1. Unit 4- Assignment 3
P5, P6, M2
BTEC Business Level 3

2. Legal Issues in Business
Data Protection Act 1998
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Unauthorised access to computer materials
Unauthorised access to computer systems with intent to commit another offence
Unauthorised modifications of computer material

3. Legal Issues (in brief)
Data Protection Act this act ensures information held about people is used correctly. There are 8 different criteria that a business must follow (see pg 139)
Freedom of Information Act this gives individuals the right to request information about them that is held by a public authority- e.g. You have the right to see your medical records.
Computer Misuse Act this act makes it illegal to carry out certain activities on a computer, e.g. Hacking, misusing software, gaining access to secure files.

4. Ethical Issues in Business
Use of
Internet
Whistle Blowing
Organisational Policies
Information Ownership

5. Ethical Issues
- a code of practice is common in businesses- this gives employees guidelines about appropriate use of .
Internet- similar to - employees are guided as to what they can and cannot do when using the internet.
Whistle Blowing- this is when an employee raises concerns about business practice, these concerns can be raised to management or sometimes the press.
Organisational policies- business set policies regarding information to ensure they use information ethically.
Information ownership- employees are responsible for the information they have. E.g staff information.

6. P5- Explain how a business follows the ethical and legal issues associated with business information
Explain each issue and then explain how a business ensures it follows these policies, this could be through staff training, through staff policies, through routine checking and reprimanding staff if necessary
Legal issues should include Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Computer Misuse Act Explain how the organisation follows these acts, what practices are put into place to ensure the business follows these.
Ethical information should include; use of , internet, whistle blowing, organisational policies. Explain how theses issues have an effect on how the company produces information/ the information they provide.

7. Operational Issues Security of Information Backups Health and Safety
Organisational Policies
Costs

8. Operational Issues
Security of Information- This ensures digital information, records and knowledge management is kept secure by a business. Including confidential information left on the train!!
Backups- a business needs to minimise the risk of loosing vital information using a reliable backup system. This should be common practice in any business
Health and Safety- IT equipment must be used safely, this requires a number of criteria for staff who are required to spend a large amount of time using IT equipment.
Organisational Policies- these are individual business policies that relate to using information.
Cost- this needs to be considered, businesses may see the benefit of implementing some or all of these measures but they do come at a cost, either additional resources needed or the cost of development.

9. P6- Explain the operational issues in relation to the information a business uses.
Using the same business explain which operational issues they follow and how these are implemented in the business.

10. M2- Analyse the legal, ethical and operational issues in relation to the use of business information.
You can incorporate this into P5 and P6, you need to explain how the company will deal with each of these issues –
What effects will it have on the business?
What action will it cause the business to take?