Public administrators play a vital role in securing the interest of the civil society through the state agencies. In essence, the administrators are sometimes caught at crossroads of how to formulate and execute a good policy in an environment where citizens desire minimal or reduced government intervention, while maintaining good quality services (Rosenbloom, et al., 2009). In this light, this paper will give an example of an ethical dilemma that can face a public administrator. In addition, using the "ethical triangle,” the paper aims at pointing out the trade-offs made at each point of the triangle.
Dilemmas are really life experiences. Therefore, they can be best illustrated by examples. Consider the following: Jared a manager in a micro finance firm in the states of Illinois. Jared works closely with the human resource and the hiring managers as part of the recruitment board; to recruit new labor force and dismiss those who fail to deliver up to standard. He (Jared) is in an influential position in the firm and oversees all its operation. He has recently realized a lot of work piling and recommended additional labor to speedup service delivery. Being a junior position, he would prefer a fresh graduate for this position so as to build up a fresh leaf of labor force. Important to mention, he needs to hire a candidate with expertise necessary to deal with the busy banking services and the workload pressure of the vibrant market. He has two candidates for the position, one fresh graduate and an experienced middle aged prospective employee. Mr. Jared and his board are through with the first round of interviewing and they have observed that the fresh graduate candidate is qualified; however, the older candidate is more experienced and brings on board stronger credential; however request for higher pay and the sustainability and balanced age set forms a formidable challenge against him. What should Jared and team do?
Essentially, Jared’s dilemma can be simplified using three related approaches developed by James Svara: principle, consequence, and virtue. Each of the approach is led by a question, as it will be discussed below. Otherwise, the three elements encompass the “ethical triangle” (Rosenbloom, et al., 2009).
Consequence approach
What will happen if the older, more experienced personnel is employed other than the fresh graduate candidate? Clearly, Jared believes that if he hires the experinced candidate, the organization is bound to work better, he will feel more comfortable in an environment that has competent employees, and, in essence, it will benefit many people, organization, and profession. While on the other hand, he believes that employing the young tact will help a great deal too in creating sustauinability and fresh knowledge at a lower pay. To be profound, Jared should hire the experienced employee because he is more qualified and possibly will benefit the organization to a greater extend.
Principle approach
This approach implies that it is possible to predetermine who among the candidate will most benefit the organization. The approach asks: what are the available rules for an administrator to be used in such a case? The most applicable rule is to hire the most qualified candidate. It is unfortunate that the young inexperinced candidate may not be employed but, it is fair to hire the experienced employee because he has earned that right.
Virtue approach
The primary question in this approach is- who is the other? Is it the young applicant? If so, you will hire him because he wants to be hired to prove himself. Secondly, is it the more qualified candidate? If so, you will hire him because he wants to be hired and he is the most qualified. If the process is looking for the most qualified, which should be the case, the older candidate is the most suitable to fill the open position.
In applying these three approaches, Jared’s dilemma has not become suddenly easy to solve. However, she has been able analyze the dilemma beforehand. The perspective gained from looking at each of the three approaches contributes to the success of this approach in solving ethical dilemma.
Reference
Rosenbloom, D. H., Kravchuk, R., & Clerkin, R. (2009). Public administration: Understanding management, politics, and law in the public sector (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
