Ethical issues in business statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical issues in business statistics - Essay Example Among the four branches of moral philosophical term â€Å"ethics†- Meta, normative, descriptive and applied ethics, business ethics has itself two dimensions, such as normative and descriptive dimensions. Corporate world and professionals is regulated by normative view of ethics where academicians use descriptive method to scrutinize the corporate behavior and practices. Statistics is such kind of tools which helps to abridge large volume of data into simple number which determines a conclusion. In business statistics, which employs the techniques and knowledge of statistics and mathematics into business phenomena to make decision, is now confronted and being challenged by ethical issues of business as well as by Christian point of view towards business in western world where Christianity is dominant. From the very beginning of history, philosophers had thrown some question to the statisticians in terms of ethical investigation. They urged for determining a course of action wh ich is recommended as well as followed by others. They also questioned about the possible outcome and its impact on everyone. After that they asked for the acceptance to the statisticians itself if the decision dictated by him will direct to him. Finally, they raised the question about the neutrality of the publication if it goes publicly. Though Philosophers intend is to develop generalization of business statistical outcome, professional business statistician’s real objectives is to create processes to deal ethical issues which they arise. A statistician has an obligation to his client as he is asked to handle the data. But there will raise a question about the ownership of data as who will be the righteous to data. Even though clients give consent to publish or any use of the data, it is statisticians obligation to protect the identities and honor of his clients and his organization. On the contrary, clients may try to dictate the possible result towards his comfort zone b efore the accomplishments of any research. So, it is a dilemma for the statistician to keep the agreement which have done before with his ethical- either personal or professional- obligation. Another challenge for a statistician is to deal with outlier effect. Outlier can be explained as an observation of any occurrence which is unusually either large or small compared to real volume. Proper solution can be raised through formulation of law and its implication. It will help to deal with the two’s, that is, ownership of data and search of significance and outlier. For example, if data is owed to the clients, he cannot change the statistical findings toward his own ease as it against the public policy. In terms of outlier, though it is legally defensible if disclosed, ethically not indeed. This is because if it done, the proper accountability will be lost. However, American statistical Association (ASA) has formulated 10 point ethical guidelines for statistical practices. The m ain issues of this guideline are to follow the confidentiality of information and maintain integrity in honestly and objectively. Other thing is that the whole inquiry should be purpose oriented and should not cross the boundary limit. Fulfilling the agreement with clients should give proper importance and should inform the clients before raising any conflict or probability of occurrence of any assumed