Uncovering ethical values in information systems development methodologies: a systematic literature review

Information system development involves a lot of tools, infrastructures, and humans. The many phases in system development need humans to interact and work with each other to obtain the goal: to complete information system development. These interactions of humans require the right ethics to ensure that the information system development can be successful. For example, ethical leadership is a vital component in determining the success of any project related to information system development in organizations. The aim of this study is to identify the ethical values which are important in information system development methodology phases. This systematic literature review (SLR) comprises of four databases, and these are IEEE Xplore, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Scopus, and Emerald Insight, using the PICOC framework and applying several inclusion and exclusion criteria. 172 papers from 2018 to present were found to have discussed the ethical values that are needed in the system development methodology phases. The study finds that there are 10 ethical values highlighted in those papers, for example: ethical leadership, ethical team dynamics, trust, consideration, and so on. The findings from this paper are important for the people who are involved in system development methodology to practice the right ethical values to ensure the success of the system development.