Sopra Steria is a European leader in digital transformation with over 46,500 employees across 25 countries. We are trusted by leading private and public organisations to deliver successful transformation programmes that address their most complex and critical business challenges. Our comprehensive understanding of technologies, combined with our firmly-grounded ethical principles – as demonstrated by our robust Sustainability and CR credentials – have also made us a leader and natural partner in the Digital Ethics debate. We are working to move from the philosophical to the practical, collaborating with a range of stakeholders and industry groups to shape a better future, while helping organisations navigate the challenges of digital ethics today, leading to better business outcomes now.
1. Digital ethics is not just about technology, it is about people and trust.
Although the challenges discussed here arise from technology, digital ethics is about making changes within organisations to protect people and ensure healthy societies and economies. For organisations of all kinds, managing the ethical issues arising from digital technology is a way to build and sustain trust with stakeholders, which in turn creates value. In the Digital Age, trust is becoming a precious asset, a differentiator and a unique selling point.
2. Legal compliance is necessary but not sufficient.
Organisations cannot use compliance with the law as the benchmark for good practice. When it comes to Digital Ethics, national and international regulation has not kept pace with technology and the technology market. Consumer demands are pushing the pace of change, and organisations will have to respond quickly to survive.
3. Digital ethics must be considered throughout the technology and business lifecycle.
Organisations must move from relegating ethics to single departments (e.g. CSR or Legal) and relying solely on policy to drive change. Making digital ethics a truly integrated way of working will yield better technology solutions, improve brand reputation, engage clients, employees, and regulators, and help to future-proof the organisation.
On the business side, digital ethics should be integrated into strategy, planning, governance, responsibility & accountability, risk management, and culture. On the technology side, we work to embed digital ethics principles from design, to resourcing, to implementation, to iteration and retirement.
4. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Every organisation has to take action appropriate for its industry, strategy, values, culture, geography and risk approach. We help to navigate the challenges, not impose our answers. Our consultants are trained to facilitate and inform discussions with clients, putting big questions into their unique contexts to empower our clients to make the right decisions.
5. Practical action on ethics drives better outcomes and creates business value
The topic of Digital Ethics can seem overwhelming or esoteric, but there are practical actions that any organization can and should take.
We bring the theoretical into reality by assessing the risks and opportunities of different kinds of digital ethics concerns, according to seven categories.