The 3rd annual Date Ethics Debate - Fall 2005

The semester culminates in the SHA required IS course with a video-taped (view 8:40 debate; view 10:10 debate) classroom debate centered around the topic of ethics as it relates to the management of data and customer information. At the end of 14 weeks students have developed a perspective on complex issues related to information systems and their role in contemporary business. Part of being a business leader rests in the ability to argue one's position in a persuasive and logical way. As such, the debate provides an opportunity for students to express informed ideas and apply an emerging personal philosophy. The debate is moderated but is organized and argued by students. Students are allocated into one of two teams representing two sides of the debate topic.  Random allocation into teams helps shape students' ability to argue against their own personal perspective and tolerate other positions. Developing the ability to see both sides of an issue and hold conflicting views in one's mind simultaneously while arguing for a particular perspective. 

A great deal of autonomy is given to the teams in terms of how they elect the debaters (5 per group) and delegate responsibility for research and organization amongst team members.  Students taking a more 'back office' role in the debate were required to help shape the team's position, draw out salient points, and craft an argument.  Those students then made up the audience and evaluated the opposing team during the debate in an attempt to instill a sense of fairness in the judging process hoping that students would treat their competition as they hope to be treated.  Assigning a grade to the debate, making each student accountable for part of the background research, and allowing the audience to pass notes forward to debaters if they felt salient points were being missed meant that the audience was thoroughly engaged.  In addition, three panelists attended the debate in order to offer an objective assessment of team performance. 

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