Standards of Behavior and Interface Interaction

Standards of Behavior and Interface Interaction - A Guiding Principle

In the dynamic world of user experience design, ethical conflicts are an inevitable part of the process. These conflicts can arise from various sources, such as differences in business values, customer values, objectives, mission, or vision.

One of the keys to addressing these conflicts effectively is having an ethical code of conduct. This code serves as a guiding principle, helping to put ethics at the forefront of people's minds during the design process. It's not a dictatorial stance, but rather a process for resolving issues and ensuring that ethical considerations are given the attention they deserve.

When an ethical issue arises, the first step is to determine the root cause of the conflict by probing deeply with each party involved. This thorough investigation is crucial to understanding the issue and finding a suitable resolution.

Once the root cause is identified, a decision regarding the resolution of the ethical issue should be made and implemented. However, the decision's impact should be reviewed and discussed with users to ensure it's working effectively. This feedback is essential for continuous improvement and ensuring the solution is meeting the needs of all stakeholders.

If necessary, the decision can be iterated upon by returning to the beginning of the process and trying a different approach. This iterative process is an integral part of problem-solving, allowing for adjustments and improvements until a satisfactory solution is found.

Conflict, whether in healthy or unhealthy organizations, is a normal part of business. However, it should not involve shouting, tantrums, bullying, or other unacceptable forms. If such behaviour occurs, it should be handled separately through an organization's disciplinary process.

The impact of an issue should be examined by considering user reactions and the costs/benefits of resolution. Once the impact is understood, the affected parties and stakeholders should be enlightened about potential solutions and the reasons behind them.

The German Institute for Internal Auditing (DIIR) has published a process for solving ethical problems by positioning internal auditing as a key to sustainable corporate management and ethical responsibility. This process integrates corporate governance and ethical reflection into the problem-solving process, providing a comprehensive approach to ethical conflict resolution.

Lastly, hiring people to contribute to an organization involves expecting them to apply their intelligence to their work. In a business setting, intelligent people often disagree. Conflict should not equate to unacceptable behaviour. Instead, it should be managed effectively, fostering a productive and ethical work environment.