<<–2/”>a >p style=”text-align: justify; background: white; margin: 0in 0in 6.0pt 0in;”>Case Study 5:-
You are Director General in the Ministry of Public Works Department and have access to important policy decisions along with upcoming big announcements such as road construction projects before they are notified in the public. Your son is a land dealerand wants to know the complete details and he is insisting you about proposed mega road project which ministry is soon going to announce. Once it is announced, the land price in the vicinity would see a steep hike. You have access to maps and know the dimensions of land to be acquired. Your son wants to buy the land at present rates which is very cheap in and around the soon to be announced project. He is trying to convince you by saying that he would purchase land confidentially and there would be no problem in future for you. You are aware that the Minister has already shared this information with his children who are also into the land business. In fact, the minister has asked you to do the same so that your son also makes huge profits. He has tried to convince you by saying that his and your children are buying land legally and there is no harm in it.
In this situation, what will you do? Critically examine various conflicts of interests at play in this case study and explain what your responsibilities areas a public servant. (250 Words)
Solution:
Disclosure of information that may lead to undue advantage to a particular group is against the professional Code Of Conduct of executives. This situation involves conflict of interest that are:
(a) Public interest vs private gains: Bureaucrats are trustees of public interest. They have access to secret information based on the trust that they will not leak it selectively. Disclosing those information to my son would betray public trust for private gains.
(b) Professional secrecy vs cronyism: Breach of secrecy is a fraud on professional ethics. It will amount to disciplinary action that will have disastrous consequences on both my job and career of my son.
(c) Professional commitment vs hobnobism: Partnering minister in his unethical and corrupt conduct tantamount to being equally culpable in crime. Even if I don’t disclose the information to my son, silence makes me a partner in crime.
As a public servant my outmost responsibility is to uphold public trust. My appointments comes with a legal code of conduct and conventional Code of ethics. These codes forbid me to disclose these information even if I am assured of safety. Also, it demands me to blow whistle in case of frauds. By acquiescing to minister and my son’s argument that the land would be purchased legally, I will act as a fool. In the era of vigilant media and civil Society it would be just a matter of time to establish conclusively that information were leaked to the advantage of minister’s children and my son.
I won’t disclose these report to my son.Rather,I suggest him to follow his own business in normal way.As a father,I should also persuade him to follow genuine path by giving the examples of such wrongdoings in the past.I also set myself as his role model to follow and aligning his happiness in his father’s pride and honesty.For minister,I won’t obey his suggestion and recommend him to do not to disclose these confidentiality.But,if he has disclosed it then I shall report about him to higher authorities or CVCs.
,
Ethics is the study of what is right and wrong. It is a system of moral principles that guide our behavior. In business, ethics is important because it helps us make decisions that are fair and just. It also helps us avoid making decisions that could harm our employees, customers, or the Environment.
Ethical decision-making is the process of making choices that are consistent with our moral principles. It is important because it helps us avoid making decisions that could harm others or ourselves. It also helps us build trust and credibility with our stakeholders.
There are a few different ways to resolve ethical dilemmas. One way is to consult with a trusted advisor, such as a lawyer or an ethics expert. Another way is to use a decision-making framework, such as the ethical decision-making matrix.
The ethical decision-making matrix is a tool that can help you make ethical decisions. It consists of four steps:
- Identify the ethical issue.
- Identify the stakeholders.
- Identify the Options.
- Evaluate the options.
The first step is to identify the ethical issue. What is the problem that you are trying to solve? What are the ethical considerations involved?
The second step is to identify the stakeholders. Who are the people who will be affected by your decision? What are their interests?
The third step is to identify the options. What are the different things that you could do to solve the problem?
The fourth step is to evaluate the options. What are the pros and cons of each option? What is the best option for all of the stakeholders?
Unethical behavior can have a number of negative consequences, both for the individual and for the organization. Some of the consequences of unethical behavior include:
- Damage to reputation
- Loss of customers
- Loss of employees
- Legal problems
- Financial losses
Whistleblowing is the act of reporting unethical or illegal behavior to the authorities. Whistleblowing is important because it helps to expose wrongdoing and prevent harm.
Ethics codes are sets of rules that outline the ethical standards of an organization. Ethics codes are important because they help employees understand what is expected of them. They also help to protect employees from retaliation if they report unethical behavior.
Ethics officers are responsible for overseeing the ethics program of an organization. Ethics officers are important because they help to ensure that the organization complies with ethical standards. They also provide guidance and support to employees on ethical issues.
Ethics training is the process of teaching employees about ethical standards. Ethics training is important because it helps employees understand what is expected of them. It also helps to prevent unethical behavior.
Ethics audits are the process of reviewing an organization’s ethics program to ensure that it is effective. Ethics audits are important because they help to identify areas where the ethics program can be improved.
Ethics hotlines are confidential channels that employees can use to report unethical or illegal behavior. Ethics hotlines are important because they provide a safe way for employees to report wrongdoing.
Ethics ombudsmen are independent individuals who are responsible for resolving ethical disputes. Ethics ombudsmen are important because they provide a neutral forum for resolving ethical disputes.
Ethics committees are groups of employees who are responsible for overseeing the ethics program of an organization. Ethics committees are important because they provide guidance and support to the ethics officer.
Ethics consultants are experts who can provide guidance and support to organizations on ethical issues. Ethics consultants are important because they can help organizations to develop and implement effective ethics programs.
