Emerging Ethical Issues in Technology and Countermeasures for Management and Leadership Consideration

By 2010, it is projected that about seventy percent of the U.S. population will spend ten times longer each day interacting virtually with colleagues in their field, coworkers, and family members. This is an interesting statistic and, presently, many individuals spend so much time online that it would be impossible for them to imagine what it was like before email and internet modalities of communication. This is amazing in terms of technology advancements as well as humanity's capacity to adapt so well so fast. Yet, at the same time, it is kind of sad as well due to its externalities and unintended consequences such as the lack of social interaction that involves face-to-face discussions filled with feelings of happiness, joy and frustration. Furthermore, there are many ethical implications caused by this high-tech society that must be considered by individuals, managers, politicians, governments, and corporations if they are to effectively develop trust with their workforce, citizens and other stakeholders while attempting to deliver value for the relevant constituencies. Trust is extremely critical for maintaining healthy long-term relationships (with interdependent stakeholders), enhancing the overall value of the organization, and for delivering superior value (Weinstein & Johnson, 2004) in the coming decades.