratory qualitative information management position describes the use available resources and
through semi-structured interviews [4]. Initially we sent more than powers improperly or incorrectly. Internal project disputes and
30 quantitative research questionnaire requests to practitioners and conflicts is the psychological, physical and moral struggle within
have received 12 responses to date. We have conducted 4 the group of people in the organization. Although it is opposition
interviews using the quantitative questionnaire, so far. A semi- of needs, values and interests between people working together.
structured interview guide is under development to collect more
information and in which we will triangulate responses from We have compared the code of ethics developed by Computer
managers, employees and human resource department staff Society of India and our findings from practitioners in digital
respectively to identify the ethical problems and challenges in sector in India. We also investigated the code of ethics and
digital service industries. professional conduct developed by Project Management
Institution, USA (PMI) which includes vision and applicability,
We have investigated the code of ethics developed by responsibility, respect, fairness and honest behavior code of
international professional bodies like (PMI [5], ACM [6], IEEE practice [5]. We found evidence of several ethical issues which are
[7], and BCS [8] and also the Computer Society of India. The described in the code of ethics towards individuals’ behavior
codes of ethics related to IT professionals, code of practice towards towards organization, employees, investors and stakeholders.
organizations, employees, clients and community and action However, we also found evidence of several ethical issues that are
against any members who breach the code as well as the not included in the professional code of conduct.
complaints procedure and sequence of action [9]. Gender-based
ethical behavior issues in digital service sector, have been In future, we will conduct more interviews with participants from
investigated by Catalyst India, and concluded that women are digital service industry for data collection. The long term goal of
getting less salary, as compared with men [10]. This is also one of this research study is to improve project management decision
the drawback and major issue in digital industry, as women have making process by proposing recommendations that will, if
same intelligence as men and use their knowledge to complete the implemented, reduce attrition, reduce ethical problems to make a
same tasks as men [10]. healthy working environment in digital service industry.
Workshop on Alternate Workforces for Software Engineering (WAWSE 2015) 52
REFERENCES
[1] Hollingworth L., & Harvey-Price A., (2013, September) [6] ACM Council (1992 Oct 16) ACM Code of Ethics and
Technology and Skills in the Digital Industries Professional Conduct http://www.acm.org/about/code-of-ethics
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/att
achment_data/file/305376/evidence-report-73-technology- [7] IEEE Code of Ethics (2014, June)
http://www.ieee.org/about/ieee_code_of_conduct.pdf
skills-digital-industries.pdf
[8] BCS Code of Conduct (2011, June)
[2] Nasscom India: Remains a matchless business partner
http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/conduct.pdf
http://www.nasscom.in/india-value-proposition
[9] CSI Executive Committee (1993, May 8) Code of ethics for IT
[3] Heeks R., (2015 April 28) Indian IT/Software Sector Statistics: professionals
1980-2015 Time Series Data http://courses.cs.vt.edu/professionalism/WorldCodes/India.Code.ht
https://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/28/indian-itsoftware- ml
sector-statistics-1980-2015-time-series-data/
[10] Shyamsunder A., & Carter N. M., (2014) High Potentials
[4] Creswell, J. W., & Plano, C. V. L. (2007). Designing and Under High Pressure in India’s Technology Sector
conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE http://www.catalyst.org/system/files/high_potentials_under_high_p
Publications. ressure_in_indias_technology_sector_0.pdf
[5] PMI ethics committee (2006 Oct) Code of Ethics and
Professional Conduct (Online) http://www.pmi.org/en/About-
Us/Ethics/~/media/PDF/Ethics/ap_pmicodeofethics.ashx
Workshop on Alternate Workforces for Software Engineering (WAWSE 2015) 53