Information Technology Ethics: Cultural Perspectives

About This Resource
The standards of Information Technology (IT) ethics is an ever changing topic due to many factors. However the major contributing factor is the globalization of businesses which results in firms relying on international markets for success. This results in important issues being raised which require a thorough understanding of the cultural and ethical standards of a particular country. A quote from Pope John Paul II states that “Globalization must not be a new version of colonialism. It must respect the diversity of cultures”. As the  IT sector grows exponentially with more businesses needing IT in order to carry out various business functions. IT ethics is an area where most businesses can work to improve theses ethical issues as IT is the major form of communication between various societies. “IT ethics cannot be analysed without assessing business ethics in general and the cultural environment”.

It is often argued that the internet bridges gaps between cultures and eliminates cultural differences, but due to the nature of online communications it is difficult to determine the exact context and tone of what is being communicated. The Internet also presents us with utterly new ethical challenges for which we have no precedents in our efforts to struggle. If a party is unaware of cultural differences between themselves and the party they are communicating with, effective cross-cultural communication may be impeded severely. The use of email as a global communications tool has become almost universal but is still on the increase. It is thus ever more important that companies educate their employees in cross cultural communications if they wish to participate in effective global business activities.

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Monash Library Details

 * Title: Information technology ethics : cultural perspectives
 * Author: Soraj Hongladarom, 1962-
 * Charles Ess 1951-
 * Subjects: Information technology -- Moral and ethical aspects; Information technology -- Cultural aspects;Business ethics
 * Description: "This book is the first publication that takes a genuinely global approach to the diverse ethical issues evoked by Information and Communication Technologies and their possible resolutions. Readers will gain a greater appreciation for the problems and possibilities of genuinely global information ethics, which are urgently needed as information and communication technologies continue their exponential growth"--Provided by publisher.
 * Related Titles: Series: Premier reference source
 * Series link: Premier reference source
 * Publisher: Hershey, Pa. : Idea Group Pub.
 * Date: 2007
 * Format: xxxv, 222 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
 * Language: English
 * Identifier: ISBN: 9781599043104 ;ISBN: 1599043106 (hardcover) ;ISBN: 1599043114 (softcover) ;ISBN: 1599043122 (ebook)