Chapter 3 Ethics

Question 1

Ethical behavior matters in public service: _____ trust in government is based on the behavior and performance of the people who represent the government—from the chief elected official to every employee. (Page 32)

Answer 1

Citizens

Question 2

As a _______, you are responsible for your own ethical behavior, plus you must ensure your employees are aware of their ethical responsibilities, that they take advantage of resources provided by the organization to create and sustain an ethical culture, and that they behave ethically. (Page 32)

Answer 2

Supervisor

Question 3

Most local governments have an ethics policy or _____ that describes behavior that is expected of all employees.
(Page 33)

Answer 3

Code of Conduct

Question 4

Some governments also have ______ that outline the belief underlying the ethics policy or code. (Page 33)

Answer 4

Value Statement

Question 5

The most useful government ethics policies are ____, _____, and ______. (Page 33)

Answer 5

1. Practical
2. Easy to Embrace
3. Based on Organizational Values

Question 6

The toughest choices you will make as a supervisor are not choices between right and wrong, but between _____ and _____. (Page 33)

Answer 6

Right and Right

Question 7

The strongest influence on employee behavior is the behavior of _____ and _____. (Page 34)

Answer 7

1. Managers

2. Supervisors

Question 8

______ is an ongoing process. It involves understanding the government’s principles and guidelines, living those principles daily, and making decisions based on those principles. (Page 35)

Answer 8

Ethical Behavior

Question 9

What are the three A’s that help to define ethics in action? These guiding principals not only help you carry out your supervisory responsibilities, but also provide a framework to guide your employees on ethical behavior.(Page 35)

Answer 9

1. Accountability
2. Awareness
3. Authenticity

Question 10

In practical terms, having professional ethics means striving to do your best as a supervisor, including: (Page 35)

Answer 10

1. Using consistent & supportive communication practices.
2. Genuinely listening to your employees and colleagues.
3. Making your expectations of employees clear.
4. Providing fair and consistent feedback on performance.

Question 11

What are some guidelines that will help you model ethical behavior: (Page 36)

Answer 11

1. Know the rules
2. Walk the talk
3. Teach they way
4. Hold the line

Question 12

In the public sector, the _____ sets a high ethical bar for all local government leaders and employees. (Page 36)

Answer 12

Community

Question 13

As a supervisor, coaching is a daily responsibility designed to: _____, _____ , and _____. (Page 38)

Answer 13

1. Help employees with personal and professional development.
2. Improve current work performance
3. Increase performance results

Question 14

While most of your coaching as a supervisor will focus on job knowledge, skills, and performance, ______ is a particularly important area for which you need to provide, guidance, coaching and feedback. (Page 38)

Answer 14

Ethical Behavior

Question 15

Ask, Listen, Think, Thank, Respond, Involve, Make Changes, and Follow-up. They are things that supervisors can use when making decisions. These eight steps are used to coach employees on all aspects of behavior, including ethics. These steps are apart of the _______

Answer 15

Behavioral Model

Question 16

As a supervisor, you are responsible for creating: (Page 38)

Answer 16

1. A strong ethical environment in your unit by modeling
   ethical behavior.
2. Making ethically sound decisions.
3. Helping employees solve their ethical challenges

Question 17

ICMA’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making: You can use these six questions to assess whether a possible action is ethical. (Page 39)

Answer 17

1. The Law
2. Policy
3. Integrity
4. Appearances
5. Clear Thinking
6. Perspective

Question 18

What are the four useful test that can help with decision making?

Answer 18

1. Role Model Test
2. Parent or Child on Shoulder Test
3. Newspaper Headline Test
4. Golden Rule test

Question 19

______ is essential to ensure that all employees understand ethical lines, know how to use tools, and test to assess challenging situations, and have an opportunity to discuss tough issues with colleagues and staff who have experience in ethical decision making. (page 41-42)

Answer 19

Ongoing training

Question 20

You can lead your employees towards ethical behavior by: (Page 42)

Answer 20

1. Making ethics apart of daily life in your work unit
2. Using Staff Meeting as an opportunity to talk about the values of your organization and to discuss ethical challenges
3. Share with your employees tools for helping them make ethical decisions
4. Offer Simple reminders once a week to keep employees thinking about ethical behavior.
5. Encourage and supporting employee participation in both required and optional training sessions related to values and ethics.

Question 21

Most local governments today have employee ________ for ethical practice and behavior. (page 43)

Answer 21

codes of conduct and guidelines

Question 22

_____, ____, and ____ are equally or even more important. (page 43)

Answer 22

Supervisory Guidance
Regular Training and Enforcement
Constant Modeling of Ethical Practices

Question 23

_____ is a standard of conduct for professional and personal behavior based on shared values. (Page 33)

Answer 23

Ethics

Question 24

Ethics principles and guidelines are just the beginning. What really matters is not what a local government says in its principles and guidelines, but ______. (Page 34)

Answer 24

What it does.