Ethics
Ethics is defined in the dictionary as:
1. Moral principles that govern a personโs behaviour or the conducting of an activity
2. The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.
Various other definitions that might be useful include:
1. The decisions, choices, and actions (behaviors) we make that reflect and enact our values.
2. The study of what we understand to be good and right behavior and how people make those judgments.
3. A set of standards of conduct that guide decisions and actions based on duties derived from core values.
According to the Ethics Resource Centre (http://www.ethics.org/resource/erc-creating-workable-company-code-ethics) there are many definitions as to what the concept of ethics encompasses:
1. The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation;
2. Decisions, choices, and actions we make that reflect and enact our values;
3. A set of moral principles or values;
4. A theory or system of moral values;
5. A guiding philosophy.
Simply stated, ethics refers to standards of behaviour that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, and so on.
Code of Ethics
A code of ethics is a document drawn up within an organisation to describe for that organisation what sort of ethical behaviour is required of members of that organisation. Such a code usually set out the values of the organisation, a dedication to a set of standards, and communicates a set of ideals. In practice it is often used interchangeably with Code of Conduct. There is an explicit or implicit consequence to lack of compliance with the organisationโs code.
The US Sarbanes-Oxley Act defines “code of ethics” as such standards as are reasonably necessary to promote–
(1) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
(2) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the issuer; and
(3) compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations.
Compliance
Compliance means conforming or adapting to a set of standards, which may be expressed as laws, rules, regulations, codes, policies, procedures, operating procedures and so on.
In the world of work, compliance of an organisation normally means compliance with legislation, national and industry codes of practice, while compliance of an individual means following the rules, procedures etc. of the organisation.
Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgement or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest.
Primary interest refers to the principal goals of the profession or activity, such as the protection of clients, the health of patients, the integrity of research, and the duties of public office.
Secondary interest includes not only financial gain but also such motives as the desire for professional advancement and the wish to do favours for family and friends.
Secondary interests are not treated as wrong in themselves, but become objectionable when they are believed to have greater weight than the primary interests.
The conflict in a conflict of interest exists whether or not a particular individual is actually influenced by the secondary interest. It exists if the circumstances are reasonably believed (on the basis of past experience and objective evidence) to create a risk that decisions may be unduly influenced by secondary interests.
In the field of employment, conflicts of interest can arise, for example, in recruitment/selection, in performance management, in allocation of pay increases/bonuses, in management of employee benefits or development of conditions of employment.
Corruption
Corruption – according to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, corruption occurs when one party gives another party anything of value with the purpose of influencing them to abuse their power.
A broader definition, used by Transparency International, is the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain.
Bribery is usually regarded as a form of corruption.
Fraud
Fraud is defined in legal terms as โthe unlawful and intentional making of a misrepresentation which causes actual prejudice or which is potentially prejudicial to another.โ
In more common language, the term โfraudโ usually includes activities such as illegally transferring company money to your own or a friendโs bank account, pretending to have qualifications you do not have, pretending to have rendered a service that you have not rendered.
Governance
Governance as a general concept is defined as processes and decisions that seek to define actions, grant power, and verify performance.
When used in an organisational setting, the term Corporate Governance is normally used, and is defined as:
“The system by which companies are directed and controlled”;
or
โThe framework of rules and practices by which a board of directors ensures accountability, fairness and transparency in a companyโs relationship with all its stakeholders (financiers, customers, management, employees, government and the community).
Independence
The concept of independence is important in the field of ethics because it is one of the factors that can influence ethical decision making and behaviour.
Independence is the freedom to act without control or influence from others, to be free to make decisions and act without external constraint. In the in the business world, independence has come to have a specialised meaning. It is most commonly understood to mean freedom from conflicting interests – the specialised case of having the ability to make a decision or act in ways which are free from conflict between one’s personal interests and the interests of the party on whose behalf we are making the decision.
Morals
A personโs set of morals consists of intentions, decisions or actions which are considered by that person to be right and acceptable. Another person may consider those intentions, decisions or actions to be wrong and unacceptable.
Morals are based on a personโs set of values or beliefs.
Values
Values are the core beliefs we hold regarding what is right and fair in terms of our actions and our interactions with others. Another way to characterise values is that they are what an individual believes to be of worth and importance to their life.
Transparency
Transparency as related to ethics and organisational behaviour means sharing information openly, operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed and what decisions have been made.
In order to promote ethical behaviour in organisations, it is incumbent on public servants, managers and trustees to act visibly, predictably and understandably, that is, transparently.
Whistle Blower
A whistle blower is a person who notifies appropriate authorities when he/she observes lack of compliance on the part of another person(s). The term is usually used in relation to official fraud/corruption/theft โhot linesโ set up by organisations โ a person using the hotline to report wrong-doing is a whistle blower. Such hotlines usually maintain the anonymity of the whistle blower, as people fear ostracism or physical harm if their identity is known. In terms of the South African Protected Disclosures Act, whistle blowers are protected from adverse consequences of reporting wrong-doing under certain circumstances.
