Technoethics: A 21st Century Leadership Competency

By Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Business Analytics

Having grown up in a household of technology hobbyists in the 1980s and then entered the industry in the 1990s, I’ve had a frontrow seat to some of humanity’s greatest digital technology breakthroughs. My life has been full of experiencing the impact of new technologies firsthand—both the overwhelming positives and of course, many of the unfortunate negatives.

Thirty years later, as a practitioner and educator, I am more excited and engaged in emerging technologies and their impact on people, organizations, and society than I was even all those many years ago.

In recent years, I’ve begun to notice the consequences of a world where abundant technology is creating new power dynamics. Big tech is increasingly dominating our hyperconnected lives and, despite a modicum of self-regulation, they operate in an unconstrained manner.

We don’t need to stop at big tech though. Anyone with a computing device and an Internet connection has the power to disrupt in both good and bad ways. With so much power at our fingertips, how might we address the complex ethical choices of our digital future?

In my view, the answer lies in a new 21st century leadership competency that deeply considers methods and models for decisions related to technology. It’s called technoethics.

Those that understand this area and learn related skills, will be better, more ethical leaders. They may avoid the mistakes we’ve seen by major corporations in the past few years.

I’m delighted to bring the first technoethics class to Menlo College. In fact, it’s one of just a few colleges to offer this essential subject to undergraduates in the United States. Menlo students will be equipped with an expanded toolkit to address the ethical choices that technology presents as they become future leaders.