A COMPARISON BETWEEN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF INFORMATION-SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALS AND INFORMATION-SYSTEMS STUDENTS

The information explosion, its impact on society and attendant ethical problems receive considerable attention in both the popular and academic press. A consistent theme is the need for the Information Systems (I.S.) community to focus on of a professional approach to these problems. Growing public pressure for accountability in business and increasing complexity of decision making, suggest a need for information policy in organisations. Understanding information ethics is not simply an intellectual exercise, but a practical imperative for enhanced performance and societal confidence. Research conducted at the University of Cape Town highlighted significant differences in understanding the nature of information and the demands of modern I.S. practice between practitioners and students.