Social Justice & Social Change

 In making ethical decision, a public administrator must act ethically in addressing ethical issues and promoting social change. Ethical decision making has a big impact on social change in that an administrator provides ethical guidance to employees and motivates them to act ethically. Note that ethical guidance involves ethical standards, potential problems, strategies to solve dilemmas and more (Yeager et al, 2007).  Ethical behaviors and practices increases competence and expertise, and more importantly employees are able to deal with ethics pressure from both internal and external environment. According to Yeager et al (2007), ethical decision making allows the administrator to provide discretion to employees in making decisions.  In other words, employees are engaged in a participatory decision making where they feel a sense of belonging and improves performance as well as problem solving skills. Ethical behaviors in decision making allow employees to use professional judgment thereby increases job attitudes, job satisfaction and positive behaviors. Generally, ethical decision making leads to positive social changes in that employees are motivated to act in an ethical manner in internal and external environment, in making decision and in job performance (Yeager et al, 2007).

 Example of ethical decisions include appreciating and respecting diverse cultures and having personal accountability in the workplace. The first ethical decision which is based on valuing diverse culture promotes social change in that employees from different cultures will interact and share opinions in solving ethical dilemmas and other organization problems. When people embrace culture diversity, employees in government and non-government organization will build creativity, innovation and professional growth (Cooper, 2012). The second decision which is based on being accountable will foster social change in that employees will avoid doing wrong actions and strive to promote trust, honesty, fairness and integrity in performing their duties.  Generally, embarking culture diversity and being accountable will help the administrator to not only adhere to rules and regulation but he or she will adhere to the set of responsibilities and obligation in organization performance (Cooper, 2012).

 However, these decisions may cause negative impacts on social changes in the organization. First, culture diversity will lead to discrimination where some employees face unfair treatment. Employees who are discriminated may suffer from dejection and as a result decrease performance, productivity and increase employee turnover (Cooper, 2012). In addition, accountability may also  lead to negative social change in that  when it comes to rewarding  performance, compensation plans reward  few people and this is an indication that majority will  end up decreasing  performance and productivity due to  poor management behaviors triggered by dysfunctional leadership (Cooper, 2012).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Yeager, S. J., Hildreth, W. B., Miller, G. J., & Rabin, J. (2007). The Relative Effects of a Supervisory

Emphasis on Ethical Behavior Versus Political Responsiveness. Public Integrity, 9(3), 265.

doi:10.2753/PIN1099-9922090305

 

Cooper, T. L. (2012). The responsible administrator: An approach to ethics for the administrative role.

San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.