Chapter 6: Values, Work Ethics and Discipline in Public Administration

Chapter 6:

Values, Work Ethics and Discipline in Public Administration

KLB 2213: Introduction to Public AdministrationIntroductionIn serving the public interest and maintaining the public trust, public administrators must:

Uphold the values of societyAct responsibly

The public interest is the guide for administrative decisions

Decisions are made based on the best interests of the collective, overarching community or national good not narrow interests of small or self-serving groups

Ethical Problems for Public ManagersConflict of interestDistorting or concealing informationMisuse of expense accounts, public fundsTaking credit for others workGiving/receiving excessive gifts and entertainmentMisleading statements to superiorsKickbacksPolitical favorsAbuse of powerDrug and alcohol abuseEmployee theftDiscriminationSexual harassment

Ethical Practice is Necessary in Public Administration What is Ethics?The analysis of what is morally good, bad, right, and wrongpublic managers can make decisions and judgments that are fairer, more assured, normative, publicly defensible

Ethical analysis looks at valuesthings considered to be important, the criteria used for making decisions

Two types of valuesGoal values what you want to achieveConduct values the way you get thereGoal Values What You Want to AchieveEthics of outcomes

In public policy and administration, often refer to the utilitarian ethicUtilitarianism = The greatest good for the greatest number

Views social value as the total of everyones expected value for some alternative outcome

Used in public affairs often because easier to think about, justify, and pursue than other ethical approaches

Sometimes utilitarian goals easily met, other times can be very controversial

Conduct Values The Way You Get ThereEthics of actions

Right or wrong decisions depend on conformity with principle

In public affairs, ethical principle = actions become law required of everyoneAbsolutism single, uniform principle is criterion for rightnessNever tell a lie no matter what the circumstancesDo no harmTreat others like you want to be treated

In some cases absolute conformity with a principle is possible and works well, but there may be multiple worthy principlesContradictions and loopholes among principles can emergeEthics in Administration: Who Guards the Guardians?Public administrators are responsible for serving the public interest and guarding the public trust

But who guards them?

Public managers, administrators, and the permanent civil service make many decisions with major impacts for the public and individual welfare

However, they are not elected by the people

Ethical practice is therefore vital

Misconception of public interestCorruption Misconception of the Public InterestCan happen in public administration because

Administrators may not be a representative sample of the public at largeSocial class affects perception of people, their problems, and their wants/needs

Administrators are expertsFrom their specialization, may develop a narrow outlook on public interestTheir expert view is most important, others views less importantLack of consideration for alternative solutions, even if legitimate or dominant

Bureaus can be captured by client interestsClose association, information, expertise, and personnel sharingServe interests of clients the regulated community instead of public interest

CorruptionBetraying the public trust to achieve private gain

Abuse of power through ability to make rules and decisions

Public administrators have something to allocate that others want

Worldwide phenomenon, seriously limits the ability and credibility of government

Political systems cannot function without exchange and bargainingSupport for your party partly to receive its supportSupport for legislation in parliament so that it will support yours

All countries have norms and values that determine legitimate political exchangeIll reduce your taxes if you vote for me OKIll give you $100 if you vote for me Illegal

Corruption vs. Civic Culture

Civic culture promotes community interests over private ones

Sees government as impersonalGovernment is not an instrument for giving and getting special favorsTrading votes for money and jobs is corruptOffering money to get licenses or contracts is corrupt (bribery)Government s job is to advance the general welfareContracts, licenses, jobs, and other benefits are allocated impersonally based on merit, worth, and community-regarding rulesRules and benefits are applied irrespective of party affiliation

Political exchange is necessary but must align with civic culture

Public Administration Perspectives on EthicsManagerial Approach to EthicsAssignment of authority and responsibility must be clearHierarchy with ideally single official at the topThis way decisions wont get confused

SubordinationSubordinates must obey the commands of their superiorsStreet-level bureaucracy is problematic

Loyalty Organizational socialization promotes importance of the mission creates unity and cohesion in the bureauContinuing to develop expertise and specialization makes employee non-transferrable

Managerial Approach to EthicsFormal disciplinary systemsCodes of conduct to enforce accountability Rules Use of agency authority and propertyTimelinessEven personal detailsEthical behavior means staying out of trouble

Financial auditsEthical use of public fundsInspectors general report to Congress, investigate if program funds were used as intended by the policy in terms of performance, management, and reportingPolitical Approach to EthicsRepresentation and accountability are key factors

Representation, public participationDiversified, pluralist civil service represents values/perspectivesThe public/groups can participate in administrative procedures

Sunshine lawsAccessibility, open hearings, Freedom of Information Act

Rotation in OfficeMove civil servants between agencies, bureaus or in and out of public service, develop a broader sense of public interest so hopefully will not misinterpret

Legislative oversightCommittee, subcommittee hearings, confirm appointees, require administrators to follow process, elected officials need to have oversight: public chooses them and can hold them accountableLegal Approach to EthicsCourts have helped to define ethical values in public administration by creating a legal regime

Internalized by public administratorsPresidential Oath: To preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of AmericaUphold Constitutional law and its values

Per the courts, public administrators can legally disobey unconstitutional lawsProtection in whistle blowing situations

The legal approach sees the Rule of Law as a standard for ethical conduct

Legal approach uses independent counsels and investigators against the government when necessary

Law must be clear and consistently enforcedNew Public Management (NPM) Approach to EthicsSees ethical safeguards advocated by managerial approach as impediments to cost-effective government

Favors external oversight of the bureau by the legislature

Opposes much internal oversightEmployees can be trusted, let them do their jobThe majority of government workers are not corruptLack of trust binds employees in rules that undermines their initiative and entrepreneurialismToo much focus on rules

The ethical view of the NPM is based on trust government should trust the people including its own employees

US Constitutional checks and balances devised because of awareness of self-interest and corruption

NPM view is very different from this

Effort to Prevent CorruptionControls on Government OrganizationsExternalInternalFormalJudiciaryOmbudsmanLegislatureAgency head/inspector generalWhistle-blower statutesInformalCitizen participationInterest group representationMediaProfessional codesRepresentative bureaucracyPublic interestEthical analysisRelationshipsControlsFramework for analyzing controls on Government OrganizationsDiagram: The development of Anti-Corruption Laws in MalaysiaNote: An Example of Combating Corruption Initiatives in MalaysiaSources: http://ideas.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Anti-Corruption-Initiatives-Nov-2012.pdfDiagram: The development of Anti-Corruption Agency in MalaysiaNote: An Example of Combating Corruption Initiatives in MalaysiaSources: http://ideas.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Anti-Corruption-Initiatives-Nov-2012.pdfThank You