Assignment on the SDX Alliance company

Table of Contents

Introduction 2

Case Study: 2

Case Study and Relevance 2

Facts and Unknown Facts 3

Known Facts 3

Unknow Facts 3

Major Issues 3

Relation to Technology 4

Identification of Stakeholders 4

Direct Stakeholders 4

Indirect Stakeholders 5

Approaches for a Solution 5

Decision 5

Conclusion 5

References 5

Introduction of the SDX Alliance company

A new software engineer Ralph is hired at entry level in the SDX Alliance company and the job role of Ralph is to writing code for a new hard disk controller because he has experience in this domain. He had also previous experience in the same field to write a code that enhances the value and performance of the product. At SDX Alliance, he used a similar code that was identified during the reviewing process for the assurance of the quality of a product. That was the mistake of Ralph because this code still the intellectual property of the company and the reason is that Ralph was not familiar with the law of copyright.

Case Study of the SDX Alliance company

Locate the full case study in the following link: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/foucs-areas/more/engineering-ethics/engineering-ethics-cases/copyright-concerns/

Case Study and Relevance of the SDX Alliance company

In this case, the performance of a new person hired at the entry-level for the software engineer in SDX Alliance was Ralph. He had an experience of writing code to enhance the performance and value of the product. The concern was that Ralph had used the same code that was used in his previous company, and code was the intellectual property of that company. The Ralph had not any idea about his mistake that depicts the lack of professional concerns in Ralph. This activity of Ralph was unethical as he had violated the law of copyright and use the code of his previous job. 

Facts and Unknown Facts of the SDX Alliance company

The facts of this case are simple as Ralph was the employee as an entry-level. He used the code of his previous job that was not currently using in that company. Hence, Ralph used a similar code without having any right. This mistake was identified during the quality assurance process of the product as a user code was the property of Ralph previous company. Thus, it depicts the violation of the laws of copyrights by Ralph. Also, unknown facts were identified that the manager did not notice that Ralph was using similar code of his previous company and how he is working without taking any information about the coding of the product. Also, Ralph did not have an idea of how much he was creating issues for the SDX Alliance company. 

Known Facts of the SDX Alliance company

• Ralph was an entry-level employee

• Ralph used a similar code without having any right

• Mistake was identified during the quality assurance of the product

• It represents the copyrights violation

Unknow Facts of the SDX Alliance company

• Manager did not notice that Ralph was using previous company’s code 

• he is working without taking any information of the coding of the product 

• He did not have an idea that he was creating problems for the SDX Alliance 

Major Issues of the SDX Alliance company

The major issue of this case study was plagiarism of copyright and unethical activity of the newly hired employee Ralph. The reason for unethical activity is to gain personal benefit and interest to achieve success within a short time. In this case, the primary issue was to use the same code for the best performance of the product. Due to usage of the same code for SDX Alliance company as he used previously to conserve the time and spend spare time with entertainment and enjoyment. Even he did not inform anyone about the usage of the previously used code that depicts the selfish behavior of Ralph. Another issue is the management as the manager did not monitor the performance of Ralph but happy with the speedy improvement in the performance of products. 

• Copyright and unethical activity of the newly hired employee

• Unethical activity is to gain personal benefit and interest to achieve success within a short time

• Using previously used code ulization for best performance

• He used to spend spare time in entertainment and enjoyment

• Managemnet did not monitor Ralph performance 

Relation to Technology of the SDX Alliance company

The case study of SDX Alliance company is related to technology as Ralph had used the intellectual property of his previous company. The privacy issue is raised as the intellectual property of a company was used that may destroy the growth of the company. As the previous code of other company used again for SDX Alliance wa completely unethical as well as illegal that can create multiple problems for SDX Alliance and the other company will have the strong  point and will have evidence to take SDX Alliance company into court. Furthermore, the second aspect of using previous code can also create the privacy issue and cause of the leakage of confidential information of the company. The code usage issue is representing both intellectual property and privacy issues becase Ralph was using code without permission that can cause of damage of the privacy of the company. 

Identification of Stakeholders of the SDX Alliance company

Stakeholders play a significant role in the development and success of a company because they have a potential impact on the growth rate. According to the case study, the major stakeholders are the owner of the company where Ralph had previous experience of writing code of products, Ralph and SDX Alliance company. 

Direct Stakeholders of the SDX Alliance company

• Owner / Director 

• CEO

• Develpers / employees 

• Management

• Board members 

• Investors 

• Quality Assurance

Indirect Stakeholders of the SDX Alliance company

• Customers 

• Government Agencies 

• Other Software companies 

Approaches for a Solution of the SDX Alliance company

Different approaches are used to overcome the unethical activity of the Ralph, and thus here virtue approach is used to resolve the issues and maintain the values of the company. Virtue approach is used that emphasis on the building of character of an individual as develop thinking within the boundary of ethics and act themselves. Hence, it is good for the SDX Alliance a giving chance to Ralph to develop virtue ethics and behave ethically during the operational activities of the company. By adopting this approach, other employees will also encourage to perform ethically and dedication to gain reward from the company and develop good reputation of the company among its competitors. The reason for the selection of this approach is that it enables the individual to behave ethically and become the virtuous person, and there is no law to resolve the ethical issues through ethical practices. 

The other ethical approach as an alternative of the virtue approach is fairness or Justic approach. The reason to choose this approach as an alternate is that it guides the positive person should be treated positively and the negative personality must be treated as the impact of his unethical activities. The approach is providing facility to take a decision in two words “yes” or “no”. If the mistake of the employee is bearable then he will be trained and worn him not to perform such kind of activities again. If the employee is repeating his actions consetively then the management can release him. Other employees will also be worned by this step and they always work in the ethical way.