Research Question
How does compliance auditing reinforce ethical adherence in the use of digital technology at the workplace?
Introduction
Majority of the organizations have embraced the use of technology in their operations. Communication, information storage, information sharing and access are some of the functions that make use of digital technology. Digital technology can be used within the organization and with external partners. Internal communication includes employee document sharing while external communication can be feedback to customers and Information Technology systems maintenance by the vendors (Leonardi, Huysman & Steinfield,2013). However, there are emerging trends that pose risks to the gains made by the use of these technological innovations. The confidentiality of clients’ information and clients’ safety has been threatened as a result of information leakage and misuse. Gonzalez-Padron (2015) observed that with the centralization of information and communication, organizations face the threat of breakdown in critical information infrastructure and networks, increase in cybercrimes and risk of data fraud and theft. The failure to carry out some duties by professionals or errors in the implementation of duties has resulted in negative outcomes for most organizations. Most of the errors related to technology are either those of omission or commission in nature (Felkey & Fox, 2015). In some sectors like healthcare, such errors can lead to patient morbidity and at times mortality. Organizations also risk negative public image due to what their employees might project on public digital platforms. It is therefore important for organizations to set up ethical guidelines in the interaction of employees and digital technology. Vaast & Kaganer (2013) proposed that organizations should adopt policies as a governance tool to control the use of digital platforms among the employees.
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The employers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that their employees are behaving ethically as regards their profession. This can be achieved through the use of compliance auditing. Usnick & Usnick (2013) stated that the purpose of compliance audits is to establish how well organizations are adhering to the set rules, policies, procedures and standards of the organization. Compliance initiatives have become more structured and formal as the government provides rewards for those who demonstrate compliance efforts while those who do not are punished (Usnick & Usnick, 2013). In addition to the government compliance requirements, organizations are required to adhere to with industry protocols, licensing requirements and standards and ethical concerns which are set up by the industry regulating bodies (Usnick & Usnick, 2013). Organizations that fail to adhere to the government and industry requirement risk legal action and deregistration.
To avoid the consequences of failing to comply with the government and industry standards, it is important that the organizations ensure that the compliance audits reinforce adherence to prescribed standards. Steinman (2016) observed that compliance audits should react to government enforcement priorities, new regulations and deal with new and readily available technologies to ensure effectiveness. For instance, in the Electronic Health System, compliance audits can be used to determine whether the staff have the skills to address future challenges (Steinman, 2016). This will enable the organization to make changes in policies that address any future unethical behaviors. Regulatory bodies continue to make changes within their requirements to include more programs and processes as the need arises. Steinman (2018) stated that it is important for organizations to ensure that enough resources are allocated to the compliance audit departments to ensure that the organization is observing the set regulations. Compliance audits should also ensure that organizations adopt technology that is readily available and fairly inexpensive that enables regulators to assess the organization operation.
Key Words
Digital technology
Digital platforms
Ethics
Regulations, policies and code of conduct
Compliance audits
References
Felkey, B.G & Fox, B.I. (2015), Health information technology risks, external threats and human complacency, Hospital Pharmacy, 5 (6) 550-551. Retrieved from https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4568117 / accessed on 20 th July, 2018
Gonzalez-Padron, T. (2015), Business ethics and social responsibility for managers (Electronic version). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Leonardi, P., Huysman, M. & Steinfield, C. (2013), Enterprise Social Media: Definition. History and Prospects for the Study of Social Technologies in Organizations, Journal of Computer- Mediated Communication, 19 (1): 1-19. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/19/1/1/4067484 accessed on 20 th July, 2018
Steinman, A. (2016), The Continued Importance of Compliance Auditing: Shifts in Scope Provide Increased Value. Retrieved from http://www.ehstoday.com/environment/continued-importance-compliance-auditing-shifts-scope-provide-increased-value accessed on 20th July,2018
Usnick, L. & Usnick, R. (2013), Compliance program auditing: The growing need to insure that compliance programs themselves comply, Southern Law Journal, 23 (2), 311-327
Vaast, E. & Kaganer, E. (2013), Social media affordances and governance in the workplace: an examination of organizational policies, Journal of Computer- Mediated Communication, 19 (1): 78-101. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/19/1/78/4067520 accessed on 20 th July, 2018
