Ethics, integrity and aptitude

A state-of-the-art technology product is to be launched by a leading company on a widely advertised date, simultaneously at different locations in the country, for the first time. There is fantastic customer response and heavy bookings for the product. A big event is planned in Pune for the launch to which a large number of dignitaries, customers and media have been invited, thus ensuring extensive press coverage. The manager's career hinges on the success of the event and the launch. Three days before the scheduled launch date, the manager's deputy tells him that the trucks transporting the product have been detained at the octroi post outside Pune, ostensibly for want of some documents, and the octroi inspector is demanding a bribe for clearance of the consignment. "Should we pay the bribe?" the deputy manager asks the manager. What should the manager do? Discuss the course of action he can take. Keep in mind, that this is not an isolated incident. These kinds of things happen a lot in the country where a bribe is demanded for "quick solutions". Discuss an approach which can be followed in such situations.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government

You have just been appointed as a director of the city municipal corporation. A joint director, much senior to you in age and about to retire in six months, is passionately working on a very important urban planning project, successful completion of which would earn him a lasting reputation for the rest of his retired life. A new lady Civil Engineer has joined the corporation, having background from a leading premier institution in this field. This has made the Joint Director (JD) so insecure that he constantly fears that she would take all the credit. He has adopted a passive aggressive behavior towards her and is disrespectful in his communication to her. The lady engineer feels embarrassed when the Joint Director corrects her in front of other employees, raises his voice when speaking to her and leaves no chance to humiliate her. She may also be intimidated by him since he has had a long tenure in the office, has directly related experience in the functional area that she is working in, and was also favored by the previous Director. She may be feeling that she has no recourse in the matter. You are well aware of her outstanding academic and career record in previous organizations but fear this one sided ego clash from the side of the Joint Director would seriously compromise her much needed contribution in this important project and also, her emotional well-being. Latest, you come to know that she is planning to resign. How will you handle this situation?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Work CultureCivil Service Values

Answer the following in about 150 words each 2 x 10 = 20 (a) Probity in public life is the key to stability and growth of India. Examine.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Probity in GovernanceCorruption

Administrative corruption is rooted in administrative as well as non-administrative sources. Explain.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

CorruptionProbity in Governance

In a state in India, government officials are regularly denying poor, illiterate workers, their statutory minimum wage under a government scheme ensuring a minimum level of employment for them. The actual quantity of work done is being routinely under measured. False entries in employment registers with bogus names, is enabling project foremen to pocket the payments. Other malpractices including inflated estimates for public works projects, use of poor quality materials, and over billing by suppliers are being followed. What can be done to resolve this problem? List the measures that can be taken to plug such loopholes.

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Probity in GovernanceCorruption

Does emotional intelligence have anything to offer in the conventional environment of formality, order, and firm bureaucracy?

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Emotional IntelligenceCivil Service Values

Answer the following in about 200 words each 3 x 15 = 45 (a) Discuss the common motivating and de-motivating factors in development of a positive attitude within an organization.

15 marks · 200 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

AttitudeWork Culture

Listed below are few qualities which a public servant should possess. Justify their relevance in public life and explain how they are necessary for ethical governance?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Civil Service ValuesProbity in Governance

What are the internal and external factors that can help the Citizen's Charter to have a significant impact?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Citizens ChartersQuality of Service Delivery

Can you think of some effective persuasion techniques that could influence others by using their values, priorities and contextual demands? Elaborate with examples.

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Social Influence and PersuasionAttitude

Consider that you are working in an organization. The Chairman of the organization has made it a practice even in good times to have his senior executives fire ten percent of their subordinates once every three years, and those at lower levels to do the same. "It's all about performance. Some think that it's cruel or brutal to remove the bottom 10 percent of our people. It isn't. It's just the opposite. What I think is brutal and false kindness is keeping people around who aren't going to grow and prosper", argues the Chairman. Do you agree with his views? Substantiate.

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

Read the following case studies and answer accordingly with proper justifications. Answer should not exceed 250 words each 4 x 20 = 80 (a) You and Romi are the respective in-charge of two subunits in a government organization, with both working under the General Manager Thakur Seth. Your organization contracts out work to two private sector firms: Shreya Services and Aziz Services. Both of them are fully competent and have done good work. Both you and Romi have encouraged Thakur Seth to spread the work between these two contractors equitably to create some beneficial competition. But over the last 3 years, only Shreya Services has received the larger contracts, which transcends the level of your subunits and thus are out of your purview. Thakur Seth insists that Shreya Services has done fine work and there is no need to change. He talks about continuity and proven performance, and argues that stability serves the good of the department by reducing transaction costs and thereby increasing efficiency. You and Romi have argued for including Aziz Services in the major contracts, not only because it does good work but because it is a smaller firm that needs government contracts to get well established. You believe that a combination of equally excellent performance and compensatory justice for smaller firms that are struggling to compete, make Aziz Services even more deserving of a share in the big contracts. However, Thakur Seth is not willing to budge from his seemingly unreasonable position. Aziz Services being a firm held by the minority community, you and Romi discuss the possibility that Thakur Seth may be biased in consistently rejecting Aziz Services out of hand for the bigger contracts. The two of you try to find out an alternative explanation for Thakur Seth's conduct, but it is difficult not to interpret his actions as being motivated on communal grounds. Design an approach to address this serious problem of apparent inequity and perhaps communal bias. Keep in mind that this is not just an isolated incident; it represents a pattern of practice with potentially serious consequences for the organization and the contractors and implications for cultural norms of the organization. List the steps that you would take to address the problem.

80 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

Answer the following in about 250 words each 3 x 20 = 60 (a) Two systems of thought have mainly been debated by thinkers on the idea of morality of actions. One system argues that the means are of paramount importance and with means all right, the ends will surely come. On the other hand, other system believes that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is more appropriate for administrative setup/government in India? Give reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEthical Theories

Mr. X is the engineering manager for the County Road Commission (CRC), with the primary responsibility for county road safety. Along a given stretch of the road, many people have died over the course of last 5 years by crashing into roadside trees. Many other accidents have also occurred. Two law suits had been filed regarding the unsafe segment of the road, but were dismissed because the drivers were exceeding the 45 mph speed limit. Mr. X recommends that the road be widened, cutting down a large number of trees in the process. This leads to a protest by environmental groups and they file a petition to save the trees; and instead educate people about following the road safety rules like speed limit etc. The public sentiment is divided on the issue with no sight of a wide consensus. Discuss how Mr. X should proceed at this point.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEnvironmental Ethics

Read the following case studies and answer accordingly with proper justifications. Answer should not exceed 200 words each 3x15=45 (a) A junior member of staff has just returned to work after taking special leave to care for her elderly mother. For financial reasons she needs to work full-time. She has been having difficulties arranging proper care for her mother, which has led her to miss important team meetings (usually taking place at the beginning of each day) and to leave the office early. She is very competent in her work but her absence is putting pressure on her as well as her overworked colleagues. You being her manager are aware that the flow of work is coming under pressure due to this. One of her male colleagues is beginning to make comments such as "a woman's place is in the home", and is undermining her at every opportunity, putting her under even greater stress. How will you deal with the situation?

15 marks · 200 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2013

Work CultureEthical Dilemmas in Government