COSC1147 Professional Computing Practice
Professional Computing Practice
Hello, dear friend, you can consult us at any time if you have any questions, add WeChat: THEend8_
School of Computing Technologies
COSC1147 Professional Computing Practice
Assessment type: Report Word limit: 3000 words (+/- 10%)
excluding references and
bibliography
Weighting: 20%
Overview
You are asked to write a report on one of the biggest current ethical dilemmas involving Cybersecurity and all
the issues this is causing in the IT world and particularly for the IT industry in Australia. You are expected to
carry your research work about the identified topic and produce a formal report. This assignment requires
you to engage in issues about Ethics, Cyberethics and Critical Thinking that are covered in this course.
Assessment criteria
This assessment will measure your ability to:
• Introduce and explain the dilemma as an ethical issue that arises in the IT industry (5%)
• Conceptualise, summarise and synthesise how the major ethical theories interact with concepts of
business and marketing organisation and practices (5%)
• Explain and apply methods available to resolve the impacts of ethical issues relevant to the IT industry
(5%)
• Apply research and referencing guidelines clearly and consistently (3%)
• Communicate meaning clearly and consistently through the use of sentence structure and grammar (2%)
Course learning outcomes
This assessment is relevant to the following course learning outcomes:
• CLO1 Recognise the need for computing ethics in the Information Technology (IT) industry and the
complexities involved in computer ethical issues, and use the available legal tools to safeguard a
developer's interests when developing / publishing / marketing software
• CLO2 Discuss, explain and apply concepts of business organisation, business practices, system acquisition,
marketing principles and the major ethical theories
Page 2 of 8
• CLO3 Discuss, explain and apply ethical, social media, political, economic, legal, and marketing issues
relevant to the IT industry; and methods available to resolve these issues including the legalities involved in
starting a computer (software) company
• CLO4 Discuss, analyse and evaluate computing practice case studies, prepare SWOT analyses, and create
detailed marketing plans using the proper language of the field in both written and oral presentations
• CLO6 Demonstrate self-directed learning and more specifically the role of life-long learning for the
longevity and progression of your career in IT.
Page 3 of 8
Assessment details
Research subject
You are asked to write a report on one of the biggest ethical dilemmas involving cybersecurity facing the
IT industry in the current year. In this report you will need to include the following important aspects:
• Define and explain the issue - avoid injecting your personal bias when describing the issue.
• Detail who is likely being impacted by these concerns (a list of stakeholders invested in the issue must
be included).
• What is the key ethical dilemma in the problem, and are there other ethical issues as well?
• What are some possible ramifications of the ethical issues?
• Explain your proposed solutions and discuss the expected associated outcomes.
Discovering a relevant and good topic is part of the assignment. It needs to be done by considering the
multiple topics available to you. Choose one according to your interests.
Structure your report
When writing a report, the intention is to present the findings made after carrying out research about a
particular subject. It is to present investigation results in an area of interest as well as to demonstrate the
ability to analyse information. In order to address the identified problems or improve the current state of
affairs, reports often make recommendations for actions or changes. It is highly recommended that you visit
RMIT University’s guidelines on report writing website before starting to write the report.
The report is expected to be highly structured, using the following titled and numbered sections:
1. Introduction: Give an overview of the topic and give the reader an idea of what the paper contains
and how it is structured. It is not intended to replicate the analysis, nor necessarily list out proposed
solutions.
2. Background Analysis: Use the following framework to perform an analysis and write the results as
coherent paragraph structured for a formal report.
- List the known relevant facts
- Identify the stakeholders
- Discuss the duties and obligations of each of the stakeholders involved
- Identify ethical values and social impacts
3. Legal Recourse Available in Australia: If someone suffers adversely as a result of the use of
technology within your chosen topic, what legal recourse is available in Australia? Consider questions
such as:
- Who is legally responsible for the negative consequences and why?
- Who is obligated to ensure no harm can come to those who use this technology, or are involved
in this situation?
- If there is no specific law to deal with the issue, what could be done?
Page 4 of 8
4. Proposed Solutions: Think of at least two, and preferably more, possible solutions that may help in
solving the underlying issue. Explain your answer, e.g., why do you think these solutions might work?
