Student Version
my full attention.
The Cyberslacker
Has anyone seen Shane? I need him to sign off on these documents ASAP, Bryn says as she pokes her
head into the break room.
Hes in the conference room with the Chief Information Officer, and I dont think hes going
to be in a good mood when he comes out, Tony volunteers as he looks up from a technical magazine.
Whats the problem? Bryns forehead creases in a worried frown.
You havent noticed? Hes the biggest cyberslacker around here, and its catching up with him,
Tony replies. Last week he downloaded a virus along with some photos from the Internet and the CIO
is H-O-T, hot!
What do you mean by cyberslacker? Bryn asks quizzically.
A cyberslacker is anyone who wastes time on the Internet instead of working, Tony tells her.
Last year a cyberslacker let a hacker into the network by accident while they were chatting online.
Then another guy got fired after the company was sued over an obscene joke he e-mailed to everyone.
The company is cracking down on anyone who violates the policy on Internet use. Shanes going to be
lucky if he still has a job when he comes out of that meeting.
Identify the three reasons why Bryns and Tonys company is concerned about cyberslacking.
1. ________________________________________________________________________
They are concerned they will get sued over a joke on e-mail.
2. ________________________________________________________________________
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Student Version
Items 1-9 below describe a responsible attitude toward use of company technology, and items 10-22
show an irresponsible attitude. Choose four items from each group and explain why you agree or
disagree with the statement.
1.
I know that getting work done takes precedence over my personal entertainment.
2.
Posting remarks that are hateful or embarrass another person can hurt me.
3.
4.
I put in long hours, so sometimes I need to do some personal chores online. I always ask for
permission so there are no misunderstandings.
5.
I reread all of my e-mails before I push the Send button to make sure I havent said anything
that I wouldnt want to be made public.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Im aware that my company can be sued if I download pirated music or movies on their computers.
No.___7 Explain.__________________________________________________________
Student Version
No one told me what appropriate or inappropriate use of the Internet is at work. So its
managements fault if something I do causes a problem.
22.
11 Explain.___________________________________________________________
No.___
22 Explain.___________________________________________________________
No because its irrelevant to work
No.___
15 Explain.___________________________________________________________
No you should be considerate of you work space
No.___
No you still could get a virus.
19 Explain.___________________________________________________________
No.___
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Student Version
How knowledgeable are you about the abuse of technology and its cost? Try matching the numbers
below to the statements that are given.
46%
$150,000
64%
1.
2.1
37%
one-half
39%
18% 1-in-3
32%
Interruptions at work from technologies including IMs, cell phones, email and the Internet cost
U.S. businesses _______________ a year in lost employee productivity.
2. ______% of employees admit to surfing the Internet constantly at work and ________% say they
surf a few times a day.
3. A small company with less than 50 employees had to pay $________________ for copyright
violations involving MP3 music that an employee stored on the company computer.
4. ___ in ___ employees leave their computers logged onto the company network and unlocked when
they leave their desks for lunch and at the end of the day.
5. IT professionals say the use of unauthorized programs such as P2P or Web-based e-mail by
employees accounted for _______ of their companys data loss incidents.
6. ______% of employees access personal Web-based e-mail from business computers, which causes
a security risk.
7. In a worldwide survey of 2000 respondents, _______% of employees admitted to transferring files
between secure company networks and personal computers that family and friends use at home.
8. A leading oil company paid _____________ to settle a lawsuit concerning a sexual e-mail joke
circulated by employees.
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Student Version
This happening could have allowed the Iranians to access top secret
information which could cause harm to the USA. Like an attack on the
_____________________________________________________________________________
President.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5
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Student Version
Imagine that you work 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at a company that does not keep a close watch on employees use of
technology. The company has sent the following survey form to all employees and is asking them to
complete it without identifying themselves in any way. Complete the form as if you are an employee.
1.
Do you use company technology resources such as a company cell phone, Internet access or
x Play games
____
x
3. Do you believe that personal use of technology at work hurts your productivity? ____Yes
____No
You could get carried away and get behind.
Explain your answer. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
x
4. Do you believe that personal use of technology at work helps your productivity? ____Yes ____No
No it gets you side tracked.
Explain your answer. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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Student Version
5. How much time do you spend daily at work using technology for personal reasons? ____Hrs.____Min.
x
x
6. Do you believe companies should monitor your personal use of technology at work? ____Yes
____No
maybe for some things but people have privacy too.
Explain your answer. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
7. Do you agree with experts who say the Internet is addictive? ____Yes x
____No
x
8. Do you believe employees should be allowed to surf the Net? ____Yes
____No
any
If so, what is the maximum amount of time that should be allowed? _____Hrs._____Min.
x
9. Do you know that e-mails sent from the company server belong to the company? ____Yes ____No
10. Which of the following do you consider an abuse of technology at work?
x Downloading movies
____
x
x
x
_____ Maintaining an emotional relationship online
____ Blogging
x Shopping online
____
x
Would it surprise you to be fired for abusing technology at work? ____Yes ____No
Form a group with three classmates and write five more questions that you believe should be included
in the survey to all employees of the company.
12. ____________________________________________________________
13. _____________________________________________________________
14. _____________________________________________________________
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Student Version
Case No. 1
Deandra is an administrative assistant in the bookkeeping department who spends about 10 hours a day
on the job without ever complaining about all the unpaid hours she puts in. Shes friendly and helpful
and one of your favorite co-workers. Deandras daughter is getting married soon, and Deandra is taking
care of hundreds of details. Today, when you saw her surfing the Internet looking at wedding gowns,
you warned her that she could be in trouble if the company knew she was surfing unauthorized sites.
She smiled warmly at you and said, Well, only you and I know what Im doing, right? ________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Case No. 2
Two employees at the company have become romantically involved, although theyre trying to keep their
relationship a secret. While installing new software last week, you discovered a massive number of
I would ask
them to quit
_____________________________________________________________________________
using the email
or you are
_____________________________________________________________________________
getting fired.
e-mails theyve sent each other, so many that you wonder how they ever get any work done. ________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Student Version
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Case 4
You and your girlfriend/boyfriend had an argument last night, and youre very upset. The two of you
have been texting back and forth all morning as you go from desk to desk helping employees with their
IT problems. Your thumbs are getting quite a workout as your messages get longer and longer. Youve
had a couple of calls from employees wondering why youre taking so long to get to their computers.
I would stop texting and help the workers and text on break.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Case 5
In trying to fix a problem with one employees computer, you discover several pornography sites that he
views. You search his records and discover that he spends about an hour and a half every day both
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Student Version
Put It on Paper
Employers cant, and shouldnt have to, police an employees every action on the Internet, or with cell
phones, IPods, and other communication technology. Sure, you can get away with a few things when no one
is watching, but do you want to risk your job by abusing technology on company time?
Limiting or eliminating your personal texting, IMs, e-mails and Internet during work hours takes
commitment. Are you willing to make the commitment? Explain how you feel about this problem.
I agree because you need to work. You dont get payed to play on the
_____________________________________________________________________________
internet. You get payed to do your job.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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