Moral conflicts perceived by students of a project course

Abstract

Regardless of the popularity of project courses in computing curricula, little is researched on moral issues in these courses. The aim of this study was to increase understanding in this area by determining what students on a project course in information systems (IS) perceived as moral conflicts. Data was gathered from diaries, drawings, interviews and questionnaires, and the analysis was inspired by phenomenography. The results show that the hardest moral conflicts were confronted when a student acted in a project manager's role, and that many originated in problems related to the group process. A two-dimensional structure of moral conflicts was found. The results are considered in the light of the existing literature, and implications for research and practice are presented.