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When it's hard: Applied ethics in the public sector
Rating: 4.3 out of 5(4 ratings)
12 students

When it's hard: Applied ethics in the public sector

Why makes the ethics of public/government service unique.
Created byJason Weinerman
Last updated 1/2024
English

What you'll learn

  • Understanding the difference between theoretical and applied ethics
  • Develop an ethical framework when working in the public sector
  • Apply ethics in real world examples that are faced by public servants
  • Know the difference between laws, norms, and ethics
  • Identify how personal experiences, organizational culture, professional development, and community norms influence ethical development

Course content

1 section15 lectures1h 37m total length
  • Introduction6:51

    By using a simple scenario that involves some easy ethical choices, we will see how we can face applied ethics in every day situations.  The scenario will allow us to identify what drives our ethical decision making process?  Is there a difference between  what is legal and ethical?  Do we lean on any formal ethical frameworks as we make our decisions?  This simple ethical scenario will allow us to see the tip of the applied ethics iceberg that we will be exploring the rest of the course.

  • Lecture 1 Quiz: Introduction
  • Theoretical versus Applied Ethics6:27
  • Lecture 2 Quiz: Theoretical versus Applied Ethics
  • Ethics of Public Service4:34

    Public service is a specialized form of employment.  Unlike many other sectors, public service relies on the public trust to provide services through the government to those living within its jurisdiction.  As such, public service ethics is defined by the larger government organization in which the entity operates.

  • Lecture 3 Quiz: Ethics of Public Service
  • Personal Ethics4:54

    From the moment of our birth, and some would argue, from the moment of conception, we begin to develop an ethical view of the world. There are many components that go into the development of personal ethical framework which will continue to influence us through our lives.  Understanding the importance of these ethical frameworks is a valuable tool in knowing how one's foundational ethical position developed.  Knowing one's personal ethical development process can also allow one to understand how we come to reinforce or change our ethical positions in the light of real world dilemmas that challenge our existing ethical positions.

  • Lecture 4: Personal Ethics
  • Organizational Ethics4:55
  • Lecture 5: Organizational Ethics
  • Organizational Ethics: Mission8:35
  • Lecture 6: Organizational Ethics: Mission
  • Organizational Ethics: Budgeting7:05
  • Lecture 7: Organizational Ethics: Budgeting
  • Organizational Ethics: Grants4:50
  • Lecture 8: Organizational Ethics: Grants
  • Organizational Ethics: Policies8:17
  • Lecture 9: Organizational Ethics: Policies
  • Professional Ethics: Ethics in a Field of Endeavor4:31
  • Lecture 10: Professional Ethics: Ethics in a Field of Endeavor
  • Professional Ethics: Ethical Evolution7:18
  • Community Ethics: Norms10:31
  • Lecture 12: Community Ethic: Norms
  • Community Ethics: Laws5:24
  • Lecture 13: Community Ethics: Laws
  • Bureaucratic Discretion9:04
  • Lecture 14: Bureaucratic Discretion
  • Thinking Before You Act3:58
  • Lecture 15: Thinking Before You Act

Requirements

  • No experience needed. All information needed for the course will be provided.

Description

With changing demographics and leadership within government agencies, and society in general, public sector and governmental ethics is coming under increasing scrutiny by those who are entering the service and those who are working with these new entrants.  This course is aimed at employees working for public sector/government organization who would like to learn more about ethical behavior in the real world setting, known as applied ethics.  This course will focus on four key areas of ethical development within a government environment including: personal ethical development, organizational ethical frameworks, professional ethics, and community ethics.  Most lessons will be followed by a short quiz to allow students to assess their understanding of the critical concepts.  While much of the content within this course approaches government ethics through a natural resource lens, the overall content within the course is transferrable to other areas of government service.  As each interaction between a government employee and a citizen is unique, surrounded by its own context involving experiences by both the employee and the citizen, the skills of critically thinking and applying a consistent ethical framework is becoming ever more vital in ensuring that we maintain the public trust.  As we move into the future and face increasingly complex challenges, public services will need to be able to explain their actions in what is likely to become a very contested environment.

Who this course is for:

  • People thinking about working or currently working in the public sector who are interested in exploring how to apply an ethical framework to their engagement within public organizations.