Question.
Define the ethical concerns in Government and Private Institutions
( UPPSC, UP PCS Mains General Studies-4 2019, 8 Marks)
Answer:
Ethical concerns are also known as ethical issues or ethical dilemmas; it is a situation that requires a person or institution to choose between alternative options by prioritizing the right (ethical) options.
Ethical concerns in government institutions:
The following are ethical concerns in government institutions:
- Law vs Conscience.
- Secrecy vs Transparency vs accountability
- Loyalty to boss vs responsibility to Society
- Public interest vs personal interest
- Majority vs minority
- Rules vs tradition
Law vs Conscience:
Ethical concerns arise for public servants regarding whether they should follow law and procedure firmly or act as per social needs. For example, as per law, to avail of "PM Awaas Yojna", an Aadhar card will be a must for applicants, but an old poor widow woman neither has a home nor an Aadhar card. Ethical dilemmas occur regarding what should be followed rules or inner voice in this situation.
Secrecy vs transparency vs Accountability:
Secrecy and transparency are two important values in a public institution. Sometimes ethical concerns arise between the two. Secrecy creates mistrust, and doubt, among the public and the workforce. Some secrecy is needed for the organization. The clarity of secrecy and transparency is not fully defined, hence ethical dilemmas occur between secrecy and transparency.
Government and private institutions have the responsibility to be transparent in their decision-making.
Loyalty to boss vs responsibility to Society: Ethical dilemmas occur about whether to follow the boss's orders or act solely for social welfare.
Ethical dilemma in private institutions:
The following are ethical concerns in the private institution:
- Loyalty to boss vs organization loyalty
- Organizational interest vs public interest
- Quality vs quantity
- Profit vs welfare
- False advertisement
- Bribery and corruption
- insider trading
- Accounting fraud
- Environmental loss
Loyalty to boss vs organization loyalty: Sometimes ethical concerns arise for employees regarding loyalty between boss and organization.
Organizational interest vs public interest: an institution may prioritize maximizing profits and increasing shareholder values while ethical concerns arise related to environmental sustainability, social responsibilities, or fair labor practices.
False advertisement; False advertisement about the product can harm the customer, and false advertisement is unethical in private institutions.
Bribery and corruption; Companies may bribe government officials to get contracts or secure business deals, this unethical issue is widespread in private institutions.
Insider trading; When company officials use confidential information about the company to buy or sell a stock, this unfair advantage of officials harm investor and it is one of the ethical issues in private institutions.
Accounting fraud; Company might overstate its revenue or understate an expanse in order to gain financial results better to attract investors, this accountancy fraud is unethical behavior in private institutions.
Environmental loss; Company may increase its profit by exploiting the environment unsustainable way, this is unethical behavior in private institutions.
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