Prepare and complete an Ethics Decision Matrix and use it to decide your course of action for the situation described below:

Assume you are a member of the Houston Community College's IT team and you were assigned a Help Desk ticket to work on a professor's desktop computer which was having some issues connecting to the network. After resolving the issue, without thinking you clicked on a desktop file named "Calendar.pdf" and were shocked to discover that it contained pornographic material in violation of HCC policy. The professor is a very nice person whom you have known for a while. You hate to do something that would hurt him. At the same time you are also worried that you violated IT policy when you opened one of the professor's files without his permission. You don't know what the penalties might be for such a violation, but you are worried that you might lose your own job if this violation came to light. What action should you take that would be consistent with the NSPE code of Ethics?

Make a list of the possible actions you could take and use an Ethics Decision matrix to decide on the best possible action.

For preparing the Ethics Decision Matrix, refer to Chapter 1, Section 1.10 of the book. Use the 6 canons of the Professional Code of Ethics provided by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) that are found in Section 1.10 of the book and also at the link provided below called "National Code of Ethics-2".

You must complete the matrix (remember that some canons from the NSPE Code of Ethics may not be applicable to the situation) and state your recommended course of action.

Quit your job NSPE Action-> Canons Tell your boss Tell the prof's boss Talk to the prof Tell your friends Hold paramount safety, health, and welfare of the public Perform services only in your area of competence Issue public statements objectively Struthfully manner Act for employer and client as a faithful agent Avoid deceptive acts Conduct yourself honorably Total Quit your job NSPE Action-> Canons Tell your boss Tell the prof's boss Talk to the prof Tell your friends Hold paramount safety, health, and welfare of the public Perform services only in your area of competence Issue public statements objectively Struthfully manner Act for employer and client as a faithful agent Avoid deceptive acts Conduct yourself honorably Total