• Ethics are the rules that define moral conduct according to the ideology of a specific group. Moreover, ethics in public administration are important for good business conduct based on the needs of a specific town, state or country.

• Ethics provide accountability between the public and the administration. Adhering to a code of ethics ensures that the public receives what it needs in a fair manner. It also gives the administration guidelines for integrity in their operations. That integrity, in turn, helps foster the trust of the community.

Steps needed for ethical decision making:-

• Seven-step guide to ethical decision-making

• State the problem.

• Check the facts.

• Many problems disappear upon closer examination of the situation, while others change radically.

• For example, persons involved, laws, professional codes, other practical constraints

• Identify relevant factors.

• Develop a list of options.

• Be imaginative, try to avoid dilemma

Test the options. Use some of the following tests:

• Harm test: questioning whether a particular alternative creates harm to others.

• Defensibility test: Whether the made choice can be defended before any committee of peers

• Reversibility test: Whether I would want to change my decision

• Colleague test: Getting opinion of collegues.

• Make a choicebased on above steps.

Review above steps and assess whether I would stick to the same decision again etc.
 

Example :-

As a public administrator there might be many instances where one has to look forward for ethical decision making for instance when a widow wants to know why welfare measures are denied to her due to technical issues related to Aadhar. In this case the following steps can be undertaken:

The problem is the lady is being denied the services
Get confirmation whether what she is saying is truth or false
Once facts are checked assess why she has been denied for instance her fingerprints were not recognised etc.
Have a list of multiple options and test them :-
To ensure that she gets the services of the welfare schemes or find out the issues involved in ensuring she gets the services or
Based on the above steps come to the conclusion.