Ethics in administration: Status and problem

The Historical Context

India has witnessed a long history of unethical practices in the governance system. Kautilya’s Arthashastra mentions a variety of corrupt practices in which the administrators of those times indulged themselves. The Mughal Empire and the Indian princely rule were also afflicted with the corrupt practices of the courtiers and administrative functionaries, with ‘bakashish’ being one of the accepted means of selling and buying favours. The East India Company too had its share of employees who were criticised even by the British parliamentarians for being corrupt.

The forces of probity and immorality co-exist in all phases of human history. Which forces are stronger depends upon the support these get from the prime actors of politico-administrative system. What is disturbing is that a long legacy of unethical practices in governance is likely to enhance the Tolerance level for administrative immorality. In most developing nations having a colonial history, the chasm between the people and the government continues to be wide. In the colonial era, the legitimacy of the governance was not accepted willingly by a majority of Population and therefore, true loyalty to the rulers was a rare phenomenon. Although the distance between the governing elite and the citizens has been reduced substantially in the transformed democratic regimes, yet the affinity and trust between the two has not been total even in the new dispensation. Unfortunately, even the ruling elite does not seem to have imbibed the spirit of emotional unity with the citizens. The legacy of competitive collaboration between the people and the administrators continues to exist. The nature of this relationship has an adverse impact on ‘administrative ethics’.

The Socio-cultural Context

Values that permeate the social order in a Society determine the nature of governance system. The Indian Society today seems to prefer wealth to any other value. And in the process of generating wealth, the means-ends debate has been sidelined. Unfortunately, ends have gained supremacy and the means do not command an equal respect. A quest for wealth in itself is not bad. In fact, it is a mark of civilisational progress. What is important is the means employed while being engaged in this quest. We seem to be living in an economic or commercial society, where uni-dimensional Growth of individuals seem to be accepted and even valued, where ends have been subdued by means, and ideals have been submerged under the weight of more practical concerns of economic progress. Can we change this social order? Mahatma Gandhi very much wanted to transform the priority-order of the Indian society, but there were hardly any takers or backers of his radical thinking that was steeped in a strong moral order. To put it bluntly, ever since Gandhi passed away, there has been not a single strong voice in independent India challenging the supremacy of ‘teleology and unidimensionalism’. Neither have our family values questioned this unilinear growth of society nor has our educational system made serious efforts to inject morality into the impressionable minds of our youth. We have starkly failed on these fronts. The need is to evolve fresh perspectives on what kind of the Indians we wish to evolve and how? Till then, efforts will have to be focused on the non-social fronts .

Legal-judicial Context

The legal system of a country determines considerably the efficacy of the ethical concerns in governance system. A neatly formulated law, with a clear Stress on the norms of fair conduct and honesty, is likely to distinguish chaff from grain in the ethical universe. Conversely, nebulous laws, with confusing definition of Corruption and its explanations, will only promote corruption for it would not be able to instill the fear of God or fear of law among those violating the laws of the land and mores of the society. Besides, an efficient and effective judiciary with fast-track Justice system will prove a roadblock to immorality in public affairs. Conversely, a slow-moving judiciary, with a concern for letter rather than the spirit of the law, will dither and delay and even help the perpetrators of crimes by giving them leeway through prolonged trials and benefits of doubt.

The Political Context

The political Leadership, whether in power or outside the power-domain, is perhaps the single most potent influence on the mores and values of citizens. The rulers do rule the minds, but in a Democracy particularly, all Political Parties, pressure groups and the media also influence the orientation and attitudes on moral questions. If politicians act as authentic examples of Integrity, as happens in the Scandinavian countries, or as examples of gross self-interest, as found in most South Asian countries, the administrative system cannot remain immune to the levels of political morality. The election system in India is considered to be the biggest propeller to political corruption. Spending millions on the Elections `compels’ a candidate to reimburse his expenses through fair or foul means – more foul than fair. While fair has limits, foul has none. It is generally argued that the administrative class – comprising civil servants at higher, middle as well as lower levels – emerges from the society itself. Naturally, therefore, the mores, values and behavioural patterns prevalent in the society are likely to be reflected in the conduct of administrators. To expect that the administrators will be insulated from the orientations and norms evidenced the in society would be grossly unrealistic.

