essential skills for public servants-3 ethical behaviour and morality
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8/22/2019 Essential Skills for Public Servants-3 Ethical Behaviour and Morality
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Shahid Hussain RajaIndependent Consultant-Public Policy
www.sanoconsultants.co.uk
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Introduction
What is morality
What are ethics
Why need them
What they entail
Conclusion
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Ethics and morality are two interdependent but distinct
concepts at conceptual as well as at practical levels
They are the basic foundations of any individual, anorganization or a civilization for survival and growth.
Greek character is destiny aptly describes thisfundamental truth
If you cannot stand for something, you will fall for anything
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Personal norms and values about good and bad, your
beliefs about fundamentals
Your own behaviour and the one you expect fromothers
Product of your life experience, knowledge andtraining
Can differ from person to person even in one social
setup
However there are certain moral values which areuniversal
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Norms and values of an organization, normallyformalised in the shape of codes
Expected conduct and behaviour of the membersof that group
Can differ from personal moral values but notsubstantially from universal morality in case ofethical organizations
Up to a certain level, ethics and morality are thesame-honesty, integrity, transparency, fair playare the universal norms
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It is the highest value which distinguishes humans
from animals, a basic denominator not the highestpedestal.
It is also a legal requirement -you signed an affidavitto remain honest throughout your career.
It is also a social obligation-society expects highestmoral standards from its paid servants.
It is constitutional duty- you took an oath under a
constitution and all the service framework is basedon constitutional provisions, underpinning ethicalbehaviour
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1.Ethical standards for public service should be clear
2.Ethical standards should be reflected in the legalframework
3.Ethical guidance should be available to public servants
4.Public servants should know their rights andobligations when exposing wrongdoing
5.Political commitment to ethics should reinforce theethical conduct of public servants
6.Decision making process should be transparent andopen to scrutiny
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7.There should be clear guidelines for interaction between the public
and private sectors
8.Managers should demonstrate and promote ethical conduct
9.managemen policies,procedures and practices should promoteethical conduct
10.public service conditions and management of human resourcesshould promote ethical conduct
11.adequate accountability mechanisms should be in place within thepublic service
12.approprite procedures and sanctions should exist to deal withmisconduct
(OECD Guidelines for Public Service )
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Giving best of you
Ends do not justify means
Conflict of Interest and roles
Confidentiality of state secrets
Application of merit principle
Transparent public dealing
Personal morality vs. organizational ethics
Financial prudence and integrity
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Public service is a trust; not putting in your bestefforts is a breach of trust
Working according to job description is yourduty, working beyond is ethics
Work is honour; salary is not its compensation
Life long learning is must to improve yourcompetency and giving best of you
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Yes, they dont ! Never fall prey to shortcuts
Only self-alienated person mixes the both
Do not rationalise your procedural lapses bysuccessful execution of a plan
Do go for positive interpretation of rulesprovided the spirit of the legislation is intact
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Do not deal with any case where your own, oryour friends' or familys interest are involved.
Do not accept any assignment which conflicts
with your job description
If you want to do business/consultancy, seekpermission and take leave
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There may be certain moral values which you preferbut if they are in conflict with the organization, thenyou have to follow these. It is ethical behaviour
You are bound by the rules of the game not by yourown moral values how high they may be
In case of conflict between your personal moralityand organizational ethics, the latter will be yourguiding principles not your own set of values
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You are bound by the law to keep state secrets to
yourself
Access to Information Act is applicable to non-classified information only
Loose talk about cases you deal is unethical
Giving off-the-record information to press isalso unethical and immoral
Settle your score by writing dissenting notes onfiles ,not through press leakage
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Always apply the merit principle-whether recruiting,posting or appointing a person
Or making any decision about a career,
contract or award without any fear or favour
Non-discrimination-on the basis of gender, religion,caste, except where bound by law
Besides being right in itself, in these days of judicialactivism, media exposure and civil society intrusion, yourcareer and reputation depends on your being ethical
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Transparency in public dealing is the essenceof ethical behaviour
Withholding information with mala fideintentions is as criminal as taking bribe
There is a thick red line between transparency
and confidentiality-the intention
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Acceptance of gifts by public for any reasonis totally forbidden
Deposit them with the concerned ministry in
case given by the foreigners
Elaborate rules exit for purchasing these giftsif you feel a fancy for any gift
Misusing public funds for personal gain oruse-avoid it
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Ethical behaviour is contagious
Your example will be quoted and followed
Leave better examples to be followed
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