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Unit 6 Assignment
Ethics Paper For this assignment view a video and assess the complex and ethical dilemmas of current administrative practices.
Go to http://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/uploads/411/EthicsSep2209.html
and choose two of the following issues:
1. A Story on Outside Business 2. A Story on Conflict of Interest 3. A Story on Bribes 4. A Story on Grant Applications
Unit 6 Assignment
For more information, click on the Unit 6 orange tab…
Reading Assignment
During this unit you will examine the decision making process. You will familiarize yourself with the ethical guidelines for public administrators and practice dealing with complex ethical dilemmas.
Read Chapter 5: “Decision Making in Administration”
Ethics Defined
Rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.
Ethics v. Morals
Morals are concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character.
Ethics v. Morals
Ethics define the code that a society or group of people adhere to while morality delves into right and wrong at a much deeper level, which is both personal and spiritual.
The ethics that a person adheres to are impacted upon by external factors like the nation, society, peer group, religion and profession, and could change with a change in any of these influencing factors.
Corruption – Why do we care?
Corruption is a form of privilege indulged in by those in positions of power, wealth, and influence for mutual gain.
As such, it is inherently antidemocratic and unethical because it concentrates power and its benefits in relatively few hands. If democracy is founded in large part on a premise of political equality, corruption is offensive to that value as well as to ethical values.
Codes of Ethics
Codes of ethics by American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
http://www.aspanet.org/scriptcontent/index_codeofethics.cfm
International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Code of Ethics
http://icma.org/en/icma/ethics
ASPA Code of Ethics
Serve the Public Interest
Serve the public, beyond serving oneself. ASPA members are committed to:
1. Exercise discretionary authority to promote the public interest. 2. Oppose all forms of discrimination and harassment, and promote
affirmative action. 3. Recognize and support the public’s right to know the public’s
business. 4. Involve citizens in policy decision-making. 5. Exercise compassion, benevolence, fairness and optimism. 6. Respond to the public in ways that are complete, clear, and easy
to understand. 7. Assist citizens in their dealings with government. 8. Be prepared to make decisions that may not be popular.
US Government Office of Ethics
Guiding Principles:
1. employees shall not use public office for private gain; and
2. employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
http://www.usoge.gov/
US Government Office of Ethics
In addition, employees must strive to avoid any action that would create the appearance that they are violating the law or ethical standards.
US Government Office of Ethics
By observing these general principles, and specific ethics standards, employees help to ensure that citizens have confidence in the integrity of Government operations and programs.
Appearance?
Why does appearance of unethical behavior matter?
Examples?
Misuse of Position Executive branch employees must not use their public
office for their own or another's private gain. Employees are not to use their position, title or any authority associated with their office to coerce or induce a benefit for themselves or others.
Employees also are not to use or allow the improper use of nonpublic information to further a private interest, either their own or another's.
Reference: 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.701-705.
Examples?
Gifts From Outside Sources Executive branch employees are subject to restrictions
on the gifts that they may accept from sources outside the Government. Generally they may not accept gifts that are given because of their official positions or that come from certain interested sources ("prohibited sources"). Prohibited sources include persons (or an organization made up of such persons) who -- are seeking official action by, are doing business or seeking to
do business with, or are regulated by the employee's agency, or have interests that may be substantially affected by performance
or nonperformance of the employee's official duties.
Reference: 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.201-205.
Decision-Making
RationalIncrementalDecision Analysis
Rational
An approach to decision making that is derived from economic theories of how to make the “best” decisions; involves efforts to move toward consciously held goals in a way that requires the smallest input of scarce resources; assumes the ability to separate ends from means, rank all alternatives, gather all possible data, and objectively weigh alternatives; stresses rationality in the process of decision-making.
Incrementalism
A model of decision-making that stresses making decisions through limited successive comparisons, in contrast to the rational model; also focuses on simplifying choices and on remedying ills rather than “maximizing.”
Don’t let “best” get in the way of “better”…
Decision Analysis
The use of formal mathematical and statistical tools and techniques, especially computers and sophisticated computer models and simulations, to improve decision making.
Discussion
When might rational decision-making be most appropriate?
When might incremental decision-making be most appropriate?
Ethics Example from Text
Box 5-2, pgs. 230 to 232.
Blagojevich’s ethics lecture full of laughs -- for audience
March 2, 2010 9:44 PM
Rod Blagojevich paints himself as victim, but a capacity crowd of 1,000 people at Northwestern University saw him more as a political clown Tuesday night.
They laughed during the introductions, when a campus leader said the College Democrats invited the indicted Illinois ex-governor to speak to “make sure tomorrow’s leaders respect the rule of law.”
They laughed when someone insisted that tapping Blagojevich to lead an ethics discussion was akin to asking Tiger Woods to lecture on fidelity.
And they laughed when he compared himself to Thomas Jefferson, Elvis and a mythical Greek figure.
Blagojevich's ethics lecture full of laughs -- for audience, continued.
The audience response appeared to ruffle Blagojevich, who returned to his alma mater to give a speech on “ethics in government.” He raised his voice, bemoaned the local media and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
“Why don't you at least give me the benefit of the doubt and let me prove myself in a court of law?” he asked.
What’s wrong with this question, in the context of government ethics:
Why don’t you at least give me the benefit of the doubt and let me prove myself in a court of law?
Questions?
