New Ethical Challenges in a Changing Public Administration

NEW ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN A CHANGING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION João Bilhim Bárbara Neves

The New Public Administration Reality
New Public Administration Paradigms
( New Public Management, Reinventing Government )
Open space for ethics awareness New ethical problems

The New Reality
New Paradigms
New Developments (Privatisations, Downsizings, Public-Private Partnerships)
New Key Words (Diversity, Flexibility and Complexity)
Less Control
New Ethical Doubts

New Ethical Doubts
How can we identify norms for the context of frequent developments in a changing public administration?
Witch are the consequences of these formats in administration terms, of clarification of responsibilities, of managers action and their orientation?

Conflicts of NPM Model: The Portuguese Case
Conflicts: NPM objectives, goals and philosophies
versus
old regulations, norms and beliefs.

Dysfunctions : “who to follow” and “what to follow”
Tensions : Quality service to the citizen or economical, low cost service to the State?

How can the public servant define an ethical position in the public service act, when he has to face contradictory institutional demands or obligations that are against his beliefs?

Theoretical Approach:
Immanuel Kant
Paul Ricoeur

The E-Government Example

“ The term “e-government” focuses on the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) by governments as applied to the full range of government functions” (OECD, 2001).
New Concepts:
Cyber Management and E-Administration

What can be the ethical or unethical implications of Internet?
What will be the impact of e-government on public administration ethics?
Who must have full access to websites?
What kind of restrictions must be established?

Can employees access Internet for their personal use?
Can the public access the government data bases harmlessly?
Can privacy be at risk?
Who can be responsible for ICT errors?

What policies must be implemented?
What strategies must be followed?
How can e-government facilitate reform?

Major perspectives assure that e-government has the potential to support good governance practices.
The Internet can bring positive and negative factors to public administration.

However, this new reality represents a serious challenge for managers, because there is need:
to promote Internet use for employees and clients, having in mind the simplification of procedures, decision times, quality, effectiveness and efficacy of the public service;
to establish policies for discouraging Internet abuse and corruption by the employees and the public.

New Ethical Approach
In effect, the present reality requires innovative approaches and combined measures.
For that reason, we suggest that a public administration ethics framing can be consummate with the following joint procedures:

Accountability Tools
Conduct Codes
Monitoring Mechanisms ( e.g. internal and external questionnaires)
Development of Supportive Structures (to encourage ethical conduct and to reward those who act morally)

Implementation of Audit Methods at Inter-governmental level
Professional Socialization (e.g. formation, awareness and training)
Introduction of whistle-blowing systems (in a careful way)

A stronger appeal to the active participation of citizens (for instance in the denunciation of bad practices)
Definition of Leadership Responsibilities
Assertive Communication

Authors João Bilhim [email_address] www.iscsp.utl.pt / ~j.bilhim Bárbara Neves [email_address]

Centre for Public Administration & Policies http://capp.iscsp.utl.pt

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New Ethical Challenges in a Changing Public Administration

by Bárbara Barbosa Neves on Dec 26, 2007

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