Illegal Gratification
It is defined as taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act. Gratification is not limited to pecuniary gratifications or to gratifications estimable in money. It also includes favouring or disfavouring one person over the other.
Ex: The 2G spectrum scam involved politicians and government officials in India illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they would then use to create 2G spectrum subscriptions for cell phones.
Malfeasance
It is the commission of an act that is unequivocally illegal or completely wrongful or the commission of an unlawful act done in an official capacity. It affects the performance of official duties and may cause harm to others. It results in legal liability for the person who commits the act. It is a tort.
Misfeasance
It is engaging in proper action or duty, but failing to perform the duty correctly. The performance of duty is riddled with errors caused by mistakes or carelessness, but is without evil intent and/or violation of law.
Diligence
Diligence is steadfast application, assiduousness and industryโthe virtue of hard work. It is one of the seven heavenly virtues. Diligent behaviour is indicative of a work ethic โ a belief that work is good in itself.
Diligence in Buddhism-The last words of the Buddha was โStrive on with diligenceโ. Diligence is an integral part of all Buddhist teaching, and is considered the fourth of the pฤramitฤ. In Mahayana tradition diligence is the third pฤramitฤ and the first which is said to lead to liberation. The practice of diligence will bring an increase of qualities.
Bureaucratic inertia
Bureaucratic inertia is the inevitable tendency of bureaucratic organizations to perpetuate the established procedures and modes, even if they are counterproductive and/or diametrically opposed to established organizational goals. This unchecked growth may continue independently of the organizationโs success or failure. Through bureaucratic inertia, organizations tend to take on a life of their own beyond their formal objectives.
โThe bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.โ โOscar Wild
Example
The United States Department of Agriculture has offices in almost all U.S. counties, even though only 14% of counties have valid farms or existing agricultural relevancy.
Intuition
It is the ability to acquire representation or knowledge about things apparently without reasoning or usage of reasoning in general. It is often conceived as a kind of inner perception. Sometimes it develops with age, sometimes maturity, sometimes with experience, in some with intellect. It teaches guides and motivates us. We experience Dรฉjร -vuโs coz our intuition might have felt it or comprehended it much before.
Prudence
Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.[1] It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues. It is often associated with wisdom, insight, and knowledge. In this case, the virtue is the ability to judge between virtuous and vicious actions, not only in a general sense, but with regard to appropriate actions at a given time and place. Although prudence itself does not perform any actions, and is concerned solely with knowledge, all virtues are to be regulated by it. Distinguishing when acts are courageous, as opposed to reckless or cowardly, for instance, is an act of prudence.
Perseverance
Steady persistence in adhering to a cause of action, a belief or a purpose etc. in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement.
Red tapism
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making. It is usually applied to governments, corporations, and other large organizations. It is the bureaucratic practice of hair splitting or foot dragging, blamed by its practitioners on the system that forces them to follow prescribed procedures to the letter. Red tape can also include filing and certification requirements, reporting, investigation, inspection and enforcement practices, and procedures.
Probity
It is the adherence to the highest principles and ideals. It is the quality of having strong moral principles, honesty and decency. Probity in governance is an essential and vital requirement for an efficient and effective system of governance and for socio-economic development. An important requisite for ensuring probity in governance is absence of corruption. The other requirements are effective laws, rules and regulations governing every aspect of public life and, more important, an effective and fair implementation of those laws, etc. Indeed, a proper, fair and effective enforcement of law is a facet of discipline.
Intellectual Integrity
It is defined as recognition of the need to be true to oneโs own thinking and to hold oneself to the same standards one expects others to meet. It is to practice what one advocates to others and to honestly admit discrepancies and inconsistencies in oneโs own thoughts and action.
Esprit de corps
The common spirit of comradeship existing among the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honour of the group.For example, a military unit.
Fidelity
It is defined as faithfulness to obligations, duties or observances; exact correspondence with fact or with a given quality, condition or event; accuracy in reporting detail; adherence to truth. A public servant is expected to be at all times a trustworthy person in the public services. An unfaithful public servant tarnishes the image of the entire system.
Moral turpitude
Criminal law describes it as conduct contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals. It involves gross violation of standards of moral conduct, vileness, such that an act involving moral turpitude was intentionally evil, making the act a crime.
Moral objectivism
The position that certain acts are objectively right or wrong, independent of human opinion. It doesnโt depend on what anyone thinks is right or wrong. That is, the view that the โmoral factsโ are like โphysicalโ facts in that what the facts are does not depend on what anyone thinks they are.
Moral scepticism
โMoral Scepticismโ names a diverse collection of views that deny or raise doubts about various roles of reason in morality. Different versions of moral scepticism deny or doubt moral knowledge, justified moral belief, moral truth, moral facts or properties, and reasons to be moral.
Indriya nigraha
It means not letting our sense organs run astray. โIndriyas have to be our slaves-we should be theirsโ. IT is one of the most practical aspects of Sanatana philosophy.
