Instructions: Answer any two of the following four questions. Each essay should include citations from course or independent materials. Failing to provide this information will lower your grade. Each answer should be 2 – 3 pages in length. Please identify which questions you are answering.
Describe a public sector moral exemplar in your own life. Why do you consider this individual to be a moral exemplar? Use Cooper’s discussion of exemplary public administrators to guide your answer.
Essay #2: Organizational Ethics
What do research findings say about the power of organizations to influence employee’s ethical decision making? How can organizations structure themselves to overcome these challenges? How can an organization promote ethical behavior? How can individuals encourage organizations to be places where ethical analysis drives behavior? Besides modeling, what can one person do?
Essay #3: Applied Ethics: Vermont State Code of Ethics
The State of Vermont does not have a Code of Ethics. The state recently organized the Vermont State Ethics Commission to create a Code of Ethics and is seeking public input on a draft code of ethics for elected and public officials. Unless you are a Vermont resident, it would not be appropriate to submit your input. However, it is interesting to see how these things develop. Take a look at the draft at the link below (about 7 pages long). Do you think the draft is sufficient? Is it thorough enough? What are its best points? What areas could be improved? Other suggestions?
https://ethicscommission.
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For more information on the Vermont State Ethics
Essay #4: Internal and External Factors
Practicing ethical public administration entails many different behaviors both internally (within the organization) and externally (outside the organization). Elaborate on the ways that these internal and external factors impact ethical behavior. What steps that have been taken to curtail unethical behavior.
PART II: Case Study (15 points)
Instructions: Chose from one of the cases in the O’Leary book: Chapter 4, Chapter 5, or Chapter 6). Identify an ethical issue with this case study. Consider the competing obligations and responsibilities that these individuals faced and how they determined whether their actions were right. Think about the impact of guerrilla government on the political appointees, organization, and public policy. Your response should be about 2 – 3 pages long, identify the case study you chose, include a description of the ethical issue(s), an explanation of why you think the career employees were motivated to use guerilla tactics as a solution despite the risks to their careers, and whether their choice of guerilla action. Explain how these actions affected the organization and public policy. Conclude with an evaluation of the potential lessons for public administrators and the importance of these lessons. Include at least two citations beyond the O’Leary book to
Answer preview
Moral exemplars are consistent in their quest for ethical correctness. Abraham Lincoln has always been a fighter for equality, and that quest was the reason for his assassination. Since declaring his interests in the presidency and speaking against slavery, Abraham did not change his stance even when Southern states were threatening to secede. Abraham chose war instead of acceding to the demands of the southern states on slavery. While he was an army captain, Abraham did not kill the Native American spy because he valued life. These acts of courage and determination for the preservation of human dignity makes Abraham Lincoln a moral exemplar.
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