Chapter 3

Case Study

Questions to consider 

1. Peter Gumble, European editor for Fortune magazine, comments, "Kerviel is a stunning example of a trader breaking the rules, but he's by no means alone. One of the dirty little secrets of trading floors around the world is that every so often, somebody is caught concealing a position and is quickly - and quietly - dismissed... [This] might be shocking for people unfamiliar with the macho, high-risk, high-reward culture of most trading floors, but consider this: the only way banks can tell who will turn into a good trader and who even the most junior traders to take aggressive positions. This leeway is supposed to be matched by careful controls, but clearly they aren't foolproof." What is your reaction to this statement by Mr. Gumble? 

2. What explanation can there be for the failure of SocGen's internal control system to detect Kerviel's transactions while Eurex detected many suspicious transactions?

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think that Mike Lynn acted in a responsible manner? Why or why not?

Mike Lynn acted disrespectfully, I understand his side but he should learn how to be private and learn how to limit his self from posting to the public.

2. Do you think that Cisco and ISS were right to pull the plug on Lynn's presentation at the Black Hat conference? Why or why not?

3. Outline a more reasonable approach toward communicating the flaw in the Cisco routers that would have a led to the problem being promptly addressed without stiring up animosity among the parties involved.

Chapter 2

Case Study

Questions to Consider (Page 38) 

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

The NYLS stated that “I'm saddened to report to you that I learned this afternoon that our colleague, Professor Edward Samuel, was arrested on charges relating to possession of childhood pornographic images and they were fired because of this incident.”

2. Since the 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 worker who reports such a discovery is immune from any criminal, civil or administrative liability. Failure to report the discovery can result to a fine, imprisonment or both, do you think such laws will encourage reporting? Why or why not?

To provide a good law, the community should work and cooperate.  I would rather chose to cooperate even it cost my friends and love ones involved. Just like the law says, “failure to report the discovery can result to a fine” it is barely reminds me a lot on the television on how people get involved to a crime because of the relation of your friend, family and relatives on such of crimes (pornography).

Discussion Questions (Page 60) 

1. Hot to distinguish between a gift and a bribe? Provide an example of a "gift" that falls in the gray area between a gift and a bribe. 2. Discuss the following topic: law does not provide a complete guide to ethical behavior. An activity can be legal or not ethical.

If a law improvises a complete guide to ethical behavior, it would lead us to do the process easy and correct. Sometimes curiousness leads us to do well and to do not pleasant things. But pretending to do good and doing such necessary things shouldn’t matter for me as long as you learn how to correct your wrong and learned from your past will lead us to perfection.

3. What is a professional malpractice? Can an IT worker ever be sued for professional malpractice? Why or why not? 

Malpractice is an improper or unethical conduct by the holder of a professional or official position, the act or an instance of improper practice. Definitely, every company seeks for a good employee such as an IT worker. By means of helping to correct them from doing what is right, an IT worker should sued for a professional malpractice to mold them to a better employee for a better company.

4. Review the PMI member code of ethics in appendix E. for each point in the code, provide an example of a project manager action that would break the code.  

5. What must IT professionals do to ensure that the project they lead meet the clients expectations and do not lead the charges of fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or breach of contract.

Doing my work with honest and uncommon I ensure to my clients that I made my work without their complains and these charges against fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or breach of contrast.   

6. Should all IT professionals be either is licensed or certified? Why or why not?  

It is better if an IT Professionals has the quality of their title as a professional, either being licensed or certified. Skills matters for me, the title seems to be the evidence for your professionalism but performance and on how you deliver your work is the best showcase for me.

 7. What commonalities you find among the IT professionals codes of ethics discussed in this chapter? What differences are there? Do you think there are any important issues not addressed by these codes of ethics?

Discussion Questions (Page 62) 

1. The Incident illustrates some of the potential problems for small software developers working with the giant software manufacturers. To extend or enhance their products. Provide two good reasons why small developers should still consider working closely with the large software firm. 

2. What measures could limit none have taken to better protect itself from Google's alleged actions? What measures could Google have taken to protect itself from this lawsuit? 3. Do research on the web to find out this case is preceding in the courts. Write a short summary of your findings. 

Discussion Questions (Page 64) 

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

Maybe WMI should show a broad search more from SAP to avoid any regulations or something that is improper. And in relating on creating mature software WMI should know if SAP is good on this part. I think the best thing to do is learning on how pretend a good relationship from the two companies.

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?

The WMI take the risk and waste enough time and to much delay on creating their project. Because there is no great cooperation of workers or boss on WMI, SAP showed that they are not good or well enough to be one of the best. Companies losses their trust to them because they are not good and didn't meet the standards. And they will loose everything.

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.

In April 2010, we settled the lawsuit, receiving a one-time cash payment, and all parties dismissed their claims with prejudice. So it’s not quite all over but you can be reasonably certain this one has been put to bed. The burning question is how much did SAP fork over? We may never know. SAP did not make an official announcement which would have been required if the amount in question was significant. More important, this is one more piece of SAP’s recent legacy past that it can put to bed in advance of its upcoming annual customer conference which starts May 16th. Much of SAP’s credibility going forward depends on how good a show co-CEO’s Jim Snabe and Bill McDermott put on, how convincing they are and whether the product road-map looks sufficiently solid for buyers to continue SAP investments. Taking this problem off the table will be a relief and another example of the company clearing the decks. 

Discussion Question (Page 65)

1. How can organizations and vendors change their certification programs to test for skills as well as core knowledge? What issues might this introduce?

Maybe by attending seminars and a deep update research it will lead a organizations and vendors store a lot for a broad knowledge about their capability and skills.

