How can you address conflicts of interest in systems design?

1 Identify the sources of conflict

To address conflicts of interest, the first step is to identify and understand their sources. These can range from divergent goals and expectations among stakeholders to misaligned incentives and rewards, biased information or feedback, power imbalances, and ethical dilemmas. You can use various tools and methods to identify the sources of conflict, such as stakeholder analysis, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observation.

2 Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders

The second step to address conflicts of interest is to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to find common ground and mutual understanding. Through communication and collaboration, you can establish trust, clarify objectives, share information, acknowledge interests, and negotiate trade-offs. You can also use various tools and methods such as workshops, meetings, prototypes, wireframes, or mockups to help facilitate the process. This will help you build relationships with stakeholders and create a better understanding of their perspectives.

3 Apply ethical principles and frameworks

The third step to address conflicts of interest is to apply ethical principles and frameworks to guide your decision-making and actions. Doing so can help you evaluate the impact and consequences of the system for different stakeholders, respect their rights and dignity, promote the values and norms of the system domain and context, avoid or minimize harm and risk, and ensure fairness and justice. Various tools and methods can be used to apply ethical principles and frameworks, such as codes of conduct, standards, guidelines, checklists, or scenarios.

4 Document and justify your decisions and actions

The fourth step to address conflicts of interest is to document and justify your decisions and actions. This can help you record and track the rationale and evidence for your decisions, explain and defend them to stakeholders, demonstrate your accountability and responsibility, learn and improve from them, as well as resolve or prevent disputes or complaints. To do this, you can use various tools and methods such as reports, logs, portfolios, or audits.

5 Review and reflect on your practice

The fifth step to address conflicts of interest is to review and reflect on your practice. Doing so can help you assess the outcomes and feedback of the system for different stakeholders, identify strengths and weaknesses, recognize challenges and opportunities, seek and incorporate feedback from stakeholders, and plan and implement changes and improvements. Various tools and methods can be used to review and reflect on your practice, including evaluations, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or self-assessments.

6 Develop your skills and competencies

The sixth and final step to address conflicts of interest is to develop your skills and competencies. This can help you to become more knowledgeable in the system domain and context, enhance your communication and collaboration with stakeholders, strengthen ethical reasoning and judgment, expand creativity and innovation, and increase confidence and professionalism. To do this, you can take advantage of various tools and methods such as courses, workshops, mentoring, coaching, or certification.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?