Programme: ATHE Level 4 Diploma in Computing (QCF)

Unit Name and Number: IT and Society K /560/7680

Level: Level 4

Scenario

You have recently been appointed as an IT advisor to a small business consortium in your local area. The members are typically sole traders who meet regularly to discuss common issues directly impacting on their businesses and other matters affecting society in general. One of the emerging topics is IT to help manage and develop their businesses but also the wider issue of how IT impacts on society.

At the next meeting you have been asked to present information to them relating to IT issues in society. This will enable them to understand the requirements and ensure they can adopt best practice in their own businesses.

Activity 1

The business consortium has asked you to inform the members how IT has changed the way people live and work. You will need to use actual examples to illustrate the points you are making and help their understanding. You need to produce the presentation materials and an accompanying guide which relates to the last 50 years and provides:

• an analysis of the most significant developments in IT over this time
• an evaluation of how IT has changed society in this time period

• an explanation of how IT has changed the way people work in this time

In addition you should provide an explanation of the impact on individuals of living in the information age.
LO1 assessment criteria, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
LO2 assessment criteria 2.2

Activity 2
The manager of the business consortium was impressed with your presentation and has asked you to produce a news article which can be displayed on their website. This will inform new business owners about IT issues in society.
Your article should cover the following points and it should include examples from wider reading and research to support your explanation and evaluation:

• an explanation of how significant digital citizenship is to society
• an evaluation of current issues in society relating to personal data

Assessment criteria 2.1, 2.3

Activity 3
The manager of the business consortium would now like a report to help him understand the legal, ethical and regulatory issues in IT. He will then be able to use this information in meetings with any new business leaders who are considering joining the consortium. Your report should cover the following points:

• an evaluation of the current legal, ethical and regulatory issues in IT
• an assessment of the importance of ethical guidelines in IT

In addition in order to help him understand the information in a stated context, he has specifically asked you to include a section in the report which:

• evaluates the impact of one current legal, ethical or regulatory issue in IT on a specific and identified organisation.

LO3 Assessment criteria 3.1, 3.2, 3.3