Ethical Decision Making for Success in the Tech Industry from Coursera

This course focuses on how to do it right.

That is, it focuses on methodologies that we, as leaders, can use to figure out the right course of action. Some leadership ethical decisions are fairly straight forward; many don’t offer clear solutions. This course is where we find the knowledge and techniques to help us through the ethical tough spots.

Various approaches are examined. These include various theories that help to guide our ethical decision making. Also discussed are ethical awareness, moral decision making, and the courage necessary to make those decisions. Lastly, we look at the ethical challenges to individuals and leaders.

The goal of this course is to understand how to live an ethical professional life. In any incarnation of that goal, the path will not be easy. But, it is possible. This discussion of the “how”, helps us when a clear path is not easily found.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Ethical Theories Offer a Starting Point for Ethical Decision Making

This module addresses a few of the many current ethical theories: virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology. Each offers a way to view the ethical world. Each provides a means to simplify a complex ethical environment. And each has downfalls that sometimes create even more difficulty for the leader. Despite this, they provide a starting point for beginning to develop one’s own ethical philosophy and principles.

Ethical Awareness, Decision Making, and Courage

This module addresses the ethical decision-making process – how we, as technical leaders, should approach making ethical decisions. Most importantly, there is one lesson on the subject of courage. Courage may be the most important aspect of ethical decision making since we, as leaders must have the courage to follow through with what we believe is the correct ethical path.

The Ethical Challenges Facing Individuals and Leaders

This concluding module for the course addresses the kinds of issues that may arise for the technical leader. Addressed are challenges for individuals and leaders.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Daniel Moorer, who are recognized for their work in their field

Examines various approaches to ethical decision-making, including ethical theories and moral decision making, which is standard in industry

Addresses the ethical challenges facing individuals and leaders, which is highly relevant to industry

Develops courage, which is a core skill for ethical decision making

Explicitly advises students to take other courses first as prerequisites

Career center

Learners who complete Ethical Decision Making for Success in the Tech Industry will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Engineering Manager

An Engineering Manager is a professional who leads a team of engineers in the design, development, and implementation of technical projects. This course can help you succeed as an Engineering Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders. You will also learn how to identify and resolve ethical challenges, and how to build a strong ethical culture within your team.

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Technical Program Manager

A Technical Program Manager is responsible for managing the implementation of technical programs, from planning and budgeting to execution and evaluation. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Program Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for managing complex programs with multiple stakeholders and ensuring that the programs you manage are effective and efficient.

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Software Development Manager

A Software Development Manager is responsible for overseeing the software development process, from planning and design to testing and deployment. This course can help you succeed as a Software Development Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for managing a team of software engineers and ensuring that the software products you develop are safe, reliable, and meet the needs of users.

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Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and integrating complex systems, from hardware and software to networks and processes. This course can help you succeed as a Systems Engineer by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the complex interactions between different systems and ensuring that the systems you design are safe, reliable, and meet the needs of users.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. This course can help you succeed as a Product Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the needs of users and developing products that are safe, useful, and meet the needs of society.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to solve business problems. This course can help you succeed as a Data Scientist by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of data collection and analysis and ensuring that the data you use is accurate, reliable, and used for good.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization's computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course can help you succeed as an Information Security Analyst by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of information security and ensuring that the security measures you implement are effective and efficient.

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Risk Manager

A Risk Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing risks to an organization. This course can help you succeed as a Risk Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of risk management and ensuring that the risk management programs you implement are effective and efficient.

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Privacy Analyst

A Privacy Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization's privacy and data protection policies and procedures. This course can help you succeed as a Privacy Analyst by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of data collection and analysis and ensuring that the privacy policies and procedures you implement are effective and efficient.

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Compliance Manager

A Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations. This course can help you succeed as a Compliance Manager by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of compliance and ensuring that the compliance programs you implement are effective and efficient.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer is responsible for writing technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and training materials. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Writer by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of technical documentation and ensuring that the documentation you write is accurate, clear, and useful.

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Technical Support Engineer

A Technical Support Engineer is responsible for providing technical support to customers. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Support Engineer by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of technical support and ensuring that the support you provide is accurate, clear, and helpful.

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Technical Sales Engineer

A Technical Sales Engineer is responsible for selling technical products and services to customers. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Sales Engineer by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of sales and ensuring that the products and services you sell are safe, reliable, and meet the needs of customers.

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Technical Trainer

A Technical Trainer is responsible for training others on how to use technical products and services. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Trainer by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of technical training and ensuring that the training you provide is effective and efficient.

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Technical Recruiter

A Technical Recruiter is responsible for recruiting technical talent for organizations. This course can help you succeed as a Technical Recruiter by providing you with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making, which is essential for understanding the ethical implications of recruiting and ensuring that the candidates you recruit are qualified and ethical.

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