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In the late 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton rocked the scientific world on its heels with the publication of one of the most influential scientific books ever written, the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Newton, 1687). In this seminal work, Newton distills the complex principles and interactions of motion and gravity, laying the foundation for the laws of physics as we know them today. In the elegant axioms that follow, Newton revealed the intricate relationships between cause and effect, matter and energy, and action and reaction.
The laws of physics have been the bedrock of scientific and technological advances for more than three hundred years. As our knowledge and understanding of our natural world have increased, so has our desire to explore, manipulate and change the world around us. A prime example is our drive for technological innovation. Advances in science and technology in the 20th and 21st centuries have led to the development of new technologies, designed to improve the quality of life, to increase efficiency, lower costs, and overcome the barriers of time, distance, geography, and other limiting factors.
Innovations bring change as a result of intended outcomes and unexpected consequences that arise. For example, the discovery of new drugs to cure or treat a particular disease may inadvertently cause other health problems. Technologies, such as nuclear energy, intended to produce cheaper, more abundant electrical power may also be used to create weapons of mass destruction. Robots intended to improve assembly line efficiency and worker productivity may replace human workers. Stem cell research may extend lives and treat or cure diseases such as Alzheimer's, juvenile diabetes, and cancer. But it comes at a cost. The method of procuring stem cells from aborted fetuses or embryos has provoked a firestorm of religious, political and ethical debates. Laws, attitudes, moral codes and social custom are continually challenged by advances in science and technology that force us to reexamine our beliefs, policies and practices, and our priorities.
Should we be surprised that innovations may have unintended consequences? Most would say no. The third law of Newtonian physics clearly states that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. Technology innovation brings both new opportunities and new problems. It generates public support as well as resistance. If Newton's third law holds true, we should expect that intended benefits of technology innovations will also result in unintended consequences. Adoption leads to adaptation and experimentation. Conflicts arise and change is inevitable. This paper discusses the ethical, legal, social and political controversies surrounding recent technology innovation and proposes strategies for addressing the unintended consequences of innovation in the area of e-commerce and cultural change.
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Dr. Naimi is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership at Purdue University and a practicing attorney at law. Dr. Naimi has more than twenty years of experience in government, university administration and corporate management, having served as an information technology director at Harvard University, state technology program director in Connecticut and university vice president in New Jersey and Texas. She has a strong track record in building and funding collaborations, having received more than $20 million in grants and sponsored initiatives to support change in business and industry, international collaborations, and educational institutions. Recent research has been in the areas of ethical leadership, promising developments in organizational change, and effective global supply chain management. Dr. Naimi holds five earned degrees: a doctor of jurisprudence (law) from the University of Connecticut; Masters and Doctoral degrees from Harvard University in Administration, Planning and Social Policy; a Masters degree from the University of Alabama, and a baccalaureate degree from the University of Cincinnati.
