SUMMARY
As we design and deliver products or services we make choices that will impact individuals or society at large, in positive but easily also in negative ways.
Some choices seem obvious: like not enabling arms development. Some less clear: like working on that algorithm assessing the likelihood of an offender to reoffend. Some easy: working on big data driven integrative healthcare, or, say working for a startup that offers rental bike services. But in reality none of these choices are straightforward and without tension.
From seemingly straightforward choices to intricate conundrums, this talk discovers why our decisions matter and proposes a framework for making ethically sound choices in our daily work. This talk aims to inspire IT professionals to be more mindful and deliberate in their actions, fostering a culture of better, more ethical decisions and choices.
DESCRIPTION
First I will share a series of moral conundrums drawn from real-world experiences in diverse sectors such as FinTech, Crypto, Defence, MedTech, EdTech, and Retail. Through examples ranging from Amazon to rental bikes, FTX to Defense Distributed, I'll delve into the tensions and problems inherent in product and service design and implementation, spanning both high-level existential (business- or value-proposition-level) dilemmas as well as low-level (feature or UX/CX-level) challenges.
As we delve deeper, I'll scrutinise widely accepted product best practices such as automation, personalization, big data, application of AI, and behaviour-shifting—unveiling both their benefits and potential pitfalls. Through a series of practical examples, I'll demonstrate how these practices, while powerful, can lead to unintended negative consequences and propose strategies to harness their strengths without compromising ethics
The talk will conclude with the presentation of a pragmatic framework designed to guide decision-making. Drawing from successful experiences with teams and organisations, I'll showcase how ethics can be seamlessly integrated into the design and delivery processes. This isn't just a theoretical exploration; it's a blueprint for IT professionals to adopt a more considered, mindful, and ethical approach to product management.
TAKEAWAY
Participants in my talk will
Gain an awareness of ethical product design and delivery considerations
Explore concrete examples illustrating both exemplary and flawed product design
Understand the potential pitfalls of widely accepted product management best practices and learn how to navigate them successfully
Acquire a tangible framework that enables teams to work towards a more considered, mindful and ethical approach to product management