The Role of Ethical Decision Making in an Information Technology Context

The advancement of technology and its impact on organizations has complicated the decision-making process; as a result, ethical decision-making has become a vital discourse in information technology organizations. This empirical study is an attempt to present a model of individual ethical decision-making in the area of information technology with an emphasis on big data. We used ethical scenarios and conducted quantitative methods to analyze data that were collected from 163 IT experts. Results show that the variables "locus of control and ego strength" affect an individual’s ethical behavior and "self-esteem and self-efficacy" affect "ego strength". Moreover, the variable "perceived probability of disclosure", which has been proposed by authors, has an effect on ethical intention. We conclude by stressing practical solutions to reduce ethical risks.