Ethics: What Would My Friends and Family Think? |
By Larry Kilman Wednesday, 11 October 2017 The US Office of Government Ethics has reminded government agencies to respect ethical standards following a growing number of dubious practices, the Washington Post . The key advice: Ask “should I do it†not “can I do it.†Far too often, organizations get themselves in trouble when the ethical debate – assuming there is one – focuses on “can I get away with it.†It’s an issue not only for governments but for organizations of all kinds. In the NGO Management Program at the American Graduate School in Paris, participants are warned against the dangers of creating ethical frameworks and then taking them for granted. Organizations need to create a culture where ethics are a central consideration in the decision-making process. The key question to ask: “If this were common knowledge, would I behave differently?†In today’s open and digitally connected universe, you can assume that internal decisions are likely to become common knowledge. It is good practice to remind staff early and often about the importance of practicing ethical behavior (preferably before there is a problem). Unethical behavior leads to damage to reputation and loss of public trust – the critical assets for governmental and non-governmental organizations alike – as well as to criminal and civil actions and failure. The note from the US Office of Government Ethics to agency heads reads like a primer on ethics, covering things you would already expect high government leaders to know. Nevertheless, it is very good advice:
Image by Madhumathi SV via Wikimedia Commons |
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