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Tutorial:�Modelling Ethics for System Design�with the Square of Values

Accompanying templates

CBI&EDOC 2026, Enschede, 17-09-2026

CBI&EDOC 2026

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Square of Values

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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System makes sure that no group is systematically disadvantaged. Scoring is not clear.

The system shares what information is relevant for credit score. Some of it is correlated with age/gender….

Share what information is relevant for credit scoring. Explain how it is not discriminatory or how minorities can still get a good score.

System fully disregards business-relevant info, e.g. kids can get 1M€

The system shares all formulae with age/gender… included

…

Fairness

Naivety

Transparency

Oversharing

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

Denis

Name:

Credit Scoring System in Bank

Topic:

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The user is able to choose freely among several options, some of which are sustainable.

The system forces the user to choose the sustainable option(s) every time; the user has no say in the matter.

The system does not make the user consider sustainable options; consequently, the user never acts sustainably.

The user is able to freely make choices between sustainable and non-sustainable options. They are subtly "nudged" to more frequently (yet freely, i.e. not always) choose sustainable options.

The user always chooses to act sustainably, in accordance with their preferences and free choices

Making sustainable choices�(sustainability)

Being forced to choose sustainable option�(heteronomy)

Being able to choose freely�(autonomy)

Never considering sustainable options�(unsustainability)

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

Finn

Name:

Assistant for sustainable practices

Topic:

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Sustainable and high satisfaction of requirements

Maximize output with minimal resources

Sufficient satisfaction of requirements with limited resources

High effort for little quality gained

Restriction of available resources such that little can be achieved

Quality

Perfectionism

Efficiency

Stinginess

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

Leila

Name:

…

Topic:

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accept responsibility; (management) system makes it explicit …

accept mandate…

(management) system makes it explicit

roles, mandates and responsibilities are expressed and mutually recognized…

I want to know everything… informal/continuous auditing; ad-hoc (management) system

no planned/required formal reporting; ad-hoc/informal

…reporting and auditing in place, recognized by all parties as adequate to the scenario; explicit/clear management system

Governance / ownership

governance = micro-management…

Management / delegation

Management = free wheel; no control…

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

José Borbinha…

Name:

a management system…

Topic:

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Context/cause motivated access to “just enough” data, leaving a full trace of data access (who, why, when, what) + needed encryption, etc

Delegated (triage) control of access (when, who, where) to data, and right to audit data access. �E.g. “when I’m incapacitated, and there is an immediate medical urgency, then the treating medical worker has access to …

Access to data of people (also when they become patients) should remain under their control at all times

Health care system (doctors, as well as insurers …) always have full access to the patient’s health data

No sharing of health related data. �No storage of health related data, other than under the patient’s own (exclusive) control

Secured, controlled, auditable, data access

In the case of an accident, especially when the patient is incapacitated, medical workers need access to all data relevant to the patient’s health (prior conditions, allergies, etc)

Physical health

The transparent citizen

Privacy

Privacy �‘til I die

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

Erik’s

Name:

Health emergency

Topic:

exaggeration

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

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Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

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Name:

…

Topic:

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Provide a variety of login options (applica-�tion’s login, Google, Apple, MS, Facebook)

Besides the applica-�tion’s login, allow one external identity provider (Google)

…

Allow all sorts of login options,weak passwd., one-time-passwords via e-mail

…

Uniform login for all users (Security)

Proprietary multi-factor login

Flexible login options

(Freedom)

Lax login verification

development

overcompensation

positive tension

exaggeration

Jens

Name:

Login to an application

Topic: