Ethical Dilemmas in Public Administration

1. Ethical dilemmas in public administration arise when public officials face conflicting moral values and principles in making decisions that impact the public interest. These dilemmas often involve balancing transparency and accountability with efficiency and effectiveness in governance. Public administrators must navigate complex ethical challenges related to conflicts of interest, social justice, and the equitable distribution of resources. Upholding ethical standards and promoting integrity is essential to maintain public trust and confidence in government institutions.

What is transparency in public administration?

A) Keeping information hidden from the public
B) Having no accountability to the public
C) Making decisions behind closed doors
D) Public access to information and decision-making processes

2. What is the purpose of codes of ethics in public administration?

A) Promoting corruption
B) Restricting public access to information
C) Ignoring ethical considerations
D) Providing guidelines for ethical behavior and decision-making

3. What is whistle-blowing in public administration?

A) Reporting unethical behavior or practices
B) Ignoring unethical behavior
C) Keeping unethical behavior secret
D) Participating in unethical behavior

4. What is the golden rule in ethical decision-making?

A) Treat others as you would like to be treated
B) Maintain secrecy in decision-making
C) Ignore the consequences of your actions
D) Do whatever benefits you the most

5. What is the concept of professional discretion in public administration?

A) Making decisions arbitrarily without reasoning
B) Following strict regulations without flexibility
C) Avoiding decision-making responsibilities
D) The authority to make decisions based on expertise and judgment

6. What is the role of public interest in ethical decision-making?

A) Prioritizing the well-being of the community and stakeholders
B) Ignoring the needs of the public
C) Favoring a select few individuals
D) Prioritizing personal gains

7. What is the concept of justice as a core ethical value in public administration?

A) Acting without regard to the rights of others
B) Favoritism and bias towards specific individuals
C) Fairness and equality in decision-making and treatment
D) Ignoring fairness and equality in decision-making

8. Which ethical standard requires public administrators to be truthful and straightforward in their actions?

A) Respect
B) Loyalty
C) Honesty
D) Fairness

9. Which ethical framework emphasizes the consequences of actions as the determining factor of their morality?

A) Utilitarianism
B) Virtue ethics
C) Deontology
D) Ethical relativism

10. Which ethical principle emphasizes doing what is morally right regardless of the consequences?

A) Ethical relativism
B) Virtue ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Deontology

11. What is the importance of stakeholder engagement in public administration?

A) Keeping decisions exclusive to a few individuals
B) Considering diverse perspectives and interests in decision-making
C) Ignoring public opinions
D) Avoiding feedback from the community

12. What role does critical thinking play in ethical decision-making?

A) Avoiding challenges and conflicts
B) Following rules blindly without judgment
C) Evaluating different perspectives and reasoning for decisions
D) Ignoring potential consequences of decisions

13. What ethical principle involves meeting commitments or promises made to individuals or the public?

A) Virtue ethics
B) Utilitarianism
C) Justice
D) Fidelity

14. What is the role of self-awareness in ethical decision-making?

A) Acting impulsively without reflection
B) Ignoring one's limitations
C) Understanding personal biases and motivations
D) Blaming others for decisions

15. What ethical principle emphasizes honesty and truthfulness in public administration?

A) Deception
B) Secrecy
C) Integrity
D) Corruption

16. Which ethical principle focuses on the character and virtues of an individual rather than rules or consequences?

A) Justice
B) Virtue ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Deontology

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