Transparency Ethics:
Honesty & Deception
| Course Number |
LWE840 |
| Objectives |
At the end of this course, you will
be equipped to make basic
ethical decisions on managerial matters involving transparency and corruption.
|
| Credit Hours and Fee |
3.0 CE Credit Hours with a fee of $24.00 |
| Instructor |
Rudolf Klimes, PhD (Indiana University), MPH
(Johns Hopkins University);
Adjunct Professor at Folsom Lake College, Folsom CA. |
Welcome
to this
3-contact-hour Continuing Education course with instant online processing and
certification 24/7. Study the course below, take the 12-question
multiple-choice
TEST,
register and pay $24 online. If you score 75% or above, you may print your CE
certificate on your printer as soon as you finish.
If you have
difficulty printing your certificate,
click here..
You may retake the test once.
To deal with transparency ethics, you need to find the answers to
these and other questions:
1. What is
transparency?
|
1.1 definition
1.2 limits of secrecy |
2. What fosters
transparency?
|
2.1 openness
2.2 accountability |
3. What is corruption?
|
3.1 abuse of power
3.2 bribery & fraud |
4. What limits corruption?
|
4.1 objectivity
4.2 free participation |
This course does not deal with legal issues, which are generally a far
lower safety-net that ethical ones. Ethics expects higher standards than just passing the
minimum legal requirements.
1. What is
transparency?
How is
transparency defined?
Readily understandable, clear, without guile, candid.
What is yours? |
Managerial transparency
refers to the actions, writing and plans of individuals, groups or organizations that
exclude any hidden information, motives or data. Thus the vita of officials at
governmental, business and nonprofit organizations should be available, and should
include, among others, board memberships on legal corporations.
Within
transparency, what are some of the limits of secrecy?
Managerial secrecy, if used at
all, should be used with clearly stated reasons as to its necessity. Generally it should
be limited as to time and scope, with the understanding that at a stated time, the secrecy
provision is automatically removed. (This is different from professional secrecy, which is
personal and not group-based.)
The main reason for justified managerial secrecy is to prevent others from taking
advantage of information that may harm or distort the execution of the management plan
during a specific time. Once the plan is implemented and all was done above board, a
reason for secrecy no longer exists. |
One short way to define management ethics is to call it the study of right and
wrong in a public or organizational context. Managerial ethics seeks answers to
questions like "Is it OK to hide financial or interpersonal transactions that you
would not like everybody to know?"
"What is usually the right thing to do?" Here are four
statements. Some are better than
others.
"Hide it and stay out of trouble".............................
"My personal
affairs are only my business."
"I am open and have nothing to hide." "I am accountable for my managerial and
personal conduct."
2. What fosters
transparency?
What
makes openness and selflessness so attractive in life and management?
An open and selfless person can fully focus all
energies on service to others. Selflessness avoids hidden personal benefits that may
accrue due to position or power, and benefits that may accrue to family members and
friends.
All managerial decisions should be only on merit and truth, and none
may be influenced by personal, friendship or family considerations.
A sole owner may use nepotism. He may give a job to his son.
A manager of a nonprofit organization does not have that right, for the organization is
not his to use for his benefit. |
In what
ways are you accountable?
To whom are you accountable? For what are you accountable? How
often are you aware of this accountability? What form does your accountability take? Would
you be embarrassed by some questions? |
3. What is corruption?
What is included in misuse of power?
Public corruption, defined here as the
misuse or abuse of power by an individual or
group of elected or employed public servants acting together, has been around for as long
as there have been people. Since they have a public trust, officials of nonprofit
organizations are also public servants. It is a very predictable aspect of human nature to
take advantage of the public trust and use it for one's own personal advantage.
Give some examples of misuse of power. What is the
difference between abuse and misuse? |
What financial and interpersonal actions may be called corruption's?
Bribery, Fraud, Inappropriate financial and
interpersonal associations and transactions and .... |
In many places, gifts or favors valued at $200 or more are inappropriate and may be
considered a bribe, even if no immediate direct service is expected in return for the
gift. Larger gifts are generally appropriate mainly to charitable organizations and family
members. Smaller gifts valued under $20 may be very appropriate between friends.
4. What limits corruption?
How does
objectivity relate to transparency?
In objectivity, only the going toward merit and truth
are relevant. Thus individuals are free to manage their business and public affairs
transparently. Where family and friendship partiality is shown, subjectivity enters
and individuals are deprived of equal rights and considerations. How open are you? |
How does free participation hinder corruption?
| The fences of an organization are there to provide free participation
inside and to limit interference from outside. Free participation provides for a hearing
of suggestions and complaints for the improvement of the organization. What else limits
corruption? |
Ethics
Resources