OZ 2010/1-2

12 ORGANIZACIJA ZNANJA 2010, LETN. 15, ZV. 1 – 2 Spam is an example of how a simple quality problem can become a problem of global scope with serious ethical, legal, business and other consequences. In dealing with ethical problems there must be well defined and elaborated patterns for identifying ethical problems and well developed methods for treating them during the vision development, problem definition and implementation processes. A quality vision does not prevent quality and ethical problems in the vision implementation process. Interpretation of the vision (removing abstraction) that is necessary for the implementation can be a cause of quality and ethical problems. Treating ethical problems should be independent of any particular model of quality assurance but should be seamlessly integrated in it. Ethical problems reflect through the desired situation that does not perform as envisioned. They can be resolved by vision redevelopment and vision reinterpretation – at their places of origin. Because vision interpretation is carried out in the vision implementation process and usually results in the specification, the specification could be the source of ethical (and quality) problems. At the current stage of development it is not unlikely to think that ethical problems discovered in the vision implementation process can be resolved by applying quality norms along with engineering norms, technology norms, legal norms and norms of other disciplines. Engineering disciplines are used to standards, specifications, recommendations and other forms of norms. It may become a requirement to treat ethical problems through norms because this would enable ethical problems to be solved in an unobtrusive way. Special ethical norms may not be needed; patterns for ethical problems identification may suffice. Based on the already acquired knowledge norms of other disciplines may be effective in solving ethical problems. The model gives us a picture of how problems including the ethical ones arise, beginning with the vision development, problem definition and throughout the implementation processes. We did not completely separate ethical problems from other problems partly because of no commonly accepted patterns for ethical problems identification and partly because of the fact that all problems have to be solved. 6. TECHNOLOGY To implement the vision we need technologies. In our model we comprehend technology as knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for implementing the vision. The design and implementation of the production and replacement processes may require new technologies. We may not develop new technology for solving one problem only but for solving a class of problems sharing some common characteristics. This leads towards adaptability (e.g. modularization, extensibility, configurability, openness, programmability) of technology. The more adaptable is the technology (e.g. computer, internet) the greater are the possibilities of its application, misuse and abuse. Adaptable technology requires a capacity to be adapted for a particular purpose. Methods for technology adaptation should be verified and traceable to make it easier to correct errors. Problem 6.1 We tend to solve problems with inappropriate technologies (e.g. Internet technologies of the nineties were not mature to serve the beginning of massive commercialization). We have to either choose the right technology to solve the problem or develop new (complementary) technology. We may convert the design of objects into the design by adaptable (e.g. modular, extensible, configurable, open, programmable) objects. This can significantly decrease the number of different objects to be designed and correspondingly increase the number of the same objects to be produced. Significant decrease in the number of different objects to be designed and correspondingly significant increase in the number of the same objects to be produced can assure high quality objects. However, before use, such an object must be adapted to emulate the required object. Problem 6.2 If the object adaptation is not supported with the same level of quality as when produced, it may become a poor quality object after adaptation. Verified methods of objects adaptation can prevent such situations. Maksimiljan Gerkeš: MODELLING OF PROCESSES – TEHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT