Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Uu Mpa 7030 ZM 15336.
Uu Mpa 7030 ZM 15336.
Edward Mabay
Table Of Content
Introduction……………………………………..……………………….…………..3
Conclusion……………………………………………………………..…………..11
References………………………………………… …………………..………….13
3
The study of ethics leads to the creation of social norms which focus on the behavior that a
person is expected to uphold in a particular situation. These norms of behavior which guide
moral choices can allow for a wide range of ethical positions (Saunders, Lewis. & Thornhill,
2011). Moral values are taught progressively in the life of an individual and are also influenced
by the way someone interacts in the society. This is the reason why ethical norms are interpreted
diversely among individuals (Resnik, 2011). Norms can be learnt beginning from childhood in
homes, school and even as the children attend Sunday schools or the madrassa.
The purpose of embracing research ethics is premised in the field of biomedical research which
arose from the need to use human beings in research. This development dates back even before
the 18th century although the need to develop appropriate attitudes towards the need to evolve
great interest in human beings was seriously taken into consideration starting from 9th December
1946 when an American tribunal opened criminal proceedings against 23 leading German
physicians and administrators who willingly participated in war crimes and crimes against
humanity (Kour, 2014). They were charged with conducting medical experiments on thousands
of prisoners without their consent who were held captive in the concentration camps during the
World War II. Unfortunately, these experiments led to many of these subjects dying, while
others were crippled permanently. The results of this trial led to the establishment of the
Nuremberg code in 1948 because, human beings were being exploited in various cases. This then
necessitated the introduction of professional codes and laws to prevent the abuse of human
subjects and protection of human rights in research (Oddi &Cassidy, 1990; Fouka and
Mantzorou, 2011). The Nuremberg code emphasized the need to observe informed voluntary
consent, liberty of withdrawal from research, protection from physical and mental harm or
4
suffering and death with particular emphasis on the risk-benefit balance (Burns, 2005). More
declarations on research ethics were made, but the most significant one was the Helsinki
declaration of 1964 which states the need for non-therapeutic research emphasizing the
protection of subjects by noting that the wellbeing of individuals is more important than
scientific or social needs (Oddi & Cassidy, 1990). The concept of research ethics has led to the
developments of various theories to explain how human beings are able to adapt to numerous
According to Lawton, Rayer and Lasthuizen in 2013, they said ‘over the years, concern in ethics
in public organizations and that interest for ethical behavior became a necessary portion of
services in the public sector, and ‘it is not a leftover’ that must be regarded next concerns’. Lewis
and Gilman in 2005 in their book state that, ‘at global level, ethical behavior in public services
have swerved into a universal trend as nations regardless boundaries have implemented standards
and rudimentary strategies to raise ethics and shun bad behavior in public services’.
Furthermore, Evans in 2012 identified drivers of these strategies which include one which is
connected to overseas relieve in developing nations. Lewis and Gilma 2005 further commented
that, ‘as a result of this, it is noted that the inrush of interest for ethics was, amongst others,
owing to the awareness that donating nations and organizations that relieve is not effective due to
bad impact by defect in uprightness on the part of the receiving countries’ public supervisors.
of relieve, and this awareness had significant influence on international relieve as those who
donate relieve impose uprightness as a requiring condition. Ethicality nowadays is perceived not
solely as a quality of individual but of organization as well (Unruh 2008). According to Trevino
and Nelson in 2010, the relative importance of ethics has grown in developing organizations
5
better and wholly important for effectiveness. Moreover, Menzel 2005, in his book, noted that a
rife supposition has come forth attesting that ethicality ameliorates the way organizations
perform. Ethical management accordingly has perversely being admitted as best routine
standards when facing issues of ethicality and unethicality of behaviors of employees. The way
ethical issues are dealt with in organizations is based on how the quick changes in ethics are
understood. Hoekstra and Kaptein in 2012, emphasized that based on how large the organization
is, appointment of personnel in charge of ethics or creating a department answerable for ethical
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the conduct of people and guides the norms or
standards of behavior of people and relationships with each other (Kovacs, 1985; Blumberg et al,
2005). It refers to an “ethos” or “way of life”, “social norms for conduct that distinguishes
between acceptable and unacceptable behavior” (Shah, 2011; Akaranga & Ongonga, 2013).
Many societies have legal rules which dictate behavior, but ethical norms are broader than laws.
However, societies apply laws to enforce the moral standards. Preston (2007) said, ethics is
generally concerning what is correct, equitable, upright, or decent. Its concerns with “that which
we must do” and “what is” as well. In different terms, ethics is all about how must individuals
comport themselves. Ethics being a system of acceptable moral convictions, sets of moral and
values particularly is the study of morality and immorality. In Greek, according to Wiley (1995),
ethics is ‘ethikos’ and ‘ethos’ that means custom or usage. In Latin, the word ethics is ‘ethicus’
that means character. Consequently, in a common jargon, ethics discussed as moral principle
The research of ethics guides to the invention of societal rules that reflect the conduct which an
& Thornhill (2011), these guiding principles will permit large scope ethical ranks. Ethics is
instructed in a progressive manner in individual’s life and as well influences one’s interaction in
the community. For this reason, according to Resnik (2011), ethics are explained distinctly
amongst persons. Ethical principles may be taught starting from stage between infancy and
puberty at home, and in school. In rep democracy, government is recited to control by assent, by
the assent of the controlled. This is to say that a satisfactory height of public confidence is of
primary significance to the prudent operating of a rep government. Such issues are essential for
public sector and the citizens as well. The level at which the public is in readiness to have
governments. The perceptions of the public about the government if it is ethical are accordingly
being the most important whether that government is seen as accepted. The expectations of
citizens harbor a rigid lack of trusts toward public servants. As a result of this, ethics and values
are put in place in providing a great deal of accountableness betwixt the general public and the
local, state and federal administrations. With such, there is a solidification of the well-known
facts that administrators of public sector are held with highest standards regarding ethics than
any other citizen. Ethics in public service is an essential aspect of the day to day duties that
Definitely, there is no room for anything rather than operating with full transparency. Ethics
represents honesty, accountability, integrity, empathy and just knowing the difference between
what is right and what is wrong which include working in a strict manner according to ethical
7
principles. Some companies, organizations specifically public sectors formulate strong mission
statements to establish rigid organizational values and ethics. These ethical values set the tone,
framework and moral strength for the public sector and civil servants. Granted, much of the
word-craft of ethics has fallen aside, with many public officials being plastered with discussion
of opposing opinions in the media. The public demands answers and justice from all public
servants who are involved with such controversy. There is much to consider when public
funds, theft of property and so forth. Thomas Jefferson once notably noted that, ‘when one
surmises a public trust, he should bethink himself public property’. This remark may not be more
correct today, and certainly ethically true. As a public servant, you are operating public property.
You must be operating in an apparent way, with morals, integrity, honesty and putting the
public’s trust above everything. This is what Jefferson meant when he declared, ‘The basic
requirement of public service’. When such trust from the public is lost, is it possible to gain it
again? Ethics in public service is not just an idea, but also an imperative and mandatory practice.
With this, why then majority of people, including public authorities think that ethics in public
sector is very important? The respond to this enquiring is in a disarming manner stretch out.
Furthermore, ethics in public sector is so important for effective and democratic governments.
According to Thompson (1995), he said ‘Ethics might only be of instrument, it might be only
being a means to an end, but it is a necessary means to an end’. Since those who reform
governments focus highly, if not solely, on the core value of efficiency, economy, and
effectiveness. Also, public managers are assuming to be people of ethics and integrity. A civil
service reformer (Woodrow Wilson, 1887) in his essay stated that we should clear ‘the ethical
environment of official life by instituting the saintliness of public office as a public trust by that
8
accessing the path for making it a focused’. He further mentioned that, ‘The standard for us is a
civil service cultured and self-sufficient enough to act with sense and vigor’. Citizens depend on
Ethics is important in every profession or works of life and some of these are for example, in the
judiciary, the legal system of a country determines considerably the efficacy of the ethical
concern in governance system. A cleanly formulated rules and standards issued by government,
with a clear emphasis on the norms of pretty behavior and being honest, is a probable means of
separating chaffs from grains in the world of ethics. Notwithstanding, cloudy laws, with
confused definitions of corruptions and their elucidations, are only promoting corruptions since it
will not inculcate the fear of law amongst people who violate the ethical norms of the nation and
society. At the side of this, efficiency and effectiveness in the judiciaries with fast track systems
of justice can demonstrate an impediment to immoral practices in public sector. On the other
hand, slow moving judiciaries that interest for letter instead of the concern of laws, will unable
and hinder and even assist the crime committers by giving them flexibility by prolonging trials
and advantages of doubts. Similarly, the anticorruption machineries of governments, with its
intertwined cord of intricate processes, not intended grants respite to the impeached that are not
In the economic viewpoint, the height at which the country’s economy is developed largely
depends on the good relationship of the ethical systems of the government. Though a cause of
connection that exist betwixt the nation’s development and ethical governance system may not
of economy, if comparing with unfairness in the economic order, is probable to design a large
difference of opinion amongst social categories and groups. The less advantaged or the more
9
impoverished section of societies can get allured to abandon precepts of ethical behavior at the
same time satisfying the requirement needed for their existences and securities. This doesn’t
mean the wealthy of necessity can have a greater degree of honesty (although it is in their power
to do so), but what is captured is that the poor, during the time of creating a living, can discover
Relevant Theories and Ethical Philosophies in the Public Sector in Sierra Leone
According to Dina (2013), he said that ‘Ethics is fundamentally an arrangement that includes sets
of values like attitudes or cultures. Moreover, setting values in ethical form is essential in
guiding individual’s action in a specific incident. With this conception, Preston (2007) said,
‘ethical principles give direction to individual in doing the required action by pointing it to ethics
which include opinions of virtue, impartiality or just’. Amundsen (2009) in his book states that
‘nature in ethicalities makes it specifically pressing in public services’. Helping forward, many
types of ethical theories frameworks that ethics can be applied to and they include: Utilitarism,
Among these three outlined theories, Public Sector in Sierra Leone prefers and are working with
better suitable and dependable decisions in ethics. Dorsey (2010) states in his book that, ‘Going
in line with this, the idea that management in public sector must pursue their duties judging
choices’. Richards (2006) also buttressed that ‘aligning with the anticipated decisions, ethics
must be applied in public sectors. Dina (2010) states that going further into practicality, a set of
ethical principles must be explicated in the shape of administrative rule, for instance, in the shape
10
of ethical code of ethics. The official rules of ethical principles (codes of ethical application) give
transparent system that management of public sector refers to in taking decisions in ethics (Joyce
Philip, 2014). Government Ministries such as the Ministry of Energy and Power, Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Transportation and Communication of Sierra Leone, etc. operate under
such ethics. Virtue ethics on the other hand that is also adopted by public sector in Sierra Leone
concentrates on the uprightness of an individual’s moral strength. Based on this idea, morally
approved decisions in ethics are derived on the platform of a person’s inherited moral character.
In practical, virtue ethics frameworks propose greater degree of accurate approaches in dealing
with moral issue by admitting public managers in the consideration of outcome and the values of
ethical decisions as well. This type of ethics theory also suggests a context of information base
moral judgment makings. In this meaning, decisions in ethics not basing solely on moral values,
but must likewise connects in unique exemplification like, life of sociality in making of
decisions. Government agencies like the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, Ministry
of Health and Sanitation, Ombudsman of Sierra Leone, etc. operate in this kind of ethics. The
Anti-corruption Commission of Sierra Leone for example, to be a staff of that commission, high
moral strength of an individual has to be thoroughly checked and a background check of ethical
In order to avoid ethical considerations and consequences in the public administration in Sierra
Leone, various mechanisms and ethical codes of conduct have being put in place in all
government organizations. The incitement along with execution of satisfactory behavior and
administrative practices demand sundry mechanisms, formations and approaches which are
anticipatory and reactive as well, and exhaustively addressing both culture and behavior, process
11
of guiding and enforcing an outcome. Large organizations have internal audit departments for
example that are watch dogs of management to enforce the ethical principles put forth by
managements. Sierra Leone also has a whole external audit department (Audit Sierra Leone) that
also monitors the adherence of required principles and policies in the operations of public
that monitors and enforces public organizations to adhere to compliances. This commission has
some programs like ‘Pay No Bride Campaign’ specifically adopted for government
organizations. This program encourages and assigns ‘Whistle Blowers’ to report all violations of
ethics to higher authorities in the public sector. Whistle blowing by definition is drawing
Commission of Sierra Leone being proactive in its responsibilities has as well introduced a field
investigation team called ‘Scorpion Squared’ having authority and right to arrest culprits on the
height of corruption.
Conclusion
moral and ethical norms has been an integral part of our tradition. Though vices of corruption,
malpractices and bureau pathologies have slowly creeped in our system, the combat measures
have not been very effective. Administrative reforms measures have to be holistic enough taking
into their purview questions on nature of work ethics, various dimensions of ethics, foci and
concerns of ethics and also the nature of obstacles to ethical accountability. For any governance
system to be transparent, accountable, efficient and sensitive, a Code of Ethics in the form of
service rules, procedural norms, and administrative strategies the requirement of the day is. It is
not possible to bring into force a Code of Ethics if it is self-serving and is subject to constant
12
external interference and manipulation. A certain degree of autonomy is a pre-requisite for any
code to be successful. We are witnessing a change in the pattern of authority, obedience and
norms and values. Philosophy of governance has transcended international boundaries. Almost
values, organizational standards and societal norms is clearly visible. Though the code may not
reflect a consensus of opinion on ethical issues, it can still provide direction and advice with
regard to ethical conduct and assist the administrators in analyzing their options and alternatives
in the right perspective. This Unit highlighted these very pertinent features.
In conclusion, argument can be put forth that the rule of thumb in ethics in our occupational
fields offer serviceable but not of necessity enough system to control in ensuring ethical
standards. Like operationalizing our theoretical notions, changing them into variables which may
reflecting on the wider consequences of ethics. Just having knowledge of signposts of ethics such
assignment, just as Eisenbeiss and Brodbeck in 2014 put it that, ‘it is realized that, ethics is more
than simply agreeing with regulations like codes of behavior; individual ethical principles are of
importance as well in putting tones, fostering emulations, and joining authorities to policy
actions. According to Hassan in 2015, he said ‘people being treated honestly abides a pertinent
components ethics, however, this is fair being in demonstration between two or more people
References
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Akaranga S.I. and Jude Ongonga (2013). “Work Ethics for University Lecturers:
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Dorsey, Roger (2010) Tax Policy, Virtue Ethics and Behavioral Economics.
Fouka G. & Mantzorou M. (2011). “What are the major ethical issues in conducting research? Is
there a conflict between the research ethics and the nature of nursing?” Health Science
Joyce Philip (2014) The Culture of Ethics That the Public Sector Needs. Governing, October 15.
http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-cultureethics-public-sector-
Kour S. (2014). Ethical and Legal issues in Educational research. Indian Journal of Applied
Kovacs, A. (1985). The Research process: Essentials of skill development. F.A Davis
14
Oddi L.F. & Cassidy, V.R. (1990). Nursing Research in the U.S.: The protection of human
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