Incorporating an ethical perspective into problem formulation: implications for decision support systems design

    Authors

    B. Chae; D. Paradice; J. F. Courtney;C. J. Cagle

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Decis. Support Syst.

    Keywords

    ethics; problem formulation; DSS; information systems design; LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE; MODEL; ORGANIZATIONS; TECHNOLOGY; KNOWLEDGE; BUSINESS; ISSUE; DSS; Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science, Information; Systems; Operations Research & Management Science

    Abstract

    As organizations become ever larger and increasingly complex, they become more reliant on information systems and decision support systems (DSS), and their decisions and operations affect a growing number of stakeholders. This paper argues that DSS design and problem formulation in such a context raises ethical issues, as DSS development and use puts one party, the designers, in the position of imposing order on the behavior of others. Thus, decision support systems are more than technical artifacts and their implications for affected parties should be considered in their design and development. The paper integrates Jones' model [Acad. Manage. Rev. 16 (1991) 366] of moral intensity with Mitroff's five strategies for avoiding Type III errors [I.I. Mitroff, Smart Thinking for Crazy Times: The Art of Solving the Right Problems, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco, 1997], solving the wrong problem [H. Raiffa, Decision Analysis, Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1968], and proposes a model for incorporating ethical issues into DSS design and problem formulation. A survey of managers is used to assess the current situation regarding use of elements of the integrated model. The results are somewhat encouraging in that 40% of the respondents felt that their organizations did follow the model reasonably well, yet 23% felt their organizations did not. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Decision Support Systems

    Volume

    40

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    197

    Last Page

    212

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000232524100004

    ISSN

    0167-9236

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