What You Need to Do

Read and respond to a workplace scenario that presents an ethical dilemma in at least two Discussion posts. In your response, address what you would do in the situation and suggest strategies to avoid the dilemma in the future. Discuss the posted options with your group. Use the step-by-step instructions below to complete the task.

How This Activity Connects to the Course

Ethical considerations matter in everything that you write in the workplace. You may well find yourself in a situation similar to this scenario once you graduate (or even sooner as an intern). This Discussion focuses on the impact of the digital divide in the workplace.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Success Tip

You can use the online texts, any notes that you have, and the available course pages in Canvas for help as you work on these questions. You can also talk to one another.

  1. Read the scenario below and consider the ethical dilemma involved for Priten.
  2. In your your first post, do the following:
    1. Present a position statement that answers the question “What would you do in this situation?”
      • Provide reasoning from your own personal code of ethics. Here you focus on what YOU think is right.
      • Provide reasoning from your discipline’s code of ethics, OR Provide at least one supporting statement or example from the Ethics Resource Module.
    2. Explain what Priten’s team should do in the future to avoid such situations.
  3. Read the posts from others in your group, paying attention to how you agree or disagree on their solutions.
  4. Write at least one additional post to discuss the solution your group will recommend and the actions Priten’s team should take to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

The Scenario

Equitable Access to AI

A Hindu man wearing business casual clothes and glasses works at a computer at an aerospace engineering firm.
Image created with Midjourney

Stellarama, an aerospace engineering firm, has implemented advanced AI-generation tools throughout the company. However, these tools are only available to full-time employees. The company justifies this decision based on financial considerations and the frequent turnover of part-time employees and interns.

This policy has caused concern among part-time employees and interns, who feel they are at a disadvantage and are unable to perform their tasks as effectively as their full-time counterparts.

Scenario

Priten, a part-time technical writer at Stellarama, is working with a team of part-time employees and interns on drafting a proposal to managers. The proposal argues that equitable access to AI tools should be granted to all employees and interns, regardless of their employment status.

Priten is leading the drafting process and must decide how to present the team’s case to the managers. He is aware of the potential risks the company faces by limiting access to these tools, including reduced quality and efficiency in writing tasks, potential decrease in motivation among part-time staff, reduced opportunities for skill development, exclusion from innovation, and inconsistent quality of work.

Options for Priten

  • Advocate Strongly: Priten can advocate strongly for the team’s position, emphasizing the ethical implications and the potential risks to the company’s work quality.
  • Propose a Pilot Program: Priten can propose a pilot program that grants temporary access to AI tools for part-time employees and interns, showcasing the benefits through measurable outcomes.
  • Suggest a Compromise: Priten can suggest a compromise where limited AI tool access is granted based on project needs or tenure.
  • Gather More Data: Priten can gather more data and feedback from the team to strengthen the proposal, potentially delaying the presentation but ensuring a more robust argument.
  • Seek External Support: Priten can seek support from external industry experts or organizations to back the team’s argument for equitable access to AI tools.
  • Highlight Success Stories: Priten can highlight success stories from other companies that have implemented equitable access to AI tools to demonstrate potential benefits and positive outcomes.

Issues Priten Could Use to Support the Proposal

  • Impact on Quality: How might the lack of access to AI tools impact the quality and efficiency of writing among part-time employees and interns?
  • Employee Morale: What effect does unequal access to tools have on the morale and motivation of part-time employees and interns?
  • Financial Justification: How valid are the company’s financial concerns regarding the provision of AI tools to part-time employees and interns?
  • Long-term Benefits: What are the potential long-term benefits to Stellarama if equitable access to AI tools is provided to all employees?
  • Managerial Support: How can Priten garner support from managers and full-time employees to advocate for equitable access to AI tools?
  • Skill Development: How does limited access to AI tools affect opportunities for skill development among part-time employees and interns?
  • Innovation Exclusion: How does restricting access to AI tools exclude part-time employees and interns from participating in innovative processes?
  • Consistency of Work: What are the implications of inconsistent quality due to unequal access to AI tools?

Conclusion

Priten faces a challenging decision in advocating for equitable access to AI tools at Stellarama. By carefully considering the options and issues, Priten can craft a compelling argument that highlights the benefits of providing these tools to all employees, potentially leading to a more inclusive and efficient workplace.

Assessment

I will mark your participation in this Discussion Complete (or Incomplete) after the end of the Grace Period passes and I confirm that you have made at least two posts (required: one response to the original scenario, and a second in response to others in your class). Allow me several days to read and mark all your posts.