Scenario Creation Tool
for Ethical Design
A Lightning Talk
Information Architecture Meetup | UXDC
9/20/18 Washington, D.C.
Stacy Merrill Surla
stacysurla@metametrics.com

1We Need to Design Ethically

Getty Images

Peter Morville
B.J. FoggTerence Fenn &
Jason Hobbs
Vladimir Zwass
The Ethics of Information Architecture (2000)
As information architects, we are shaping the collaborative
work spaces and social environments of tomorrow. Are we
willing to take responsibility for the shapes we shape?
Keynote, IA Summit (2005)
Whether we like it or not, we are all in the business of
influencing people's thoughts and behaviors… The stakes
are higher now than ever before.
Wicked Ethics in Design (2015)
[I]s it possible that a design could be successful but not
good?
Ethical Issues in Information Systems (2010)
[W]e should use ethical principles and codes of ethics to
avoid and prevent deleterious effects of technology.

The creation will always carry its maker’s name.
And outlive him [or her].
Mike Monteiro
Design’s Lost
Generation (2018)
1931 Frankenstein

[W]e should use ethical principles and codes of ethics to avoid
and prevent deleterious effects of technology.
Vladimir Zwass
Ethical Issues in Information Systems (2010)
Thomas Hawk

2We’re Working on Tools for Ethical Design

Academics’ and Practitioners’ Roundtable
reframe-ia.org
Ren Pope

Academics’ and Practitioners’ Roundtable
reframe-ia.org
Stacy Surla

NO
Survey of philosophical frameworks and
ethical principles
Thorough explanation of the tool and how to
apply it
YES
What you will and won’t get at tonight’s talk
Enough of an overview to start including
ethical design in your toolkit
Reference materials to get you grounded and
engaged

3The Scenario Creation Tool for Ethical Design

Use Case
Value Value Value Value
Scenario Creation Tool for Ethical Design
Arturo Pérez, Jackie Wolf, Shelley Cook, Jeff Pass, Stacy Surla
Synthesis
Maximize good
Minimize harm
PURPOSE
Outcomes integrated into the solution
Synthesis
A problem requiring a design solution
Use Case
"How do I know if I’m
designing ethically?”
An output of the 2018 Ethics & IA
Academics’ and Practitioners’ Roundtable
reframe-ia.org
Standards that guide us in action
Values
All entities affected by the Use Case
Actors
Actor
Actor
Actor

Use Case
Privacy Accuracy Property Access
Community
Stakeholders
Shareholders
Scenario Creation Tool for Ethical Design
Arturo Pérez, Jackie Wolf, Shelley Cook, Jeff Pass, Stacy Surla
Synthesis
Maximize good
Minimize harm
PURPOSE
WHAT IF?
• Hypothesize
• Design
• Test
A problem requiring a design solution
Use Case
"How do I know if I’m
designing ethically?”
IDENTIFY
• Harms
• Goods
• Research Needs
Standards that guide us in action
Values
The example uses Richard Mason’s
PAPA model. You can use any
appropriate value set.
All entities affected by the Use Case
Actors
To design ethically, consider impact to
the most vulnerable first, the client last.
Community
Stakeholders
Shareholders
Outcomes integrated into the solution
Synthesis
An output of the 2018 Ethics & IA
Academics’ and Practitioners’ Roundtable
reframe-ia.org

Use Case
Privacy Accuracy Property Access
Community
Stakeholders
Shareholders
Scenario Creation Tool for Ethical Design
Arturo Pérez, Jackie Wolf, Shelley Cook, Jeff Pass, Stacy Surla
Synthesis
Maximize good
Minimize harm
PURPOSE
A problem requiring a design solution
Use Case
"How do I know if I’m
designing ethically?”
Standards that guide us in action
Values
The example uses Richard Mason’s
PAPA model. You can use any
appropriate value set.
All entities affected by the Use Case
Actors
To design ethically, consider impact to
the most vulnerable first, the client last.
Community
Stakeholders
Shareholders
WHAT IF?
• Hypothesize
• Design
• Test
IDENTIFY
• Harms
• Goods
• Research Needs
Outcomes integrated into the solution
Synthesis
An output of the 2018 Ethics & IA
Academics’ and Practitioners’ Roundtable
reframe-ia.org

4Building a Scenario

Your company is tasked with designing the next
generation public registry of sex offenders.
You're leading the team that will design and deliver
the system.
Use Case - Sex Offender Registry

Definitions
ACTORS
Privacy What info must one reveal, and
what can be kept to oneself?
Who's responsible? How will an
injured party be made whole?
Who owns the info?
What are the rights of access?
Consumers, and those
directly and indirectly
affected by the design
Those who perform the
work, were consulted, or
have a stake in it
Whoever paid for the
work or owns the output
VALUES
Accuracy
Access
Property
Shareholders
Stakeholders
Community

1. Brainstorm potential negative consequences of building the system for
each of the actors.
2. Consider ways to address the consequences – for instance to maximize
good, minimize harm.
3. Outline a scenario that reflects one or more consequences for the actors.
4. Storyboard and present your scenario.
5. Repeat for multiple scenarios.
How-To (The Full Instructions)

Lightning Exercise - 5 mins
Identify key actors in each category
Community
Stakeholders
Shareholders
Get into pairs

Lightning Exercise - 5 mins
Choose an actor and one of the values
Actor Value
Brainstorm negative consequences of the system for that actor with
respect to that value

Lightning Exercise - 5 mins
Choose an actor and one of the values
Actor Value
Brainstorm negative consequences of the system for that actor with
respect to that value

1. Brainstorm potential negative consequences of building the system for
each of the actors.
2. Consider ways to address the consequences – for instance to maximize
good, minimize harm.
3. Outline a scenario that reflects one or more consequences for the actors.
4. Storyboard and present your scenario.
5. Repeat for multiple scenarios.
The Next Steps Would Be…

5What Did We Learn?

References
Ethics and Information Architecture, http://reframe-ia.org/
Four Ethical Issues of the Information Age, Richard Mason, http://
moodle.ncku.edu.tw/pluginfile.php/848770/mod_resource/content/1/
mason_PAPA.pdf
The Ethics and Politics of Information Architecture, Andrea Resmini, https://
www.slideshare.net/resmini/the-ethics-and-politics-of-information-architecture
Ethical Issues in Information Systems, Vladimir Zwass, http://reframe-ia.org/
EthicalIssuesinInformationSystems-Zwass.pdf
Stacy Merrill Surla
stacysurla@metametrics.com