Issue of ethics

An important question arises in connection with the moral obligation of an administrative system. Is the administrative system confined to acting morally in its conduct or does it also share the responsibility of protecting and promoting an ethical order in the larger society? While most of the focus on administrative morality is on the aspect of probity within the administrative system, there is a need to consider the issue of the responsibility of the governance system (of which the administrative system is an integral part) to create and sustain an ethical ambience in the socioeconomic system that would nurture and protect the basic moral values. Moral political philosophy assumes that the rulers will not only be moral themselves, but would also be the guardians of morality in a society. Truly, being moral is a prerequisite to being a guardian of wider morality. Both the obligations are intertwined It is a truism that the crux of administrative morality is ethical decision-making. The questions of facts and values cannot be separated from ethical decision-making. Thus, the science of administration gets integrated with the ethics of administration. And in this integrated regime, only that empirical concern is valued, which respects the normative concerns in the delivery of administrative Services.

Which are the essential concerns in regard to administrative ethics? There can be a long list of values that are considered desirable in an administrative action. However, in being selective, one has to focus on the most crucial values. Let us now concentrate on the values of justice, fairness and Objectivity. Woodrow Wilson, “The Study of Administration” (1887), in his inaugural address averred that justice was more important than sympathy. Thus, he placed justice at the top of value-hierarchy in a governance system. Paradoxically, there has been a lot of discussion on the formallegal aspects of administrative law since then, but very little analysis has been made of the philosophical dimension of administrative justice.

Ethics in administration is a complex and ever-evolving field. It encompasses a wide range of topics, from ethical theories and principles to ethical dilemmas and decision-making. In this ARTICLE, we will explore some of the key issues in ethics in administration.

Ethical theories

There are many different ethical theories that can be applied to administration. Some of the most common include deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.

Deontology is based on the idea that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. For example, a deontologist might argue that it is always wrong to lie, even if lying would save someone’s life.

Utilitarianism is based on the idea that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. For example, a utilitarian might argue that it is right to lie if it would prevent a greater harm from occurring.

Virtue ethics is based on the idea that the right action is the one that is consistent with the character of a good person. For example, a virtue ethicist might argue that it is right to tell the truth because it is a virtue to be honest.

Ethical principles

Ethical principles are general guidelines that can be used to make ethical decisions. Some common ethical principles include honesty, integrity, fairness, and respect.

Honesty is the principle of being truthful and accurate in one’s dealings with others. Integrity is the principle of being consistent in one’s beliefs and actions. Fairness is the principle of treating others equally and without bias. Respect is the principle of valuing the dignity and worth of others.

Ethical codes

Ethical codes are sets of rules that outline the ethical standards expected of members of a profession. Many professions, including law, medicine, and accounting, have ethical codes.

Ethical codes typically include provisions on such matters as honesty, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility.

Ethical dilemmas

An ethical dilemma is a situation in which there is no clear right or wrong answer. Ethical dilemmas often arise when there are competing ethical principles or when there is a conflict between personal and professional ethics.

For example, a manager might be faced with an ethical dilemma if she is asked to fire an employee who is a single mother with young children. The manager might feel that it is wrong to fire the employee, but she might also feel that she has a responsibility to protect the company’s interests.

Ethical decision-making

Ethical decision-making is the process of making decisions that are consistent with ethical principles. There are a number of steps involved in ethical decision-making, including:

Identifying the ethical issue
Gathering information
Identifying the Options
Analyzing the options
Making a decision
Implementing the decision
Evaluating the decision

Ethical leadership

Ethical leadership is the ability to lead others in a way that is consistent with ethical principles. Ethical leaders set a good example for others, they create a positive ethical Climate, and they hold themselves and others accountable for their actions.

