3410ICT: Social and Professional Issues- Professional Issues in IT Case Study- Reflection Writing Assignment

Internal Code: 1HFFB

Reflection Writing Assignment:

Task: THE PAST COME BACK TO HAUNT Bridget Donovan had a difficult start in life. Her mother died when she was 3, and her alcoholic father was unable to care for her. She spent the next 15 years in various foster homes, some good, some not so good. Such adversity can either make or break a person. In Bridget’s case, she refused to be a victim, instead it made her determined to rise above the difficulties of her childhood. Showing aptitude with IT at school, she got a scholarship to study computer science at university, thanks to a headmaster who could see her potential. Specialising in cyber-security, she graduates with honours, finding entry level employment without too much difficulty. In the ten years that followed, Bridget moved up into middle management, now being in charge of IT systems security at an insurance company. But the past has a way of catching up with you. As a 14 year old, Bridget had been arrested and charged for under-age drinking, public drunkenness and petty theft. She was found guilty and placed on a good behaviour bond. This information was now confidential in a legal sense. As confidential as her juvenile arrest record might have been, there is little one can do about malicious gossip. A fellow she had known from those days, Jamie, had joined the staff of the place she worked. Jamie soon spread the news from the water-cooler about Bridget’s colourful past. As embarrassing as it was, she hoped it would blow over. But the insurance company was sensitive about guarding their reputation for probity and Bridget was called upon to justify why she should not be terminated. In a tense interview with a senior manager she was persuaded to resign and receive a good reference (in view of her good work), or be fired. Bridget opted for the former. She was being fired because she had not disclosed her criminal record when asked, and had lied about not having one. It was stipulated in her employment contract that an employee can be terminated for dishonesty. THE ERP ACQUISITION Bridget finds herself unemployed, thanks to her chequered past and a gossipy co-worker. Determined to get past it, Bridget does the rounds of the employment agencies and eventually finds herself a job with a state government department, working on an acquisition project for an ERP system with enhanced security. Her job is to research the user requirements for the system; a kind of business analyst role for which she is well-qualified. There are only two serious contenders for the new system, companies with the track record and large enough systems to do the job. Two other contenders are also in the race for this 100 million dollar prize, though they are outside chances due to being smaller with little reputation. One day, Bridget receives a call on her cell phone. It is Roger, a senior sales representative with one of the two heavy-duty ERP contenders. Bridget wonders how he got her number. Roger is business-like and genuine-seeming. He asks Bridget if they might meet to discuss the requirements of the project. It seems a reasonable request, so they meet at a coffee-shop near the department’s offices. The meeting is productive. It leads to a second, and a third meeting. Bridget maintains a professional attitude in her dealings with Roger, but it is clear to her that he wants to shift their relationship from a business to a more personal level. It is tempting but she knows the real reason for Roger’s interest. It is an attempt to influence her recommendation. It is not too surprising that someone would go to this amount of effort to secure a multi- million dollar contract. When Roger suggests they go on a romantic weekend getaway, she firmly declines and does not respond to his phone calls and text messages.