Assignment on Professional and social issues in computing

Description of Professional and social issues in computing:

Electronic commerce referred to as the commercial transaction that is done by some electronic medium. It more commonly related to buying and selling things online. They also offer membership to one of the regular consumers they have. After subscribing they get free discount. In this era E-Commerce have strongly modified the market place by giving different advantages. They are available 24/7. Less in cost and quality that they provide is reasonably great. As we know that every benefit of the internet also come up wit some disadvantages which confuse people and they become able to decide that whether they should use them or not.

This case study emphasizes on the ethical issue like treating people “A cog in a Machine”

Summary of the case study of Professional and social issues in computing:

At the Washington university, George is a junior student who use Amazon very often in order to buy some goods regarding college like textbooks and supplies. He took a step to use amazon prime account because he is a frequent user of the amazon so in this way, he can save some charges. George use that site 3 to 4 times. One day George went through something shocking in internet that was “Worse than Wal-Mart: Amazon’s sick brutality and secret history of ruthlessly intimidating workers”. He came to know that here employee is treated as Cog in a Machine rather than treating as a human being, amazon use technology in order to track motion and productivity through their employees. The company has gone through many research projects to find out the fastest way to get to the task. Every employee is instructed to keep in mind one best way in order to complete the task with more efficiency. Workplace pressure was further added knowledge to George.

Amazon use an approach commonly called as three strike approach and flame the employee is fails three times. George got so confuse after reading that article as he already subscribed to prime account and have played the amount there.

Known and unknown facts of Professional and social issues in computing:

George subscribed to amazon prime account as he thought that this will help him in saving some money. In one month, he uses that site for like three to five times. One day George got to know about the rough behavior of the amazon company toward their employees that they use three strike approach and then fire him/her. Some unknown facts that are involved are George I student and is not earning o it cannot make us think about his membership in prime account and also the technology name that is used to monitor employee is not given. And there is not clear statement for the methods that are used on the employees.

Problem of Professional and social issues in computing:

Can George continue to shop there? Should George believe in that article and decide what to do? Is it moral to regard representatives as a pinion in a machine? 

Technology relation of Professional and social issues in computing:

Technology used by amazon as mentioned in this case study is monitoring technology that they use over their employee to track their actions and performances in the warehouse. A report is generated through this technology that elaborate the productivity of each employee. But this technology in use is ethical and morally totally not acceptable and is totally wrong. This method breech in the privacy of the employee like if the employee is talking to family, this technology allows someone to sniff in the conversation.

Identification of stakeholder of Professional and social issues in computing:

Following are the stakeholders in the respective case study accordingly;

George – he is the member of the Amazon Prime Account. He uses this site 3 to 5 times in a month. George was quite confused after the reading of article

Amazon Company – they treat employee like cog in a machine. Their behavior is quite inhuman to the employee. The work load is not coinciding with their wage per hour and they always feel pressure of work on them. The company use three strike method on their employee

Amazon Employees – employee get monitored regularly and their performance is tracked. They experience load of work pressure on them. They are forced to complete the task as soon as possible.

Approaches of Professional and social issues in computing

Utilitarian approach:

Issue 1 – according to this George should have to share this article on social media so that he can create awareness among others regarding what he just got to know about amazon company. And George should stop buying products from the site. He will face minor loss but it can rectify the company behavior toward the employees.

Issue 2 – George should start researching about the issue over the internet because one blog is not enough to judge someone. There are always two sides of the picture. George should search about the other side before making the judgement.

Issue 3 – it is totally immoral to treat employees this way. Employees are the important part of the company they are only driving force for the organization. They make the backbone of the organization. So, they should get treated well and fairly like their colleagues.

Right approach of Professional and social issues in computing:

Issue 1 – George should stop buying their services as now he knows about their attitude toward their employees. breeching in the privacy of the employee is totally not ethical and is against human rights. The company will face serious results of this behavior sooner or later.

Issue 2 – not everything that internet say is right. This create a question about were this information is originally coming from. It will raise the credibility question over mind. George should put some effort in investigating the real truth. He should search for the reliable resources

Issue 3 – ethics is the most important thing for every company and they should be committed to that. The energy of the employee can get low and deprived when they see that the company is not treating them fairly and in abusive manner and this ultimately led to the loss in the company and sometimes employee get expel from the job for the minor mistakes. Amazon should provide comfort to employees so that they can have positive energy to work for the betterment of the company. Sometimes company like amazon try to do more work as soon as possible but this does not give them the authority to burdened their employee and exploit them in order to make them complete their tasks. Because in the end we are human and it is not possible tat we could work like machines without getting tired.

Conclusion of Professional and social issues in computing:

Following things can get concluded after studying the case and comparing all of the approaches;

For the first issue best approach is utilitarian approach as well as the right approach. Because these approaches are for the betterment of the employees who are working in Amazon as they should not receive such harsh attitude. For the second and third issue the best approach is right approach. Every employee should get treated equally among other employee’s human should not get pressurized and they should get forced to labor in order to exceed their limits.

References of Professional and social issues in computing:

15Five. (2015). The Human Resources Dilemma. [online] Available at: https://www.15five.com/blog/human-resources-dilemma/ [Accessed 17 Dec. 2017].

Salon. (2014). Worse than Wal-Mart: Amazon’s Sick Brutality and Secret History of Ruthlessly Intimidating Workers. [online] Available at: https://www.salon.com/2014/02/23/worse_than_wal_mart_amazons_sick_brutalit y_and_secret_history_of_ruthlessly_intimidating_workers/ [Accessed 17 Dec. 2017].

YouTube. (2017). Introduction to Ethical Approaches. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIde5qRYvqU [Accessed 16 Dec. 2017].