Reading Assignment

• The Case of the Killer Robot
  Reach each of the articles linked to on the above page.

Discussion Questions

1. Choosing a particular software process (i.e. the waterfall model, the "Ivory Snow Theory") is portrayed as a decision with serious ethical implications. Do you think this is realistic? Why or why not?
2. Analyze the decisions and actions of the character that you are assigned below, using any ethical theories that you think appropriate. Be sure to include any mitigating factors (that would tend to lessen the ethical responsibility of the character) in your analysis. You will be called on to present your analysis in class, and you must also be prepared to discuss your classmate's analysis of each character.
   • Andy H.: Randy Samuels
   • Ben: Ray Johnson
   • Katie: Sam Reynolds
   • Luke: Jan Anderson
   • Mike: Michael Waterson
   • Andrew T.: Wesley Silber
   • Mark: Cindy Yardley
   • Ryan: Max Worthington
3. Consider the five tests of Kallman and Grillo (as presented by Harry Yoder):
   • the mom test
   • the TV test
   • the smell test
   • the other person's shoes test
   • the market test
   How are these tests related to the ethical theories that we have discussed? Do these tests represent a more practical approach to ethical decision making than the theories that we have discussed?
4. Which characters bear some ethical responsibility for the death of Bart Matthews? Which characters bear some legal guilt? Is there a difference?