Ethics is important in the workplace because it helps to create a positive and productive work environment. A positive and productive work environment is one in which employees feel respected and valued. It is also one in which employees feel comfortable speaking up about ethical concerns.
Ethics is important in the community because it helps to create a safe and healthy environment. A safe and healthy environment is one in which people feel safe and respected. It is also one in which people feel comfortable speaking up about ethical concerns.
Ethics is important in the world because it helps to create a just and peaceful world. A just and peaceful world is one in which all people are treated with respect and dignity. It is also one in which all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Here are some frequently asked questions about ethics in general, with short answers:
-
What is ethics?
Ethics is the study of morality and the principles that govern our behavior. It is concerned with what is right and wrong, and how we should live our lives. -
What are some ethical principles?
Some ethical principles include honesty, Integrity, fairness, respect, and compassion. -
Why is ethics important?
Ethics is important because it helps us to make good decisions and to live our lives in a way that is consistent with our values. It also helps us to build trust and relationships with others. -
What are some ethical dilemmas?
Ethical dilemmas are situations where there is no clear right or wrong answer. They often involve competing values or principles. -
How can we resolve ethical dilemmas?
There are a few things we can do to resolve ethical dilemmas. First, we can try to identify the relevant ethical principles. Second, we can try to weigh the different options and their consequences. Third, we can consult with others to get their perspective. Finally, we can make a decision that we believe is the best one, given the circumstances. -
What are some ethical codes?
Ethical codes are sets of rules that guide the behavior of professionals in certain fields. They are often developed by professional organizations or by governments. -
What are some ethical violations?
Ethical violations are actions that go against the principles of ethics. They can include things like lying, cheating, stealing, and harming others. -
What are the consequences of ethical violations?
The consequences of ethical violations can vary depending on the situation. They can include things like losing one’s job, being fined, or being imprisoned. -
How can we prevent ethical violations?
There are a few things we can do to prevent ethical violations. First, we can educate ourselves about ethics. Second, we can create a culture of ethics in our workplaces and communities. Third, we can hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions. -
What are some Resources for Learning more about ethics?
There are many resources available for learning more about ethics. Some of these resources include books, articles, websites, and courses.
-
Which of the following is not a type of ethical dilemma?
(A) A situation in which there is no right or wrong answer
(B) A situation in which there are two or more equally good answers
(C) A situation in which there is no good answer
(D) A situation in which there is a right answer but it is difficult to choose -
Which of the following is not a factor to consider when making an ethical decision?
(A) The consequences of your decision
(B) The rights of others
(C) Your own personal beliefs
(D) The law -
Which of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma?
(A) Talk to someone you trust
(B) Do what you think is right
(C) Follow the law
(D) All of the above -
Which of the following is not an example of an ethical dilemma?
(A) A doctor has to decide whether to save a patient’s life or save the life of a group of people.
(B) A company has to decide whether to lay off workers or close down.
(C) A politician has to decide whether to vote for a bill that they believe is good for the country, even though it will hurt their constituents.
(D) A student has to decide whether to cheat on a test or not. -
Which of the following is the best way to avoid ethical dilemmas?
(A) Be aware of the potential for ethical dilemmas.
(B) Think about the consequences of your actions.
(C) Be honest and fair.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not an example of an ethical principle?
(A) Autonomy
(B) Beneficence
(C) Non-maleficence
(D) Justice -
Which of the following is the best way to apply ethical principles to a situation?
(A) Consider the situation from all sides.
(B) Think about the consequences of your actions.
(C) Make a decision that you can live with.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not an example of a professional code of ethics?
(A) The Hippocratic Oath
(B) The Code of Ethics for Nurses
(C) The Code of Ethics for Journalists
(D) The Code of Ethics for Lawyers -
Which of the following is the best way to learn about professional codes of ethics?
(A) Ask your supervisor or manager.
(B) Read the code of ethics for your profession.
(C) Talk to someone who is familiar with the code of ethics.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not an example of a conflict of interest?
(A) A doctor who owns stock in a pharmaceutical company that makes a drug that the doctor prescribes.
(B) A lawyer who represents a client in a lawsuit against a company that the lawyer owns stock in.
(C) A politician who accepts campaign contributions from a company that the politician is regulating.
(D) A teacher who gives preferential treatment to students whose parents are friends with the teacher. -
Which of the following is the best way to avoid conflicts of interest?
(A) Disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the appropriate people.
(B) Avoid situations where you could have a conflict of interest.
(C) Be honest and fair.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not an example of whistleblowing?
(A) A government employee who reports waste, fraud, or abuse to the proper authorities.
(B) A journalist who reports on a story that is in the public interest, even though it could get the journalist fired.
(C) A doctor who reports a colleague who is practicing medicine without a license.
(D) A student who reports a professor who is cheating on their research. -
Which of the following is the best way to protect yourself from retaliation for whistleblowing?
(A) Document everything.
(B) Talk to a lawyer.
(C) Get support from others.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not an example of plagiarism?
(A) Using someone else’s work without giving them credit.
(B) Paraphrasing someone else’s work without giving them credit.
(C) Citing someone else’s work but not accurately representing their ideas.
(D) Using someone else’s work without understanding it. -
Which of the following is the best way to avoid plagiarism?
(A) Cite your sources.
(B) Paraphrase