What to do when you are asked to do wrong? What data modeling topics tend to run into ethical issues? Is DW/BI more prone to ethical issues? What if you are asked to model for sharing data you shouldn't be? Or using data that shouldn't be used that way? What if you see such things? Is a career limiting move worth it? We invite you to join us in this monthly DATAVERSITY webinar series, “Big Challenges with Data Modeling” hosted by Karen Lopez.

1. YourModerator
Karen Lopez
Sr. Project Manager / Architect
Infoadvisors
@datachick
#BCDModeling
YourPanelist
Len Silverston
President, Universal Data
Models, LLC
@lensilverston
Denny Cherry
Founder and Principal
Consultant, Denny Cherry
and Associates Consulting
@mrdenny
Kerry Tyler
Senior BI Engineer, Aptera
Software
@airbornegeek
Tamera Clark
Principal Consultant, T & K
Creative Solutions Group
@tameraclark

2. ©2014 Universal Data Models, LLC - All Rights Reserved 1
Ethics in Data Modeling

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•Ethics
•Morality
•Rules
•Laws

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Ethics
‘rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad’ *
– do what is good – do no harm?
* From Mirriam Webster’s online dictionary

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Morality
‘beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior’ *
– Synonym? Do the right thing?
– culturally and perspective based?
– E.g., in some cultures, you can share homework and copy work, in other
cultures, this is a no-no.
* From Mirriam Webster’s online dictionary

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Rules
‘a statement that tells you what is allowed or what will happen within a
particular system’ *
– Very specific
* From Mirriam Webster’s online dictionary

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Law
‘the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state,
country, etc.’ *
– May be ethical, but not legal, and vice versa
* From Mirriam Webster’s online dictionary

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Code of Ethics of ACM
(Association of Computer Machinery)
• Contribute to society and human well-being.
• Avoid harm to others.
• Be honest and trustworthy.
• Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
• Honor property rights including copyrights and patent.
• Give proper credit for intellectual property.
• Respect the privacy of others.

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Data Modeling Ethics Topics
• Intentions
• Righteousness
• Speak/model the truth
–Respect, trust, transparency
• Confidentiality
• Stealing/plagiarism
• Designing protection, security, privacy

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Ethics Topic Opposite
Perspective
Dilemma Data Modeling Application
Righteousness
(do the ‘right’
thing)
There is no
‘right’ thing or
do it the right
way. Infinite
perspectives.
- What if asked to do
something that you think is
wrong?
- Do no harm – who defines
harm or what the ‘right’
way is?
- What if your way is the
‘right’ way but others
disagree?
- Is it better to look out for
the ‘greater good’ or is it
sometimes OK to look after
oneself?
- How to be of the best service?
- Is there one right way to model
something? Is there a right or wrong in
data modeling? Or is it a case of what is
most useful in the situation?
- Big data – do we need a data model? Or is
it a waste of time?
- A normalized model is the ‘right’ way for
this application but others disagree.
- This level of flexibility is correct!
- Business has requirements, but this is
correct technology wise.
- The DBA wants to ignore model and
provide performance.

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Ethics Topic Opposite
Perspective
Dilemma Data Modeling Application
Speak/model
the truth and
act on it.
What is the
truth?
- What are the facts
versus opinions?
- How can we speak with
the greatest amount of
integrity?
- How can we provide
models with integrity?
- Should we always do
what we say?
- What are the real facts in the model
and what is
opinion/judgment/perspectives? (need
the most flexible model – is that a
fact?)
- What if we are asked to model
something that is not true? (e.g., a
person can only play one role, only 2
lines for an invoice)
- Model the truth? Can we only
approximate and get closer to the
truth?
- What is the single version of the truth –
who is right?
- Be transparent with mistakes?

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Ethics Topic Opposite
Perspective
Dilemma Data Modeling Application
Confidentiality Whistle
Blowing
- Honor
confidentiality
agreement if you
discover something
illegal or unethical?
(E.g., Snowden,
Assange/WikiLeaks)
- Disclose use of data for unethical purpose?
E.g., Using personal data such as social media,
genome data, or private information for
understanding behavior?
- What if asked to model something you
shouldn’t? e.g., credit card information which is
illegal to store?

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Ethics Topic Opposite
Perspective
Dilemma Data Modeling Application
Stealing,
plagiarism,
taking without
permission
Re-use When can you
take and when do
you need
permission?
When is
something your
own?
- What if your data model was taken from a ‘re-
usable model’ and you didn’t get permission or
you didn’t disclose and have full transparency?
- Who owns the intellectual property of a model?
When is it yours?
- When do you need permission to re-use models
or modeling ideas?

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Ethics Topic Opposite
Perspective
Dilemma Data Modeling Application
Responsible for
designing
protection/privacy/
security/encryption
Is this the
data
modeler’s
job?
How much to
design and
what is in
scope?
- What is in scope for modeling security/privacy
and in which model (conceptual, logical,
physical?)
- What about storing data in the cloud? Less
control over security/privacy?