Stithaprajnata
It is the concept discussed in the saukhya yoga of the Gita. A sthithaprajna is one whose mind has become absolutely still, quietened and tranquil. One who accepts pleasure and pain with equanimity.
Moral Universalism
It is the meta-ethical position that some system of ethics, or a universal ethic, applies universally. That is, for all similarly situated individuals, regardless of culture, race, sex, religion, nationality, sexuality or any other distinguishing feature. It is opposed to moral nihilism and moral relativism.
Moral Nihilism
It is the meta-ethical view that nothing is intrinsically moral or immoral. For moral nihilists, morality is without universal or even relative truth in any sense.
Moral Absolutism
It is an ethical view that certain actions are absolutely right or wrong, regardless of other circumstances such as their consequences or intentions behind them.
Moral Relativism
It may be any of several philosophical positions concerned with the differences in moral judgements across different people and culture.
Meta-Ethics
It is a branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties statements attitudes and judgements.
Normative Ethics
It is the study of ethical action. It investigates the set of questions that arise when considering how one ought to act, morally speaking.
Applied Ethics
It is the philosophical examination from a moral standpoint, of particular issues in private and public life that are matters of moral judgement. It attempts to use philosophical methods to identify the morally correct course of action in various fields of human life.
Neutral Bureaucracy
Here, bureaucratic officials function strictly according to the principles and ideals laid down in the constitution.
Committed Bureaucracy
Here, bureaucrats, in addition to following the principles and ideals laid down in the constitution, also follow the policies and programs of the party in power.
Deontology
It is the normative ethical position that judges the morality of an action based on the actionโs adherence to a rule or rules. It is sometimes described as duty or obligation or rule based ethics.
Consequentialism
It is a class of normative ethical theories which holds that the consequences of oneโs conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgement about the rightness of that conduct.
Utilitarianism
It is a theory in normative ethics holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering.
Hedonism
It is a school of thought that argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure.
Altruistic Hedonism
Propounds that we ought to sacrifice personal happiness in order to bring any increase of happiness to others.
Benevolence
Showing morally correct behaviour; inclination towards charity; ethical thinking; disposition towards doing good and being kind.
Performance Accountability
Every govt servant should feel answerable or responsible for his non performance or under performance, for not meeting standards, under utilizing his resources to the govt, to the people and to his conscience.
In house reporting system
In house reporting system means a system established by an organization to meet the standards of effective functioning to prevent and detect violations of law shortfalls, achievements, problems and issues in policy making by consultations co-ordinations, reprimands and rapprochement.
Rapprochement
Establishing cordial relations with employees and other people who have direct relationship with the organization.
Gray Areas
The areas (issues) in which we (organization) are deficient or lagging. It may be due to misunderstanding, miscomprehension, overlook or overlap. Guidelines are often provided in these areas for minimizing gray areas.
Summum Bonum
Summum bonum is a Latin expression meaning โthe highest goodโ, which was introduced by Cicero, to correspond to the Idea of the Good in Greek philosophy. The summum bonum is generally thought of as being an end in itself, and at the same time as containing all other goods. The term was used in medieval philosophy and in Kantianism, to describe the ultimate importance, the singular and overriding end which human beings ought to pursue.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
Teleology
Theory of morality that derives duty or moral obligation from what is good or desirable as an end to be achieved. Also known as consequentialist ethics, it is opposed to deontological ethics (from the Greek deon, โdutyโ), which holds that the basic standards for an actionโs being morally right are independent of the good or evil generated.
Equanimity
It is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experiences of good or bad, pain or pleasure, or other phenomenon that may cause the normal people to lose the balance of their mind.
Rationality
It is a concept which believes in the use of reason which is detached with passions, emotions and beliefs. If our personal beliefs or sentiments are not in conformity with rationality, they should not prevail over rationality. It means bringing out a practical solution to a practical situation.
Commitment
Being always responsible and genuine to the words, deeds and promises. It is the most important ingredient of public servant. There might be a chance to flout promises and rebuild our relationships in personal life. But in official capacity, breaking a promise or vow canโt be undone or taken back because it affects public at large.
Initiative
The power or ability to take up a new task exploring a new area making a new beginning for a progressive development, energetically with enterprise and determination.
Apathy
Lack of interest or concern. It is a state of indifference or not showing concern, motivation, excitement, passion etc. Being indifferent towards others problems, towards systemic lapses, towards progressive change.
Sentient
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive, or to experience subjectivity. Eighteenth-century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think (reason) from the ability to feel (sentience). In modern Western philosophy, sentience is the ability to experience sensations (known in philosophy of mind as โqualiaโ). For Eastern philosophy, sentience is a metaphysical quality of all things that requires respect and care. The concept is central to the philosophy of animal rights, because sentience is necessary for the ability to suffer, which is held to entail certain rights.
Kleptocracy
Kleptocracy,alternatively cleptocracy or kleptarchy, is a form of political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often with pretence of honest service. This type of government corruption is often achieved by the embezzlement of state funds.
Rectitude
Righteousness or consequences in procedure or being honourable and honest.