Government Administrator — Ethics & Public Service

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What you'll learn:

Defining the Landscape - **Description:** This day introduces the fundamental concepts of government administration, public service, and the importance of ethics within the governmental context. It lays the groundwork for understanding the roles and responsibilities of a government administrator. - **Resources/Activities:** - Read an introductory chapter from a textbook or online resource on public administration. Examples: *Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector* by David Rosenbloom, Robert Kravchuk, and Ronald Hyndman or articles from GovLoop or similar websites. - Watch a short video (e.g., YouTube) explaining the basic functions of government and the role of public servants. - Define key terms: public service, ethics, accountability, transparency, integrity, bureaucracy, and governance. Write down your own definition of each term. - **Expected Outcomes:** Familiarization with basic terminology, understanding of the purpose of government and public service, and an initial grasp of the importance of ethics in the field.

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What you'll learn:

Foundation of Ethical Conduct - **Description:** Focuses on the core ethical principles that guide public servants, such as honesty, fairness, impartiality, and respect for the rule of law. - **Resources/Activities:** - Explore ethical codes of conduct for government employees. Many countries and states have them available online. Read sections and examples. - Study examples of ethical dilemmas in public service and how they have been addressed. Use case studies readily available online. - Identify and define the core values of public service. Examples include serving the public interest, objectivity, and professionalism. - **Expected Outcomes:** Understanding of key ethical principles, ability to identify ethical dilemmas, and recognition of the importance of ethical decision-making.

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What you'll learn:

The Legal Framework - **Description:** This day introduces the legal framework within which government administrators operate. Focus is on relevant laws and regulations related to ethics, such as conflict of interest rules, campaign finance laws, and freedom of information acts. - **Resources/Activities:** - Research laws and regulations relevant to ethics in government. Use websites of government agencies, like the Ethics in Government Act (if applicable to your country). - Review examples of court cases related to ethical breaches in public service. - Practice identifying potential violations of laws and regulations in hypothetical scenarios. - **Expected Outcomes:** Understanding of the legal context of public service ethics, the ability to identify potential legal violations, and the knowledge of key legislation.

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What you'll learn:

Navigating Complex Situations - **Description:** Deep dive into the issue of conflicts of interest, both actual and perceived, including their identification, avoidance, and management. Covers the importance of impartiality in decision-making. - **Resources/Activities:** - Study the different types of conflicts of interest (financial, personal, professional) with examples. - Analyze case studies of conflicts of interest in government and the consequences of them. - Discuss strategies for avoiding and managing conflicts of interest. Review government agencies' guides on conflict of interest. - **Expected Outcomes:** Ability to identify and analyze conflicts of interest, develop strategies for mitigating them, and understand the importance of maintaining impartiality.

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What you'll learn:

Promoting Openness - **Description:** Exploring the concepts of transparency and accountability in government, along with the role of whistleblowing in promoting ethical conduct. - **Resources/Activities:** - Research the principles of transparency and open government. Read sections of relevant legislation (e.g., Freedom of Information Act, if applicable). - Learn about the role and protection offered to whistleblowers in government. Review case studies. - Discuss the benefits and challenges of increased transparency and accountability. - **Expected Outcomes:** Understanding the importance of transparency, accountability, and whistleblowing in fostering ethical conduct within government.

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What you'll learn:

Putting Theory into Practice - **Description:** Apply the knowledge gained throughout the week to analyze case studies and develop ethical decision-making skills. - **Resources/Activities:** - Analyze a series of case studies involving ethical dilemmas in government (available online from universities or organizations focused on public administration). - Practice using ethical frameworks (e.g., the "Four-Way Test", cost-benefit analysis, or the "Public Interest" test) to make decisions in the case studies. - Discuss the reasoning behind each decision. - **Expected Outcomes:** Improved ability to apply ethical principles to real-world scenarios, enhanced ethical decision-making skills, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of ethical governance.

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What you'll learn:

Continuing Your Ethical Journey - **Description:** Recap of the week's learnings, identifying key takeaways, and establishing a plan for continued learning and professional development in the field of ethics and public service. - **Resources/Activities:** - Review all notes and definitions. - Create a personal learning plan for continued professional development in ethics and public service. - Identify resources for staying informed about current ethical issues and best practices. - Explore professional organizations that offer guidance and support to public servants. - **Expected Outcomes:** Consolidated understanding of the week's topics, development of a plan for ongoing learning, and an awareness of the resources available for continued professional growth.

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