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Strategic IT consultantRuth is an experienced strategic IT consultant, having worked across many industries, sectors and technologies with a particular focus on the innovative and ethical use of digital technology in business and in society. Ruth’s career has spanned 30 years developing and designing IT solutions for her clients, as a network engineer, senior technical consultant, solutions architect, business analyst and qualified Futurist. Ruth’s passion is to work towards the ethical development and use of technology for the good of society, enabling her clients to make wise and informed decisions and investments today to enable their preferred futures. |
March 2022 Festival Presentation: The Purpose-Driven Business Analyst
Have you ever been concerned that the project you are working on, or the analysis you are undertaking, is creating outcomes that are morally wrong?
Should you say nothing, and just do your job? Should you speak up and initiate a change? Would you be prepared to quit your job, to stay true to your values?
Expedited by the pandemic, people are questioning the work that they do, and who they do it for. Employees don’t see themselves as workers anymore. They seek to spend their time at work doing something they enjoy, with people they like, achieving something important now and for the long-term.
The world is awakening to the fact that profit-only business models are harming our environment, society, and future. From direct action activism to responsible finance, the old business mantra of profit above all else is failing. Companies are increasingly expected to become more efficient, more caring, more sustainable, and more responsible.
Aligned purpose, trustworthiness and authenticity are having a direct and positive impact on the bottom line of the enterprise. New business opportunities are emerging from the fields of digital experience, renewable energy, electrification of industry, smart cities, sustainable agriculture, emissions reduction, ethical governance, values-driven procurement and more.
This is a radical shift. Harnessing these opportunities relies on talented and educated people, who are increasingly seeking to use their time at work to do good. To attract, retain and get the best from skilled and talented people requires more than a pay cheque. Businesses must offer new ways of working and genuine opportunities to positively contribute to the bigger picture beyond profit only values.
As companies seek transformational change in this shift from profit into purpose, the role of the business analyst must also evolve. A new purpose of business requires a new purpose of business analysis.
In this presentation, Carl Sudholz (in Canberra) and Ruth Lewis (in Melbourne) will explore the opportunities and challenges for the business analysis profession in this transition from profit-driven enterprise to new purposes that serve a greater common good of people and planet.
October 2021 Showcase Presentation: Ethical IT and it’s value in society
There has been a rapid movement worldwide to gain the benefits of AI development, both for economic and for humanitarian purposes. But with this movement comes the very real risk that society does not have the wisdom to develop these powerful technologies. The advent of emerging AI and IT ethical IT standards and methodologies provides hope that with thoughtful development techniques and governance, we can harness the good and mitigate the risks.
This presentation will provide an introduction to ethical IT, and will summarise the initiatives in IT and AI ethics and human values, in particular new and emerging standards (such as the IEEE 7000 standard Model Process for Addressing Ethical Concerns During System Design). These techniques can be adapted into current system development methodologies (including the IIBA BABOK v3), in order to incorporate stakeholder’s ethical values into IT services and products.
BABOK V3 Alignment: Chapter 10: Techniques