
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.
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.
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.
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.