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

Abstract

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.