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One of the ways in which high ethical standards in the public service can be promoted is by developing codes of Conduct that set a standard of behaviour to be followed within specific occupational categories. The Code of Conduct for the Public Service was developed to serve as a guideline for ethical conduct, as well as to enhance public confidence in the integrity of the public service. Departments have, however, been encouraged to draft their own supplementary Codes of Conduct by means of adding examples that apply to their specific functions and environment. Taking into consideration that citizens’ expectations of government are to a large extent influenced by their interaction with municipalities, mainly because of the types of services that are rendered, the question should be posed whether municipalities have made a true effort to develop Codes of Conduct that are aligned to their unique functions. The acceptance of a Code of Conduct is a very central part of being a professional. It guarantees the public that professionals in the public service adhere to the highest professional standards and are committed to serving the public to the best of their ability. Being a professional means that working is about more than being in office from 8am-4pm and getting one’s paycheck every month. In fact, serving the public entails extra, additional ethical responsibilities. Professionals in the public service are custodians of the public trust, and therefore have to be worthy of that trust. Codes of Conduct indicate to the public what they can expect of their public servants, and should guide the judgements of public servants in a way that ensures consistency. Unfortunately, Codes often become no more that useless pieces of paper, plaques on the wall, or doorstopper documents. The reason why so many Codes of Conduct do in fact become doorstoppers or mere plaques on the wall is that they do not succeed in becoming living documents. Research into why so many Codes “die” indicates that many things can go wrong in the process of writing and institutionalising Codes of Conduct. These mistakes can include the way the Code was developed, written, distributed and enacted. Code killers include: ? A top-down strategy where a few senior managers (or a single poor individual) are given the task to find a Code off the Internet and write a similar one for his/her organisation ? Writing down vague, nice-sounding esoteric value-statements that no-one understands ? Slapping a 100-pager onto people’s desks (who has time to read anyway?) ? Forgetting about the practical examples and case studies A Code of Conduct is useless if it does not reflect the values that live and guide professionals and if it does not address practical work-specific concerns and problems. Source: Centre for Business and Professional Ethics. UP 1. Define the concept ‘Ethics’. (3 marks) 2. What is the importance of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service? (3 marks) 3. Discuss reasons why Codes of Conduct fail and indicate those key issues that contributes to their failure. (13 marks) 4. Name the three (3) important principles of constitutionalism and the basic values and principles that guide public service institutions in South Africa. (11 MarksOne of the ways in which high ethical standards in the public service can be promoted is by developing codes of Conduct that set a standard of behaviour to be followed within specific occupational categories. The Code of Conduct for the Public Service was developed to serve as a guideline for ethical conduct, as well as to enhance public confidence in the integrity of the public service. Departments have, however, been encouraged to draft their own supplementary Codes of Conduct by means of adding examples that apply to their specific functions and environment. Taking into consideration that citizens’ expectations of government are to a large extent influenced by their interaction with municipalities, mainly because of the types of services that are rendered, the question should be posed whether municipalities have made a true effort to develop Codes of Conduct that are aligned to their unique functions. The acceptance of a Code of Conduct is a very central part of being a professional. It guarantees the public that professionals in the public service adhere to the highest professional standards and are committed to serving the public to the best of their ability. Being a professional means that working is about more than being in office from 8am-4pm and getting one’s paycheck every month. In fact, serving the public entails extra, additional ethical responsibilities. Professionals in the public service are custodians of the public trust, and therefore have to be worthy of that trust. Codes of Conduct indicate to the public what they can expect of their public servants, and should guide the judgements of public servants in a way that ensures consistency. Unfortunately, Codes often become no more that useless pieces of paper, plaques on the wall, or doorstopper documents. The reason why so many Codes of Conduct do in fact become doorstoppers or mere plaques on the wall is that they do not succeed in becoming living documents. Research into why so many Codes “die” indicates that many things can go wrong in the process of writing and institutionalising Codes of Conduct. These mistakes can include the way the Code was developed, written, distributed and enacted. Code killers include: ? A top-down strategy where a few senior managers (or a single poor individual) are given the task to find a Code off the Internet and write a similar one for his/her organisation ? Writing down vague, nice-sounding esoteric value-statements that no-one understands ? Slapping a 100-pager onto people’s desks (who has time to read anyway?) ? Forgetting about the practical examples and case studies A Code of Conduct is useless if it does not reflect the values that live and guide professionals and if it does not address practical work-specific concerns and problems. Source: Centre for Business and Professional Ethics. UP 1. Define the concept ‘Ethics’. (3 marks) 2. What is the importance of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service? (3 marks) 3. Discuss reasons why Codes of Conduct fail and indicate those key issues that contributes to their failure. (13 marks) 4. Name the three (3) important principles of constitutionalism and the basic values and principles that guide public service institutions in South Africa. (11 MarksOne of the ways in which high ethical standards in the public service can be promoted is by developing codes of Conduct that set a standard of behaviour to be followed within specific occupational categories. The Code of Conduct for the Public Service was developed to serve as a guideline for ethical conduct, as well as to enhance public confidence in the integrity of the public service. Departments have, however, been encouraged to draft their own supplementary Codes of Conduct by means of adding examples that apply to their specific functions and environment. Taking into consideration that citizens’ expectations of government are to a large extent influenced by their interaction with municipalities, mainly because of the types of services that are rendered, the question should be posed whether municipalities have made a true effort to develop Codes of Conduct that are aligned to their unique functions. The acceptance of a Code of Conduct is a very central part of being a professional. It guarantees the public that professionals in the public service adhere to the highest professional standards and are committed to serving the public to the best of their ability. Being a professional means that working is about more than being in office from 8am-4pm and getting one’s paycheck every month. In fact, serving the public entails extra, additional ethical responsibilities. Professionals in the public service are custodians of the public trust, and therefore have to be worthy of that trust. Codes of Conduct indicate to the public what they can expect of their public servants, and should guide the judgements of public servants in a way that ensures consistency. Unfortunately, Codes often become no more that useless pieces of paper, plaques on the wall, or doorstopper documents. The reason why so many Codes of Conduct do in fact become doorstoppers or mere plaques on the wall is that they do not succeed in becoming living documents. Research into why so many Codes “die” indicates that many things can go wrong in the process of writing and institutionalising Codes of Conduct. These mistakes can include the way the Code was developed, written, distributed and enacted. Code killers include: ? A top-down strategy where a few senior managers (or a single poor individual) are given the task to find a Code off the Internet and write a similar one for his/her organisation ? Writing down vague, nice-sounding esoteric value-statements that no-one understands ? Slapping a 100-pager onto people’s desks (who has time to read anyway?) ? Forgetting about the practical examples and case studies A Code of Conduct is useless if it does not reflect the values that live and guide professionals and if it does not address practical work-specific concerns and problems. Source: Centre for Business and Professional Ethics. UP 1. Define the concept ‘Ethics’. (3 marks) 2. What is the importance of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service? (3 marks) 3. Discuss reasons why Codes of Conduct fail and indicate those key issues that contributes to their failure. (13 marks) 4. Name the three (3) important principles of constitutionalism and the basic values and principles that guide public service institutions in South Africa. (11 Marks