Ethical climate

The ethical climate of an organization is the shared perception of the organization’s ethical values and norms. An ethical climate can be either positive or negative. A positive ethical climate is one in which ethical behavior is encouraged and supported. A negative ethical climate is one in which ethical behavior is discouraged or punished.

Ethical issues in specific areas of administration

There are a number of ethical issues that are specific to certain areas of administration. Some of these issues include:

Conflicts of interest
Whistleblowing
Sexual harassment
Discrimination
Workplace bullying

Ethical challenges in the 21st century

The 21st century has brought a number of new ethical challenges to administration. Some of these challenges include:

The rise of technology
The Globalization/”>Globalization-3/”>Globalization of business
The changing nature of work
The increasing diversity of the workforce

Ethics in administration is a complex and ever-evolving field. It is important for administrators to be aware of the ethical issues that they may face and to be able to make ethical decisions.

What is ethics?

Ethics is the study of morality and the principles of right and wrong. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the moral principles that govern human behavior.

What is administration?

Administration is the process of managing and organizing an organization. It includes planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of an organization.

What is the relationship between ethics and administration?

Ethics is important in administration because it provides a framework for making decisions that are fair and just. It also helps to ensure that organizations are run in a responsible and ethical manner.

What are some ethical issues in administration?

Some ethical issues in administration include:

Conflicts of interest: This occurs when an individual has a personal interest in a decision that they are making on behalf of an organization.
Discrimination: This occurs when an individual is treated differently because of their race, gender, religion, or other personal characteristics.
Harassment: This occurs when an individual is subjected to unwanted and unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile work Environment.
Whistleblowing: This occurs when an individual reports unethical or illegal behavior to the authorities.

What are some ethical principles that can guide administrators?

Some ethical principles that can guide administrators include:

Honesty: Administrators should be honest in their dealings with others.
Integrity: Administrators should act with integrity and do what they believe is right, even when it is difficult.
Fairness: Administrators should treat all people fairly, regardless of their personal characteristics.
Respect: Administrators should respect the rights and dignity of others.
Responsibility: Administrators should be responsible for their actions and decisions.

What are some ways to promote ethics in administration?

Some ways to promote ethics in administration include:

Creating a Code of ethics: A code of ethics is a document that outlines the ethical principles that an organization expects its employees to uphold.
Providing training on ethics: Training can help employees to understand the ethical issues that they may face and how to deal with them.
Creating a culture of ethics: A culture of ethics is one in which ethical behavior is valued and rewarded.
Enforcing ethical standards: Organizations should have clear policies and procedures in place for dealing with unethical behavior.

What are some of the challenges of promoting ethics in administration?

Some of the challenges of promoting ethics in administration include:

The pressure to make decisions that are not always ethical in order to achieve organizational goals.
The difficulty of defining what constitutes ethical behavior.
The fact that ethical standards can vary from one culture to another.
The fact that unethical behavior can be difficult to detect and punish.

What are some of the benefits of promoting ethics in administration?

Some of the benefits of promoting ethics in administration include:

Increased employee Morale and Productivity.
Reduced risk of legal problems.
Improved public image.
Increased trust and confidence from stakeholders.

Which of the following is not a principle of ethics in administration?
(a) Honesty
(b) Integrity
(c) Loyalty
(d) Efficiency
Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma in administration?
(a) A manager must decide whether to fire an employee who is not performing well.
(b) A manager must decide whether to accept a bribe from a vendor.
(c) A manager must decide whether to give preferential treatment to a friend or family member.
(d) All of the above.
Which of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma in administration?
(a) Consult with a trusted colleague or friend.
(b) Follow your conscience.
(c) Consider the potential consequences of your decision.
(d) All of the above.
Which of the following is not a benefit of ethical behavior in administration?
(a) Increased trust from employees and stakeholders
(b) Improved morale and productivity
(c) Reduced risk of lawsuits and fines
(d) Increased job satisfaction
Which of the following is the most important thing to remember when making ethical decisions in administration?
(a) Always do what is right, even if it is difficult.
(b) Consider the potential consequences of your decision.
(c) Consult with a trusted colleague or friend.
(d) All of the above.