692 The Ethics of Data Gathering and Research

 
Instead of a formal case write-up, let’s go over the ethics involved in data collection as laid out in the social and life sciences.   While this material is particularly relevant in the area of research, such as marketing research and organizational science, the logic offered in terms of concepts like informed consent is applicable to corporate settings as we gather data on varied stakeholders.  Below are a series of links that offer information about data gathering obligations and expectations.that have become more seriously of concern in recent months. 
Instructions:

Please visit the following websites and read the material and analysis.  Please start with the Target Story as it highlights not only the scope of information available but also where technology was 6 years ago.

The Target Story (Links to an external site.)
What is Informed Consent? (Links to an external site.)
Ethical Considerations (Links to an external site.)
Cookies (Links to an external site.)
Murky Ethics and Cambridge Analytic (Links to an external site.) 

Submission Instructions:

For this exercise, consider that you are a senior manager in an organization that collects data on customers using your website (think Amazon or eBay; or even a healthcare products site). Write a short opinion piece detailing to employees your views on gathering data from customers, what inform should be shared with customers in terms of data collection and what level of privacy you offer. 
Consider also the following questions: 

How much do you feel a customer should know about the placement of cookies to track their internet activity. 
How much should a customer know about the data an organization collects about them? 
Does a customer have a right to view the proprietary data you collect on them? 

 Feel free to look across the web for examples of how data is collected and used as well as policies about privacy.