Assignment 3: Leadership And Ethics Due Week 9 And Worth 220

Assignment 3: Leadership and Ethics Due Week 9 and worth 220 points

In this assignment, you will build upon the two (2) challenges that you had identified in Assignment 2, Question 4. Use the Internet or the Strayer Library to research articles on public agencies or non-profit organizations for which your proposed challenges may not be considered actual challenges. Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

Propose two (2) ethical concerns that management may need to address. Create the context in which such concerns may or may not be ethical in nature. Provide a rationale for your response.

Analyze the overall manner in which organizational structure impacts organizational ethics. Select one (1) public agency or one (1) non-profit organization in which your challenges may not be considered actual challenges. Provide a rationale for your response. Use the Inventory of Public Management Skills Management, located on pages 11 to 12 of the textbook, to construct a self-evaluation. Assess your level of development in each of the skills.

Propose two (2) to three (3) activities that would help you to improve the skills in question. Use the results of your self-evaluation and recommendations from Question 3 to formulate a response to the challenges that you have presented that creates a win-win situation for the organization, the employees, and the public. Predict two (2) potential obstacles to success and two (2) plans to overcome such obstacles.

Include at least four (4) academic references (no more than five [5] years old) from material outside the textbook and no more than one (1) governmental Website. Note: Appropriate academic resources include academic and governmental Websites, scholarly texts, and peer-reviewed articles. Wikipedia, other wikis, and any other Websites ending in anything other than ".gov" do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Leadership and ethics are central to the effective administration of public and non-profit organizations. Ethical concerns guide management decision-making, influence organizational culture, and impact public trust. While certain challenges are perceived as problematic, a deeper analysis can reveal that some issues might not constitute genuine challenges, depending on organizational context and perceptions. This paper explores the ethical concerns management may face, examines organizational structure’s influence on ethics, conducts a self-evaluation against public management skills, and proposes strategies to enhance leadership capabilities for sustainable organizational success.

Ethical Concerns in Public and Non-profit Organizations

Two ethical concerns that management may need to address include conflicts of interest and data privacy issues. Conflicts of interest arise when organizational leaders prioritize personal gains over organizational or public interests. For instance, a director might favor a contractor associated with a family member, potentially compromising transparency and fairness. These situations challenge ethical principles of integrity and accountability, yet can also be perceived differently depending on the transparency and organizational policies in place. When adequately managed, such conflicts might not be viewed as significant issues, but neglecting them could erode public trust.

Data privacy concerns relate to the handling of sensitive information, especially in health or social services. Mismanagement or unauthorized disclosure of client data could breach confidentiality agreements and violate ethical standards. However, some argue that data collection is necessary for service improvement, leading to tension between transparency and privacy. Ethical management must weigh the necessity of data use against individual privacy rights, creating nuanced contexts where privacy concerns are either justified or overstated depending on organizational safeguards and legal requirements.

Impact of Organizational Structure on Organizational Ethics

The structure of an organization significantly influences its ethical climate. A decentralized structure, characterized by autonomy at various levels, may foster ethical decision-making through increased accountability and employee empowerment. Conversely, highly hierarchical organizations might suppress ethical considerations due to rigid oversight and limited voice for lower-level staff. In public agencies and non-profits, organizational structure impacts ethical standards by shaping communication, decision-making processes, and resource management.

For example, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demonstrates how a centralized structure can streamline compliance with ethical standards through standardized procedures. However, overly centralized authority may hinder ethical responsiveness in complex situations requiring context-specific judgment. Conversely, in non-profits like the Red Cross, a flatter organizational structure encourages volunteer input, fostering an ethical environment rooted in shared values and collective responsibility, illustrating how structure influences ethical behavior (Denhardt & Denhardt, 2015).

Self-Evaluation of Public Management Skills

Using the Inventory of Public Management Skills Management, I evaluated my competencies across core skills such as strategic planning, communication, leadership, ethics, and change management. My assessments revealed strengths in communication and leadership but identified areas for development in strategic planning and ethics management. These insights highlight that while I possess foundational skills, continuous improvement is essential for effective public governance.

In particular, my ability to communicate complex issues clearly and motivate teams aligns well with professional standards. However, further honing strategic planning skills and understanding of ethical frameworks will strengthen my capacity to lead ethically sound initiatives that align with organizational goals and public expectations.

Activities to Enhance Management Skills

To improve my strategic planning capabilities, I would enroll in advanced courses focused on public sector strategic management. Additionally, participating in workshops on ethical decision-making in public administration would deepen my understanding of applying ethical principles in real-world contexts. A third activity could include mentoring from experienced public managers, providing practical insights into balancing organizational goals with ethical considerations.

These activities are designed to build competencies that enable proactive and ethical leadership, fostering transparent decision-making and organizational integrity. Implementing these learning strategies will support my growth in managing complex challenges effectively.

Developing Win-Win Solutions and Overcoming Obstacles

Formulating solutions that benefit the organization, employees, and the public requires collaborative strategies and ethical foresight. I propose establishing ethics committees to guide decision-making, fostering a culture of transparency. Implementing regular ethical training and communication channels can promote shared values across all levels. To address potential obstacles such as resistance to change and resource limitations, I plan to conduct stakeholder engagement sessions and seek administrative support to ensure the initiatives are sustainable.

Predicted obstacles include organizational inertia and possible lack of buy-in from staff. To overcome these, I would emphasize the benefits of ethical practices for organizational reputation and long-term success, alongside demonstrating quick wins to build momentum. Developing contingency plans, such as phased implementation and additional resource allocation, will further mitigate these barriers.

Conclusion

Ethical leadership in public and non-profit organizations is vital for maintaining public trust and organizational integrity. By understanding the influence of organizational structure, engaging in self-improvement, and instituting ethical practices, managers can navigate complex challenges effectively. Implementing collaborative strategies and proactive obstacles management fosters a sustainable, ethical organizational environment that benefits all stakeholders.

References

  • Denhardt, R. B., & Denhardt, J. V. (2015). Thenew public service: Serving, not steering. Routledge.
  • Freeman, R. E. (2010). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press.
  • Kettl, D. F. (2015). The state of public administration. CQ Press.
  • Luenendonk, M. (2019). Ethical decision-making in public administration. Harvard Business Review.
  • Peters, B. G. (2019). The politics of bureaucracy. Routledge.
  • Rainey, H. G. (2014). Understanding and managing public organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Shafritz, J. M., & Russell, E. W. (2017). Introducing public administration. Routledge.
  • Vigoda-Gadot, E. (2017). Ethics management in public organizations. Routledge.
  • World Bank. (2022). Good governance practices for public sector organizations. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance
  • Yukl, G. (2018). Leadership in organizations. Pearson.

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