| Abstract: | Within the realm of decision making are those situations which are classified as ethical dilemmas. Information technology may indirectly impact decision-making processes (and more specifically ethical decision-making processes) through its influence on various organizational factors, which have been shown to impact ethical decision-making processes directly. Among the organizational factors that influence ethical decision making are referent others, external pressures (such as time pressures and pressures to perform at unreasonable levels) and opportunity. The research investigates the influence of information technology upon the three previously mentioned organizational factors (referent others, external pressures and opportunity) which have in turn been shown to influence ethical decision-making processes and behavior. The following research questions were investigated using a self-administered survey which was administered to information systems personnel at various corporations: (1) Does information technology have an influence on referent others, external pressures and opportunity (and thus, indirectly, does it have an influential link to ethical decision-making processes)? (2) What specific issues related to information technology have an influence on referent others, external pressures and opportunity? What issues are considered the most important by information systems personnel? (3) What demographic variables associated with information systems respondents (such as level within the firm, income, race, sex, type of firm, etc.) might produce patterns of responses or reveal additional information regarding the joint influence of information technology and the specific demographic variable on referent others, external pressures and opportunity? |
|---|