Discussion - Week 3

Administrative Responsibility, Conflict, and Ethical Reflection

When performing the functions of a public administrator, your realm of responsibility typically requires you to take standard, established actions to resolve challenges. This standard approach may involve objective responsibilities, whereas, other situations might compel you to take responsibility according to your personal ethical code and internal sense of accountability and imposed obligation. Situations may not present you with one clear solution to the challenges you face, however. Fulfilling these concepts of objective and subjective administrative responsibility can be a difficult, complex, and stressful task given the multiplicity of roles one plays in today’s society. However, the struggle is not just an internal one. Conflicts of authority, interest, and roles, also confound the role of the public administrator.

For this week’s Discussion, review the Menzel (2009) article located in this week’s resources. Then, select a county administrator from the case study presented in the article and reflect on the ethical dilemma associated with his or her role in the scandal.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 3 a brief explanation of how ethical reflection might have helped the Pinellas County public administrators avoid the ethical scandal described in Menzel’s case study. Then, identify the county public administrator you selected and the ethical dilemma associated with his or her role in the scandal. Finally, explain whether the ethical dilemma you described represents conflict of authority, interest, or roles and explain why.

Support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.