Professional Ethics
HU-222
Lecture 2
Ethics and Professional Ethics
Usaid Khan
[Link]@[Link]
1
Ethical Principles for Profession
Professionals shall hold paramount the safety, health and
welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the
principles of sustainable development in the performance of
their professional duties.
Professionals shall perform services only in areas of their
competence.
Professionals shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner.
2
Ethical Principles for Profession
Professionals shall act in professional matters for each employer or
client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of
interest.
Professionals shall build their professional reputation on the merit
of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
Professionals shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance
the honor, integrity, and dignity of their professions and shall act
with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.
Professionals shall continue their professional development
throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the
professional development of those serving under their
supervision.
3
Ethical Decision Making
Fairness Long-
Self-
Utility Legality and term
respect
goodness effects
Any other???
4
• Utility principle
• Rights principle
• Fairness principle: Impartiality and neutrality
• Social justice principle: Equity
Basic
Principles • Professional competency principle
of Ethics • Efficiency principle
• Accountability principle
5
Types of Ethics
• Ethics of Principled Conviction
• Asserts that intent is the most
important factor.
• Good principles enforce the
ethical act.
• Values and intentions
• Good principles lead to ethical
behavior and actions
6
Types of Ethics
• Ethics of Responsibility
• Outcome or consequence-
oriented ethics.
• Not dependent on high-minded
principles.
• Consequentialism
• Result, impact, and outcome lead
to ethical behavior
• Accountability
7
Professional ethics
are a code of
What is conduct that how
“Professional members of a
Ethics” certain professional
deal with each other
and third parties.
8
Why should we have Professional Code of Ethics?
Professional code of ethics serves several functions:
Symbolizes the professionalism of the group
Defines and promotes the standard for internal and external relations
with clients and employers
Protects the group interests
Codifies members rights
9
Different Schools of Thought
School Interpretation
Consequentialism All that matters is the consequences of a decision or action;
motivation is not relevant.
Contractarianism It is based on the concept of fairness. All individuals are
accorded equal respect as participants in social arrangements,
leading to the idea of a social contract and the right of
individuals to veto a proposed solution
Pluralism Focuses on the concept of duty – individuals have an
obligation to each other to be open, honest and fair.
a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of
authority, etc., coexist.
Aristocratic Tradition Focuses on the need of the individual to be enriched by the
decision made and to feel comfortable with it. Other affected
parties were largely irrelevant in the decision-making process.
10
• Utilitarian View
Where moral behaviour is that which delivers
the greatest good to the greatest number of
people.
Different • Individualism View
Where moral behaviour is that which is best
Views on for long-term self-interest.
Ethical • Moral-Rights View
Where moral behaviour is that which respects
Behavior fundamental rights shared by all human
beings.
• Justice View
Where moral behaviour is that which is
impartial, fair and equitable in treating people.
(Protective, distributive and procedural
justice)
11
• Bioethics: Controversial ethics
brought about by advances in
Fields of biotechnology like cloning, gene
Application in therapy, genetic engineering
• Geo-ethics: Ethical management
Ethics of the relationship between
humans and the earth
• Service ethics: Effective service
delivery with public service
motivation
• Relational ethics: Managing
professional relationships
12
• Performance ethics: Delivery of
standard and ethical performance
Fields of • Political ethics: Political neutrality
Application in • Developmental ethics: Right
approach, priority and allocation
Ethics… for development
• Innovation ethics: valuing
innovation and creativity
13
Ethical Standards
• Professional responsibility and
competence
• Learning and professional
development
• Contribution to institutional
development
• Responsibility towards societal
issues of transformation
15
Benefits of Ethical
Management of Profession
• Social responsiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Standardized performance and reputation
• Performance and service culture
• Sustainability
• Attraction and retention of competent
human resource
• Customer support
• Orientation to reform and improvements
• Social legitimacy
• Teamwork and productivity
16
Ethics in Public Service
Profession
17
Public Service Values
Impartiality and
Neutral
Transparency Competence
and
Legality
Accountability
Values of
Participation Public
Service Integrity and
Fairness
Efficiency in
Justice and
Performance
Equity
and Delivery
18
Bureaucratic Ethics
• Bureaucratic ethics is defined around "fairness" in action and
behaviour for public interest comprising of trust, consistency,
truthfulness, integrity, clearly stated expectations, equitable treatment,
a sense of ownership, mutual respect and impartial decision making.
• Public interest or the best interest of the people is the ethical
framework and guiding philosophy for professional civil service.
19
Providing public benefits: Adequacy,
Utility and appropriateness
Emotional competence for
Values of performance and delivery
Public Promoting democracy and governance
Service
Profession Empowering citizens and clients
alism
Continuous improvement for better
performance
Politico-administrative synergy in
delivery of public value
20
Basic Principles of public service
Clear ethical standards
Legal framework: Adequate and appropriate
Ethical guidance for public servants
Knowledge of rights, obligations and consequences to public servants
Political reinforcement to public service ethics
Public scrutiny and transparency of decision-making process
Guidelines for interaction between public and private sectors
Policy, institution, systems and methods for promoting ethics
Adequate and appropriate accountability mechanisms
Appropriate sanction against non-compliance and unethical behaviour
21
Professional Ethics
• Personal, organizational and
corporate standards of behavior
expected of professionals
• Making rational judgments,
application of skill, knowledge
and competency for service
excellence
• Professional neutrality,
impartiality and fairness
22
Professional Ethics
• Principles that guide the actions and decisions of
professionals, and determine if they are good or
bad, or right or wrong, or rational or irrational, or
just or unjust.
• Professional capability for securing social,
technical and professional legitimacy of decisions
and actions.
• Instrument for ensuring social accountability and
responsiveness.
23