Question

subject: Local Government 1B

Read carefully and follow the instructions below. [20 marks]

If government fails to establish high ethical standards in its institutions, it may lead to an unfortunate situation where unethical conduct of public employees and political office-barriers becomes the order of the day.

question1: Identify and discuss some of the manifestations of unethical conduct. END OF PAPER

Answer 1

Ethics are the principle of behavior that distinguish between the right from the wrong.Its is evaluating the business activities whch is right or wrong.Unethical behaviour is behaviuor which will not reach the ethical standard that is what is considered morally right or proper for a person, a profession or an industry.

According to Gildenhuys ,when there is a  poor, dishonest management of public affairs and corruption (immoral acts) are among the most important manifestations of unethical conduct.There should be a professional ethics when you are working in institution which takes care the welfare of the society or the people.It should tell how a person should act towards society or institutions.

Unethical Activities or Code of conduct

Use of Public Resources:

When the public resources are used or for private purposes.Public resources are diversed into private users as government people will be self centered or opportunistic maximisers who will try to make maximum profits from these public resources.The main ways to make income from public resources are getting rent or lease amount from the public land which is used for private use. And using government supplies or instruments for officials private property's improvement.

Low Quality materials:

The government will be using low quality or degraded materials which will be supplied for high prices.When contracts are bidded for higher quality materials but they will be giving high price for low quality products.the government should try to provide quality products for the value of goods or it should be provided effectively and efficiently.

Conflict of Interest:

Government officials or public officials should try to work impartial and with full honesty.They should try to exercise their officials duties or objectives , and should act in the public’s best interests. If they work in favouring any person or institution.Its is unethical code of conduct.

Confidential Information:

The public servants or officials will be having many types of confidential information and they should not divulge any information to any other persons.As a government official they will be having mlitary information or personal information of citizens regarding their tax or icome or property details.These types of information is known as Sensitive Information.And they should try to protect these information grom divulging.

How to enhance the Ethical performance in Public sector:

• There should be more transparency when any ethical code or law is adhered what will be the consequences happening in the sector and also they should hav a proper guidance for the ethical conduct
• Establishing a code of conduct as a whole which will have strict rules if they break these code of conduct which include unethical conduct, such as theft, fraud, treason, bribery, self-dealing.
• There should be proper training provided to the public servants or officials regarding their duties or objectives.
• There should be Recognition given for  good work through incentives and correction of poor performance.
• Try to increase the man power in public sector to investigate unethical conduct in departments.

Positive Results of ethical conduct in publicsector or Government:

1. There will be a proper utilisation of public resources and it will be used effectively and efficently
2. The society as a whole will be having a confidence in the government
3. There will proper confidentialty of reports regarding the general public
4. It will give a goodwill and a positive image to the service industry