case study: An Ethical Issue: Pushing the Automation Boundary Destroys Jobs
Mini Case Study: Pushing the Automation Boundary Destroys Jobs
Minicase: An Ethical Issue: Pushing the Automation Boundary Destroys Jobs
As noted in this chapter, one of the key justifications for system projects is to increase efficiency. This implies reducing employee headcount as the automation boundary moves into activities previously performed by human beings. Put another way, to generate business benefits in the form of increased efficiencies, the implication is that the new system capabilities must reduce the amount of labor hours expended in return for a given amount of business revenue.
Additionally, increasing automation and the consistency of business process execution that may come with that automation suggests that in many such circumstances, the remaining work may not require staff to be as experienced or skilled, enabling the remaining work to be performed by less-skilled, more junior staff. This deskilling of work means that older, more experienced workers may be displaced by younger, more junior staff.
Given this, a business analyst frequently finds herself interviewing employees whose jobs may be under threat of being automated, in whole or in part, by the new software. Expressed in more human terms, these business staff members ultimately may be downsized if the software project is successful.
There is a widely-held concept in economics called creative destruction, often attributed to economist Joseph Schumpeter. Creative destruction argues that, for example, the replacement of inefficient activities such as manual, human-driven calculations with automated, software-driven calculations frees up human resources to be re-employed in more creative, higher-value activities. More concretely, increasing efficiencies in this way across many businesses (and business processes) increases the size of the overall economic pie, ultimately increasing overall human incomes in the overall economy. This was expressed in an old IBM slogan: Machines should work; people should think.
However, in the short term, creative destruction may hurt the specific employees displaced by software automation. First, such employees obviously lose their jobs. Second, if software automation for a certain type of task is widespread, an employee with that skill set may see her longer-term earnings fall, unless she can retrain with new, more in-demand skill sets. Not surprisingly, such affected employees may view software automation negatively and may even try to sabotage a system project.
Your case report should be submitted using the Tii link below and include by section:
Title page (APA)
Case overview and audience
Case Questions
Alternative analysis (comparative example or verified point of view)
Summary
References (APA)
Case Questions:
Given these ideas, as an IT professional engaged in systems analysis and design, respond to the following ethics questions:
How do you view the idea of creative destruction?
How should the employees impacted by software automation be treated? By the company? By the government?
How would you handle negative reactions to your work by affected employees?
Suggest how employees can be best supported by software-driven changes and disruption.
Articulation of Response
Always include a title page with your name, the date, the course name/number, the title of the assignment or paper, and the revision (if applicable).
In the body of the paper, use headings and sub-headings. Do not jump from subject to subject without providing some type of heading beforehand.
Use correct grammar and punctuation. Capitalize the first word of a sentence.
Make the presentation as professional as possible. Think, If someone were to look at this paper, what would they think? Sloppy papers may have correct answers, but they still leave an overall messy feeling when read.
Make sure you cite reference material in APA style within the text of your submission (e.g., according to John, citing in text is a key concept in this course [Doe, 2020]).
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