Explain the expected consequences.
5. Case Study: Write a case study outlining a situation where the aggravated parties in your scenario
have suffered from the underlying ethical issues. Be creative here; come up with names, situations and
events that happen within the scenario. Apply your previously proposed solutions and discuss where
they may assist victims.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion should give a quick overview of the topics and findings as well as the
suggested solutions. It may also contain suggestions for future analysis.
7. Bibliography
- List all references used in your arguments.
- Referencing is necessary for any claim in the report that is not considered to be common
knowledge.
- A modified version of RMIT Harvard referencing style must be used (refer to the Referencing
section).
8. Appendix
- A URL to a publicly available Google Drive shared folder (refer to the Referencing section)
- Word count of your essay, excluding the Bibliography and Complimentary sections.
For more information about what is expected in each of these sections, refer to the RMIT’s Report Writing
Process. You will see that the template shared in the given link consist of additional sections not listed above.
You are not expected to provide the additional sections.
References
A minimum of 10 references must be cited in the article. It is not sufficient to simply add a reference to the
Bibliography section, that is, each reference must be cited at least once in the body of your essay to be
considered as a valid reference.
A minimum of 4 references must strictly be from peer-reviewed journal/conference articles. The rest of
references can be books, journal/conference articles, reports/standards by reputable
publishers/organisations. Other types of references are not acceptable (e.g. random news websites/blogs,
Wikipedia articles). The peer-reviewed articles must be written in bold font in the Bibliography section so
that they can be easily distinguished from the other sources.
Page 5 of 8
Referencing guidelines
The Bibliography section must use a modified version of RMIT Harvard referencing style. That is, you must
also add page numbers to the citations, which is not part of RMIT Harvard style. The Easy Cite tool by RMIT
Library can help you to learn how RMIT Harvard referencing is used. Make sure all the citations you have
contains the relevant page number.
Submission format
Use Microsoft Word or similar. The assessment will be submitted in Canvas as a file upload.
Academic integrity and plagiarism
Academic integrity is about honest presentation of your academic work. It means acknowledging the work
of others while developing your own insights, knowledge and ideas.
You should take extreme care that you have:
• Acknowledged words, data, diagrams, models, frameworks and/or ideas of others you have quoted
(i.e. directly copied), summarised, paraphrased, discussed or mentioned in your assessment through
the appropriate referencing methods
• Provided a reference list of the publication details so your reader can locate the source if necessary.
This includes material taken from Internet sites
If you do not acknowledge the sources of your material, you may be accused of plagiarism because you
have passed off the work and ideas of another person without appropriate referencing, as if they were your
own.
RMIT University treats plagiarism as a very serious offence constituting misconduct.
Plagiarism covers a variety of inappropriate behaviours, including:
• Failure to properly document a source
• Copyright material from the internet or databases
• Collusion between students
For further information on our policies and procedures, please refer to the University website.
Assessment declaration
When you submit work electronically, you agree to the assessment declaration.
Page 6 of 8
Criteria Ratings Pts
HD D C P N DNS
Identify and
explain a
cybersecurity
ethical issue that
arises in the IT
industry
The ethical issue
identified is relevant,
applicable to the IT
industry and involves
cybersecurity. The
dilemma is explained
in detail, including all
stakeholders and
impacts
The ethical issue
identified is relevant
and applicable to the IT
industry. The dilemma
is explained with some
detail, including most
relevant stakeholders
and impacts
The ethical issue
identified is mostly
relevant, applicable to
IT but may not involve
cybersecurity. The
dilemma is explained,
including some relevant
stakeholders
The ethical issue
identified has some
relevance and
applicability to the IT
industry. The dilemma
is explained with few
details, missing some
relevant stakeholders
and impacts
The ethical issue
identified lacks
relevance or applicability
to the IT industry or
cybersecurity. The
dilemma is explained but
misses details, some
relevant stakeholders
and impacts
No report submitted
5 pts 4 pts 3 pts 2.5 pts 2-1 pts 0 pts 5pts
Conceptualise
and synthesise
how ethical
theories interact
with concepts of
business and
marketing
The major ethical
theories are
comprehensively
articulated, with clear
and detailed synthesis
of their interaction with
concepts of business
and marketing
organisation and
practices
The major ethical
theories are clearly
articulated, with
detailed synthesis of
their interaction with
concepts of business
and marketing
organisation and
practices
The major ethical
theories are mostly
articulated, with
general synthesis of
their interaction with
concepts of business
and marketing
organisation and
practices
The major ethical
theories are partly
articulated, with
general synthesis of
their interaction with
concepts of business
and marketing
organisation and
practices
The major ethical
theories are poorly
articulated, with little or
no synthesis of their
interaction with concepts
of business and
marketing organisation
and practices
No report submitted
5 pts 4 pts 3 pts 2.5 pts 1 pts 0 pts 5pts
Explain and
apply methods to
resolve
cybersecurity
ethical impacts
in IT industry
Application of
methods to resolve
ethical issues and
impacts was realistic
and relevant.
