Chapter 2 - Case Study 3: When Certification Is Justified

1. What actions should WMI have taken to lessen the risk of this project and avoid these
problems?




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2. What sort of losses has WMI incurred from the delay of this project? How has the lack of success
on this project affected SAP?





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3. Do research on the Web to find out the current status of the lawsuits between WMI and SAP.
Write a brief report summarizing your findings.

Chapter 2 - Vignette: IT Technicians Fired After Reporting Child Porn

1. What message is sent to IT workers by the actions of New York Law School and Collegis—
even if unrelated job-performance issues justified their actions in firing Gross and Perry?

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2. Since this incident, a number of states have enacted laws that require workers to report
immediately any child pornography found while servicing equipment. Most of the laws state
that a worker who reports such a discovery is immune from any criminal, civil, or administrative
liability. Failure to report the discovery can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. Do you
think such laws will encourage reporting? Why or why not?

Chapter 1 - Case Study 3: Is There a Place for Ethics in IT?

1. Discuss how a CIO might handle Schrage’s scenarios using the suggested process for ethical
decision making presented in this chapter.

In the article, Schrage provided a few scenarios to back up his opinion. In one such example,
a company is developing a customer relationship management (CRM) system, and the staff is
working very hard to meet the deadline. The company plans to outsource the maintenance and
support of the CRM system once it is developed, meaning that there is a good chance that
two-thirds of the IT staff will be laid off. Would you disclose this information? Schrage answered,
“I don’t think so.”
In another scenario, Schrage asked readers if they would consider deliberately withholding
important information from their boss if they knew that its disclosure would provoke his or her
immediate counterproductive intervention in an important project. Schrage said he would withhold
it. Business involves competing values, he argued, and trade-offs must be made to keep business
operations from becoming paralyzed.

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2. Discuss the possible short-term losses and long-term gains in implementing ethical solutions
for each of Schrage’s scenarios.

The possible short-term losses would be the two-thirds of the IT staff will be laid off. And the long-term gains would benefit to the company.

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3. Must businesses choose between good ethics and financial benefits? Explain your answer
using Schrage’s scenarios as examples.

Yes, because as Michael Schrage choose to handle all those scenarios being presented in the chapter. He chooses good ethics among his co-workers and financial benefits to their company.

Chapter 1 - Vignette: Dubious Methods Used to Investigate Leaks by Hewlett-Packard Board Members

1. Which issue is more disconcerting—the fact that a board member leaked confidential information
about the firm or the tactics used to investigate the leak? Defend your position.

Yes, because one or more board members of leaking information about HP’s long-term strategy to

the news media. As part of the HP company one member should not leak the information of their long-term strategy as a sign of respect that you belong in that certain company.

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2. Can the use of pretexting to gain information ever be justified? Is it considered legal under
any circumstances?

No, because pretexting - the use of false pretenses—to gain access to the telephone records of HP directors, certain employees, and nine journalists. Pretexting is not considered legal in any circumstances because one is using a false pretenses just to gain access to the records of HP directors, certain employees, and nine journalists.

Chapter 2 - Case Study 1: Google Named in $1 Billion Trade Secret Lawsuit

1. This incident illustrates some of the potential problems for small software developers working with giant software  anufacturers to extend or enhance their products. Provide two good reasons why small developers should still  consider working closely with large software firms.

The two good reasons why small software developers should still consider working closely with large software firms are first is to extend or enhance their products and skills in developing software, second; so that their business will grow.

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2. What measures could LimitNone have taken to better protect itself from Google’s alleged actions? What measures could Google have taken to protect itself from this lawsuit?

As the owner of the organization, you’ll do every  thing that would protect your business from the competitors even if whatever it takes. LimitNote have taken better measures and strategies to better protect itself from Google’s alleged actions. They hide some of their vital information that might be stolen from other business organizations. Same as well to Google, that protects itself also from this lawsuit.

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3. Do research on the Web to find out how this case is proceeding in the courts. Write a short summary of your findings.

Every business organization possesses its own objectives, but there are also in common. The most common among all are: to help or provide service to numerous users with the use of information; and to earn something or many things from it. Each and every one of them must take respect from each other and to all of their competitors even if they provide services in common, the more important is that they helped.

Chapter 1 - Case Study 1: Computer Assoicates: A Firm with Scandal-Riddled Past

1. CA executives involved in the accounting scandal were not accused of reporting bogus contracts or hiding major problems in the business. The contracts that were backdated were real sales agreements. Was this really a crime? Should the individuals have been punished so harshly?

Yes, it was stated that if Honeycutt will not take the offer and the Computer Associates executives threatened that they will wrongly harm CSC and was proven guilty. It is indeed a serious offense and the individuals will be punished as what the court agreed according to their cases.

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2. In December 2004, CA appointed Patrick J. Gnazzo as senior chief compliance officer to demonstrate to the government and shareholders that the firm would take measures to operate ethically. Gnazzo served in this role at United Technologies for 10 years and had been a member of the board of directors of the Ethics Officers Association. Gnazzo reported to a new executive vice president and general counsel at CA as well as the board’s Compliance Committee. Outline some of the actions Gnazzo might have taken in his first six months on the job.

In the first six months on the job of Patrick J. Gnazzo, as appointed senior chief compliance officer, he should be the model to the right things for the good of their company he should ensure the ethical procedures are consistently adhered throughout the organization. It is said that Gnazzo has to demonstrate to the government and shareholders that the firm would take measures to operate ethically, and then he has to do something or many things for his role.

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3. John Swainson, a 26-year veteran of IBM, joined CA in November 2004 as CEO and president. His first few months with the firm were rough—major customers threatened to dump the firm; some products were behind schedule and were of poor quality; executives had to be fired for breaking company rules; accountants continued to find past mistakes; and many newly hired executives had to be brought on board. What sort of leadership could he have demonstrated to show that he was determined to avoid future scandals at CA?

A great leader has to take initiative, that’s the possible thing that John Swainson demonstrated to show that he was determined to avoid future scandals at CA.

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4. CA has been hit with numerous scandals since the late 1990s. These scandals raise questions about how successful the firm might have been if not for the amount of time its executives had to spend on these distractions. Compare the revenue growth and stock price of CA to that of some of its competitors over the time period 2004–2008. (Be sure to use CA’s
corrected figures!) Can you detect any impact of these scandals on CA’s performance? What else might explain the difference in performance?

There is a great impact of those scandals on CA’s performance, for how it will recover and improve while it is undergoing big problems and issues that taking it drive down. The thing that might explain the difference in performance is all about what has done by the executive of the business.

What takes to be an IT Professional?

To be an IT professional, you must know what the expectations of your colleagues, your industry, your clients and the general public are. Meeting these expectations is what qualifies you to call yourself a professional, and what gives you recognition as a professional. In today’s world the role of the IT professional is crucial.