Ethics serves as an accountability link between the public and the administration. Adherence of code of ethics in public service provides an underpinning for realisation of policy goals and objectives. Martinez (2009) explains that execution of obligations bestowed upon public servants for example city managers demands forthrightness, truthfulness and honesty for the soundness and efficient service delivery within the entity and the society in large. Integrity is an ethical requirement which public servants are required to adhere as an ethical code of conduct.
In reference to Califonia city managers setting policies focussed on community interests is an ethical obligation which ought to be pursued. Notably, it is a public service ethical requirement for city managers to prioritize community projects such as investment in physical structures including waste facilities and water treatment plants ( Martinez, 2009) . Upholding the ethical code such as refraining from conflict of interest and underhand dealings has to be observed in implementation of such community projects. City managers as public servants ought to abide by ethical decision making that are in consonance with norms and derived from society impressions.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
As a utilitarian ethical principle public servants must pursue the efficacy concept implying solicitation of desired input for greatest desired output. As such, Svara (2001) avers that public servants must work towards maximizing the end result for example safeguarding businesses and ensuring that the city maintains good economic health. City managers for instance have to direct their thinking towards creation of an environment that supports successful businesses and community oriented government practices and decision making endeavours whose end outcome results in services that work best to the community. As an ethical requirement, public servants need to redirect resources such as funding towards short term and long term investment decisions and efficiently utilize public finances in a prudent fashion.
Sean Joyce, a city manager in Califonia Irvine city makes a deduction that it is her ethical obligation as a public servant to facilitate public policy decision making and provide unbiased information aptly to a city council. Sean Joyce delineates that when serving the Irvine city community, she is required to abide to certain code of values including transparency, accountability and impartiality and set a good example worth emulating (Youtube, 2013). As a city manager, Sean takes it upon her to reinforce positive ethical behaviour, set standards and live up to them as well as influencing positive outcome.
James Keene a city manager at Palo Alto opines that as a public servant, it is an ethical prerequisite for him to be accountable and responsible. Inculcating public trust and confidence and exhibiting empathy and compassion to the city community in paramount. Inference can be drawn from the city managers that it is incumbent upon public servants to champion projects that serve public interests such as services and infrastructure that makes the city functional (Youtube, 2013). Further, as an ethical principle, public servants have to endorse changes that solve problems, propose policies that safeguard city businesses in a lawful and transparent fashion and promote equal treatment.
The deontological ethical foundation demands public servant to enact decisions based on principles for example arrange social and economic inequalities to the greatest benefit of the advantaged factions in the society. Public administrators ought to adopt epistemological approaches and focus to decision making including honesty and integrity, promote individual rights as well as public servant fiduciary trust ( Svara, 2001) . The ICMA code of ethics draws ethical tenets which public servants such as city managers have to adhere to, such as keeping community informed, emphasis on courteous public service and promotion of best interests in a non-partisan basis. Ethics as a component of good governance shapes standards of conduct as well as actions and behaviours that leaders in public service undertake.
Reference
Martinez, J. M. (2009). Public administration ethics for the 21st century. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. Rawls, J. (1985). Justice as fairness: political not metaphysical. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 14(2), 223-251
Svara, J. H. (2001). The myth of the dichotomy: Complementary of politics and administration in the past and future of public administration. Public Administration Review, 61(2), 176-183 .
Youtube (2013). Michael Frank - Meet Your City Manager, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3wav6Za1U&list=UUepdc_7QhqTwGivTqB_3xlQ&index=18 .