Explanation of
methods was detailed,
Application of
methods to resolve
ethical issues and
impacts was mainly
realistic and
relevant.
Application of
methods to resolve
ethical issues and
impacts was mostly
realistic and relevant
but with some gaps.
Application of
methods to resolve
ethical issues and
impacts was relevant
in part.
Application of methods
to resolve ethical issues
and impacts was absent
or incomplete.
Explanation of methods
was incomplete
No report submitted
Page 7 of 8
comprehensive and
convincing
Explanation of
methods was
detailed and
convincing
Explanation of methods
with some detail
Explanation of methods
was general with some
detail lacking
5 pts 4 pts 3 pts 2.5 pts 2-1 pts 0 pts 5pts
Research and
referencing
Consistently integrates
research and ideas from
relevant and
appropriate sources
Consistently clear, well-
integrated evidence
using accurate
paraphrase and
summary
Consistently uses
accurate references,
appropriately
positioned
Integrates research
and ideas from
relevant and
appropriate sources
Clear, well-integrated
evidence using
accurate paraphrase
and summary
Uses mostly accurate
references,
appropriately
positioned
Generally integrates
relevant theory from a
number of mostly
appropriate sources
Paraphrases adequately
to avoid plagiarism
References generally
accurately positioned
Integrates relevant
theory from a number
of mostly appropriate
sources but with
occasional irrelevant
information
Generally paraphrases
adequately to avoid
plagiarism
References generally
accurately positioned
Fails to use relevant
theory / or number of
sources indicates lack of
research
Does not paraphrase
correctly
References positioned
incorrectly or used
inaccurately
No report submitted
3 pts 2.5 pts 2 pts 1.5 pts
1 pts 0–0 pts 3pts
Writing and
grammar
Consistently uses
correct grammar (verb
tenses, subject-verb
agreement, pronouns
etc.)
Consistent use of
appropriate vocabulary
and sentence structure
enabling unambiguous
grasp of the meaning
Correct punctuation and
spelling
Mostly uses correct
grammar (verb
tenses, subject-verb
agreement, pronouns
etc.)
Mostly uses
appropriate
vocabulary and
sentence structure
enabling clear grasp
of the meaning
Correct punctuation
and spelling
Communicates
meaning through use of
clear and unambiguous
language
Consistent use of
appropriate vocabulary
and sentence structure
enabling unambiguous
grasp of the meaning
Consistent use of
correct grammar (verb
tenses, subject-verb
agreement, pronouns
etc.)
Generally, uses correct
grammar (verb tenses,
subject-verb
agreement, pronouns
etc.)
Generally, uses
appropriate vocabulary
and sentence structure;
some lapses causing
lack of clarity
Adequate punctuation
and spelling; some
lapses
Incorrect use of grammar
(verb tenses, subject-verb
agreement, pronouns
etc.)
Vocabulary limited and frequently inappropriate; sentence structure often
incorrect/does not convey meaning Inadequate punctuation and/or spelling No report submitted
Page 8 of 8
Communicates meaning through use of clear and
unambiguous language Communicates meaning through use
of clear and unambiguous language
Correct punctuation and spelling Generally,
communicates clearly; some instances of incorrect use of
language Language fails to communicate meaning clearly