Course Description

Course Exam

Course Outline

To deal with transparency ethics, you need to find the answers to these and other questions:

This course does not deal with legal issues, which generally have 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 your definition?

What is Managerial Transparency?

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?

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? 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.

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 Library

Explore your concerns in ethics at three of the following sites:

Exam