Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Another argument against ETHICS is that it removes the rights of managers to man-
age, which could have dramatic impacts in the development of the system as well as
cause conflict issues within the organisation. The strong focus of the ETHIC method
on participation affords it many benefits as discussed earlier in the paper However
this strong use of participation can also cause problems in a systems development
process including:
•
management/workforce distrust;
•
working with managers tends to inhibit workforce;
•
conflicts of interest between stakeholders/stress;
•
users can't visualise rapidly developing computing possibilities;
•
team working skills are required;
•
consensual solutions unlikely to be radical;
•
technical experts feel demoted to advisers.
The simple answer to this is that each systems development project needs to be as-
sessed as being suitable for the use of ETHICS as in the case of any chosen method-
ology. One methodology may suit a particular development well whilst another would
prove to be incredibly ineffective. In the “correct” situation ETHICS can provide an
invigorating and dynamic experience for an entire organisation.
Mumford (2003) argues that ETHICS places emphasis on identifying new
approaches to tasks and problems and new relationships within and outside the or-
ganisation and that this is the strength of ETHICS. Mumford (1996) also argues that
importance of designing for the future, hence the structural approach to ensure suc-
cessful design. Mumford was also interested in change and the way it is reflected in
society and organisations. She accepted change as a principle that pervades modern
societies and their organisations. At the same time, she believed that change is not
something that must be suffered passively but that should be embraced. Change must
"always be accepted by the participants" (Mumford and Ward, 1968; Stahl, 2007).
Examining the basis for Mumford's work is a refreshing change from reviewing
the literature concerning many other methodologies. Where other methodologies
make assumptions about the intent of the various stakeholders and concentrate on
structure and process issues, Mumford is interested in values and their relationship to
technology and work.
Much of Mumford's research has focussed upon the discourse between technology,
organisations and staff within those organisations. These issues are as important now
as they were in the late 1960's. The authors intend to carry on Enid Mumford's re-
search into Socio-Technical approaches looking at issue in relation to Information
Security and the impact that Internet based systems can have, the authors have already
used a variation of ETHICS called SIM-ETHICS to assist in the implementation of
security technologies within an organisation (Warren and Batten, 2002).
5 Conclusion
Enid Mumford passed away in 2006. Her research achievements were recognised by a
number of international prizes. In 1983, she won the US Warnier prize for her
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