Capella University

IT1170: Goals and Ethics for the IT Professional

A GuidedPath guide to how IT supports business goals and to the ethical issues IT professionals face.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

IT1170 studies how technology fits into an organization and how professionals should behave. Capella says students analyze core enterprise organizations, business processes and IT infrastructures, and apply their knowledge of how an enterprise's business goals relate to IT operational models.

Ethics runs through the course: IT codes of ethics, ethical issues in using employer resources, and examination of web technology and cybercrime. Students who have credit for IT3170 may not take IT1170.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityCapella University
CodeIT1170 (GuidedPath; FlexPath version is IT-FPX1170)
Credits6
Credit restrictionNot open to students with credit for IT3170
Subject areaIT in the enterprise, professional ethics

What IT1170 Covers

TopicWhat it means
Enterprise organizationsHow businesses are structured and operate
Business processesThe flows of work that IT systems support
IT infrastructureThe systems and services behind business operations
Business and IT alignmentConnecting business goals with IT operating models
Codes of ethicsProfessional standards for IT practitioners
Employer resources and cybercrimeAcceptable use, web technology and misuse

Key Concepts Explained

Business and IT Alignment

IT should serve business objectives. If a company aims to improve customer retention, systems that track customer contact and support requests directly serve that goal.

Illustration (invented): A retailer wants faster delivery. An order-tracking system and an inventory database support that goal; a new internal chat tool might help staff but does not clearly advance it. Alignment means explaining the link, not just listing technology.

Applying a Code of Ethics

Work through a case in steps: identify the facts, name the stakeholders, find the relevant code principles, consider options and justify a decision. Cite the actual code you are using rather than appealing to general fairness.

Use of Employer Resources

Typical issues include personal use of company equipment, access to confidential data and monitoring of employees. The answer usually depends on policy, purpose and proportionality.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

The catalog does not list assessments; this is a general guide.

Work typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Organization analysisUnderstanding processes and IT rolesMap processes to the systems that support them
Alignment paperBusiness and IT linksStart from the goal, then the technology
Ethics case studyApplying a codeFollow facts, stakeholders, principles, options, decision
Cybercrime discussionAwareness of misuseGive a specific example and the safeguard

Working Through an Ethics Case

A repeatable method gives your analysis structure and makes it easier to mark.

  1. Summarize the facts in a few sentences, without opinion.
  2. List the stakeholders and what each stands to gain or lose.
  3. Identify the code principles that apply, and quote the principle by name or number.
  4. Describe two or three possible actions and their consequences.
  5. Choose one, justify it against the code and say how you would put it into practice.

Showing Business and IT Alignment

Alignment questions ask you to connect technology to organizational goals. A table makes the link visible.

Business goalIT capabilityHow it helps
Reduce order errorsIntegrated order systemEnter data once and share it between teams
Improve customer serviceTicketing and trackingRequests are logged, assigned and followed up
Protect customer dataAccess control and loggingOnly authorized staff can view records

These are invented illustrations of the format. When you analyze a real organization, start from its stated goals and processes, and be careful to separate what you know from what you assume.

Self-Check Questions

QuestionWhat a good answer includes
Why align IT with business goals?So spending and effort serve what the organization is trying to achieve
What is the purpose of a code of ethics?To set shared professional standards and guide hard decisions
What makes personal use of work equipment an ethical issue?It involves trust, policy and the use of resources owned by someone else

Practice answering with a named code principle and a concrete example each time.

Worked Example: A Short Ethics Scenario

An invented case: an IT technician notices a colleague copying a customer list to a personal drive. Following the five steps, the facts are that data has been copied without apparent authorization. The stakeholders are the customers, the company, the colleague and the technician.

Relevant principles in IT codes of ethics typically cover protecting confidentiality, respecting policy and acting with honesty, so name the specific code you use. Options include ignoring it, confronting the colleague or reporting it through the proper channel.

Reporting through the channel set by company policy best protects customers and follows professional duty, though it should be done factually and without accusation.

The strength of this answer is not the conclusion but the reasoning that links facts, principles and consequences.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for IT1170

How We Help with IT1170

Send the prompt, rubric and your draft. A tutor can explain frameworks, review your analysis for structure and reasoning, or provide a model case for study.

GradeEssays is independent of Capella University. Use our work as a study aid and submit your own assignments under Capella's academic honesty policy.

Make IT Ethics Clear and Well Argued

Share the case and rubric. We prepare a custom analysis you can study and review your own draft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits is IT1170?

6.

Who cannot take IT1170?

Students who have credit for IT3170.

Does it cover cybercrime?

Yes, along with web technology and IT codes of ethics.

Is it a technical course?

It covers IT infrastructure, but with strong emphasis on business alignment and ethics.

Is there a FlexPath version?

Yes, IT-FPX1170, with the same description.

Can you write my ethics paper?

No. We explain, review and provide model examples; you submit your own work.