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

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

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

3. What is whistle-blowing in public administration?

A) Ignoring unethical behavior
B) Keeping unethical behavior secret
C) Reporting unethical behavior or practices
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) Do whatever benefits you the most
C) Maintain secrecy in decision-making
D) Ignore the consequences of your actions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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