Carlos Alberto Dorantes

Ethical Decision-Making in an IT Context: The Roles of Personal Moral Philosophies and Moral Intensity

Information technologies (IT) have spread throughout all areas of modern society. However, the evolution of ethics that guide their use lags behind technological advances [2]. A promising approach to this problem involves identifying factors associated with ethical decision-making in an IT context. This study tests a model of ethical decision-making based on the argument that an individual’s perception of ethical issues inherent in a specific situation is fundamental to the decision-making process, and is shaped by the moral intensity of the situation [1]. Findings suggest that moral intensity: is influenced by the individual’s personal moral philosophy, age, gender, and religiosity; and subsequently influences various stages of the decision-making process. Results support the use of the moral intensity model of ethical decision-making in IT contexts, and suggest the need to further explore antecedents of the ethical decision-making process.

Moral intensity and ethical decision-making: a contextual extension

This paper explores the role of an individuals perception of situation-specific issues on decision-making in ethical situations. It does so by examining the influence of moral intensity on a persons perceptions of an ethical problem, and subsequent intentions. Moral intensity (Jones, 1991) is an issue-contingent model of ethical decision-making based on the supposition that situations vary in terms of the moral imperative present in that situation. An individuals decision is guided by his or her assessment of six different components that collectively comprise the moral intensity of the situation. The relationship between the components of moral intensity and the decision-making process is tested through the use of scenarios that present IS-related ethical situations. The results indicate that moral intensity plays a significant role in shaping the perceptions and intentions of individuals faced with IS-related ethical situations. The conclusion drawn from this is that, consistent with prior research, the decision-making process is influenced by an individuals perception of situation-specific issues; that is, the moral intensity of the situation.