2. What are the primary arguments against certification, and how can certifying bodies change their programs to overcome these shortcomings?

3. What are the benefits of certification? How might certification programs need to change in the future to better serve the needs of the IT community?

This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit. But having the certification is an achievement as being able to competently complete a job or task, usually by passing a test or examination. Thus, it is an evidence for our standards.

Chapter 1

Case Study

Questions to Consider

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.

Having this privacy of keeping the security of the company is the biggest part of having the institution safe so the fact that one of the board members leaked the confidential information is such a disconcerting fact that I merely chose.

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

Pretexting is strictly against the law by means of using it against a person by sufficient means. Disobeying a law apparently an illegal act that ever be unjustified or restrictedly to the society, just to specify my study, pretexting is baseless, idle, improper and illegal.

Discussion Questions

1.  There are many ethical issues about which people hold very strong opinions-abortions, gun control and the death penalty, to name a few. If you were a team member on a project with someone whom you knew held an opinion different from yours on one of these issues, would it affect your ability to work with this person? Why or why not?

If a co-member in a team has the opposite view about the ethical issues given.

I would try to listen from his/her side based on the issues, and cooperate from what we would construct good ideas based on our different side of answers. There would be an impression on how we communicate and work but in our positive ways. 

2.  What do you think are the most important factors that helped you define your own personal code of ethics? 

Having a broad understanding in deciding from right or wrong, responsible toward your decision and aiming a respect from different side of opinion is my most important factor that helps me define my personal code of ethics. 

3.  Do you think that ethics in business is improving or getting worse? Defend your position. 

Business ethics is improving nowadays; this form of applied ethics finds me normative in descriptive angle. Without a kind of this ethics, a company would put its risk from a disorganize union. Maybe some would oppose from their different side of view from their different side of ideas that puts institution leads disrespect from on another.

4.  The ethics resource center identified five characteristics of a successful ethics program suggest a sixth characteristic, and defend your choice. 

5. Which incident has a higher negative impact on an organization-an unethical act performed by an hourly worker or the same act performed by a senior manager of the organization? Explain your answer fully. Should the hourly worker be treated differently than the senior manager who committed the unethical act? Why or why not? 

A lot says we are born equally, from what the statement reminds me in the question the worker sees him/her equal to the manager of the organization. But, these don’t make sense, a manager owns to have high rank than an unethical worker. The worker should pay respect to the company for he/she is financially handled by the big boss of the company, such as the manager of the organization. So, when an unprofessional worker disobeys the team therefore there’s a big comparison to him/her to a manager that holds a company/institution.

6. It is a common and acceptable practice for managers to hold people accountable to meet "stretch" goals, quotas, and budgets. How can this are done in a way that does not encourage unethical behavior on the part of employees. 

I think the stated accounts are so private, thus managers are legal to approve those commitments to whom they manage, but there’s no such a thing that is absolute every kind has a limit. We should go liberate and live independently without to accept those kind inappropriate practices for those managers. We discourage these things to prove we stand on our own ways.

7. Is every action that is legal also ethical? Can you describe an action that is legal but ethically wrong? Is every ethical action also legal? Is the law, not ethics, the only guide that business managers need to consider? Explain.

There is such thing that is legal in ethics; an example of this was a running high official that attends a charity, helps the climate and poverty victims. The legal but ethically wrong example was a sited high official in the government that helps the society using people’s money but cheated a percentage from corrupting.

8. Do you think it is easier to establish an ethical work environment in a nonprofit organization? Why or why not?

Absolutely I am disagreeing from these establishments, how I feel comfortable to pursue my work while in the end I know that I owned nothing from the organization. But for some, they agree such this organization, on their limitations of the way they work as a team.

9. This chapter discusses the four approaches to dealing with moral issues. Identify and briefly summarize each one. Do you believe one perspective is better then others? If so, which one and why?

Discussion Questions

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

2. In December 2004, CA appointed Patrick J. Gnazzo as a 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 directors of the ethics Offices Association .Gnazzo reported to a new executive vice president and a general counsel at CA as well as the board's Compliance committee. Outline some of the Actions Gnazzo might have been taken in his first six months on the job

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 dumb 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 leadership could he have demonstrated to show that he was determined to avoid future scandals at CA?

4. CA has been hit with numerous scandals since the late 1990's. 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 this distraction. Compare the revenue growth and stock price of CA to that of some of its competitors over the 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?

Discussion Question

1. Identify at least two other companies that manage their suppliers in a manner similar to Dell computers. Do these companies have anything in common with Dell?

2. Can you identify any disadvantages for dell in taking the approach to managing suppliers?

3. Do you think that this approach to managing suppliers is unethical, or is it acceptable and ethical? Explain your reasoning.

4. Would you recommend any changes to the way Dell manages suppliers? Defend your position.

Discussion Question 

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

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

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

What takes to be an IT Professional?

What takes to be an IT Professional?

Upon contemplating on the question “What takes to be an IT Professional?” another question popped out of my mind.

I then asked myself, What is a Professional?

I googled for the meaning and found an answer.

A professional is a person who engages in an activity with great competence. A person who is expert at his or her work.

I would then say that to become an IT Professional one must have:


A good work relationship with other employees and clients.


An Excellent knowledge in his specialty.


Wide experience of work related to his specialty and


Poses a good moral character.

Thus, I may be still in college I don't feel my duty as an IT Professional..

but i dont rush myself to be an it pro. I must learn first my duty on how it 

begins at the tip of the needle. My mom says I must pursue my school before 

dreaming big towards my future. 

One doesn’t become a Professional overnifght. It takes a lot of hard work and an unwavering good character.