Two of the questions below must be answered:

1. Kohlberg’s model of moral development is well known and some of us may have encountered it in other courses. Where would you place yourself, today, in the graphic depiction of stages on page 24 of The Ethics Primer? Has your position on this scale changed over time, and are you open to further change?

2. Discuss the “principal-agent problem.” What is an example or situation where a how public administrator may be in conflict with his/her “principals?” How does this problem disrupt the concept of administrative accountability?

3. If you had to choose between the virtue and intuition, principle-based, and consequences-based approaches to ethics as your primary guide to behavior, which one would you choose, and why?

Instructor mentioned the following:

Greetings students,

As you construct your responses to both of this Unit’s Questions, please consider the following discussion points in addition to those included in the questions:

Question 1: As you define your position on Kohlberg’s “scale” be specific about how you got there, also consider: (1) What significant events or developments launched you to the next level? (2) What conditions may be holding back your development?

Question 2: As you identify an example associated with the “principle-agent” problem, try your best to locate a problem that is documented so that peer responses can continue along that line of discussion. The more specific the better.

Question 3: As you discuss why you have selected your ethics-based approach, be specific when you discuss why. What event(s) have guided your approach?

Some of you may receive comments from me for Unit 1 discussions related to being specific. As you are all answering the same questions each week in this discussion area, the more details you can provide in your responses, the better, particularly when sharing either a current event or practical reflection. This detail helps your peers build their responses as well.

As always, use our text as your “anchor” for the discussion. The text is a guide for context so its use is critical, but remember you are welcome to introduce additional resources that are relevant.

Thank you,

Books Required:

1. Kennedy, Sheila and David Schultz. 2011. American Public Service: Constitutional and Ethical Foundations. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. ISBN­13: 9780763760021 ISBN­10: 0763760021

2. Svara, James. 2007. The Ethics Primer for Public Administrators in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. ISBN­13: 9780763736262