UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2011/2012
SECOND YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 2101 BIT 2109 ETHICAL, LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL
ISSUES IN IT
DATE: AUGUST, 2012 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) Define the term ethics and identify its three areas (4 Marks)
b) Discuss how information systems have affected everyday life. (6 Marks)
c) The Main project team is able to use a software configuration management tool a
joint copyright exists between Main University and the project team involved in
its development.In the course of his research duties on the Main project, Mathew
has access to the “SCM System”. After Mathew spent three days on his own time
studying the tool thoroughly he came to the conclusion that he could produce a
new package that would be faster, have greater capacity, and offer additional
features. He brought the proposed system to the notice of the Applications
Development Manager of SL Computing Services, Richard and showed Richard a
copy of the source code of the existing system and his specifications for the new
and improved product. After confirming that one person would be adequate to
carry out the project, Richard suggested that Mathew go ahead with the project
immediately. So during his part-time employment with SL Computing Services,
Mathew went ahead and developed the new product, meeting the higher
performance and new feature capabilities that he had envisioned but for SL
company. Resolve this situation using the steps in ethical analysis (6 Marks)
d) Discuss how information systems have affected everyday life. (4 Marks)
e) Discuss the ethical and legal considerations of Internet use (5 Marks)
f) Discuss at least five factors that have contributed to the digital divide (5 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Outline the main provisions of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and explain why it
was felt to be necessary. (5 Marks)
b) Discuss what would happen to software development if software were declared
‘unownable ‘ (6 Marks)
c) James Moor believes there are three main reasons for society’s high level of
interest in computer ethics. Using examples discuss these reasons. (9 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a) Describe the essential elements relating to conduct that identify a professional
activity (8 Marks)
b) Discuss the ethical, social, and political issues raised by the government creating
massive databases to collect personal data on individuals and profile them?
(12 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) When computer professionals take on jobs they may enter relationships with an
employer, a client , the public and co-professional. For each of these relationships
describe the ethical parameters the professional must observe (8 Marks)
b) Discuss the morality of creating machines capable of making human labor
obsolete. (8 Marks)
c) Explain the term ‘techno stress’ and describe some of its effects on individuals
(4 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
Gameplay is a small computer games company started by a group of ten university
computing graduates. Gameplay has devised a company logo that consists of the letters
GP in bright red, on a pale blue circular background. Gameplay has just developed its
first computer game, a science fiction based game entitled “sonic attack”.
a) Discuss how Gameplay could protect its company logo from misuse by other
companies or individuals. (8 Marks)
b) Outline what protection copyright would give the computer game developed by
Gameplay. (8 Marks)
c) Explain what a patent is in the context of computer hardware. (4 Marks)
