Use the five-step decision-making process (1. develop problem statement, 2. iden

Question

Use the five-step decision-making process (1. develop problem statement, 2. identify, evaluate and choose alternatives, 3. implement decision, 4. evaluate results and 5. ethical achievements) to analyze the following You are a member of the application development organization for a small but rapidly growing software company that produces patient billing applications for doctors’ offices. During work on the next release of your firm’s first and only software product, you discover a small programming glitch in the current release that could pose a security risk to users. The probability of the problem being discovered is low, but, if it is exposed, the potential impact on your firm’s 100 or so customers could be substantial: Hackers could access private patient data and change billing records. The problem will be corrected in the next release, scheduled to come out in three months, but you are concerned about what should be done for the users of the current release. The problem has come at the worst possible time. The firm is currently seeking approval for a $10 million loan to raise enough cash to continue operations until revenue from the sales of its just-released product offsets expenses. In addition, the effort to develop and distribute the patch, to communicate with users, and to deal with any fallout will place a major drain on your small development staff, delaying the next software release by at least two months. You have your regularly scheduled quarterly meeting with the manager of application development this afternoon; what will you say about this problem?

Explanation / Answer

Problem Statement: Addressing the technical glitch in the current release

The different alternatives:

Option 1 is highly risky and can lead to potential loss of customers once the glitch gets detected. Even if the glitch is not discovered, it is unethical to put customer data at potential data theft risk.

Option 2 is again not feasible, as it will delay the future projects of the firm. The company has a very small development base and will pressurize the employees. The performance of the employees might also get hampered while working in pressure.

Option 3 is the most feasible option as it will be better to communicate and convince the customers about the technical delay in the current release. A technical delay of 2 months is better and feasible than risking consumer’s confidential information. The consumers will understand as their sanctity is at risk and they will feel valued as the company is trying their best to avoid any data theft.

So, option 3 must be implemented.

Implement decision

Evaluate results

Ethical Achievements

The decision is ethically valid as the integrity and protection of consumer’s data is the priority task for the company.

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