Discussion Board Peer responses

Peer responses for discussion board

For your response posts, engage with your peers' analyses and consider the following:

· Comparative Analysis: If you selected the same mission statement as a peer, discuss any similarities in your responses.

· If you chose different mission statements, compare how each statement provides guidance for ethical decision making in data handling.

· Agreement on Ethical Decision Making: Evaluate your peer's opinion on ethical decision making in relation to data.

· Do you agree with their perspective? Why or why not?

Peer 1:

Hello Everyone,

The industry I chose for this discussion was Southwest Airlines. As its name alludes to, it is in the airline industry and collects the data of its customers including their booking details (name, address, phone number, etc.), their travel history, and even the food they eat on the plane and websites you use while on plane Wi-Fi. Part of the mission statement includes “dedication to the highest customer service” which can be backed up by their data collection that can improve your travel experience, such as keeping foods that many passengers may choose to eat and removing others or providing personalized travel deals to places you may frequent.

It is essential that Southwest Airlines ethically handles the data it collects from its customers to maintain a balance between keeping its customers' trust and their privacy protected while also improving their experience. While collecting data about their travel habits may benefit the customer if they get personalized deals or something similar, it also means that their whereabouts may be tracked by people whom they did not give access to. If Southwest Airlines included the ability to opt in or out of specific areas of data collection it would allow each customer to learn more about how their data is being collected in different areas and allow them to set their boundaries on what they want collected to improve their experience. The mission statement is already off to a strong start since Southwest talks about its goal to improve customer service, but transparency could be prioritized by including something that makes customers aware that their data is what is being used to improve said service.

Peer 2

For this discussion, I’ve chosen the mission statement of the American Red Cross: "The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors." This organization helped my family during Katrina when I lived in New Orleans. As a forced transplant further away from the city I grew up in. A lot of misrepresentation took place. Operating within the humanitarian sector, the organization collects various types of data, such as personal information from donors, emergency contact details from individuals in crisis situations, and health data during disaster responses. This data is critical for understanding community needs and efficiently allocating resources. Events like Hurricane Katrina highlighted significant challenges, particularly regarding accountability in data management. The inability to account for lost funds during this disaster raised concerns about whether data practices align with the organization’s mission, emphasizing the need for ethical data handling.

Ethical data handling is essential for the American Red Cross, as it directly impacts trust and credibility. During Katrina, the mismanagement of funds not only undermined donor confidence but also hindered the organization’s ability to respond effectively to those in need. Prioritizing ethical practices may involve tradeoffs, such as the potential for slower data processing, but the long-term benefits, like fostering transparency and trust, are vital. Implementing strategies that promote transparency, such as detailed reporting on how funds are used and clear communication with stakeholders, can support the organization’s mission by reassuring the public of its commitment to ethical standards. Additionally, the mission statement serves as a guiding principle, encouraging the organization to prioritize fairness, transparency, and the mitigation of bias in data practices, thereby ensuring that its actions reflect its core values and maintain the trust of both donors and beneficiaries.

Strom, S. (2006, March 24). Red Cross sifting internal charges over Katrina aid. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/24/us/nationalspecial/red-cross-sifting-internal-charges-over-katrina-aid.html

American Red Cross. (n.d.). Mission and values. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/mission-and-values.html