Choices for the Public Administrator (Essay Sample)

ORNGE SCANDAL: CHOICES FOR THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1. Ornge Case………………………………………………………………………………………………..42. External and Internal Control…………………………………………………………………………………………….43. The Debate……………………………………………………………………………………………..54. Strengthening Internal Control………………………………………………………………………………………….....6 Rerferences………………………………………………………………………………………..7
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EXCUTIVE SUMMARY
Ethics is about moral principles that speak of values related to the conduct of humans, signifying right or wrong actions, bad or good motives, it is about right actions to be taken according to the applied rules of conduct (Meyer and Fox, 1995). Ornge an air ambulance service operating in Ontario (Canada) has witnessed a breach of ethical dealings, as the doctor was found guilty of embezzling service funds. The issue was reported to the media by some staff members on grounds of anonymity. This incident throws light on the weak external and internal control we have over our organizations. Such unethical incidents can be reduced only when control is made stronger. Whistle blowers, training, governmental intervention should be encouraged if incidents such as these are to be tackled. Members of the staff approaching the media on account of anonymity is a proof that whistle blowers don’t feel safe to take action within our organizations, if whistle blowers feel secure than such incidents can be avoided. Training can lead to realization and can bring about a change in unethical activities of the lawbreaker or within the staff members. External control needs to be more encouraged, because external control is not within the influencing power of the administrators. As we have seen in this case that the staff members were not complaining for long and when a choice was made to report the mismanagement it was done under secrecy. External control cannot come under such influence and such incidents can’t continue for long under their control.
1 ORNGE CASE
In the year of 2011, Ontario found itself facing a huge corruption scandal. A scandal in the medical department and by the CEO of the ambulance services, being involved. Dr. Chris Mazza was found embezzling funds from the company. a report by Donovan (2011) reported, the Doctors was earning much more than what he was supposed to according to the sunshine list. Further a report by CBC News (2012 & 2014) revealed further financial irregularities and commission illegally being charged by the CEO. The debate of the scandal is whether external control or internal control would be more effective if applied.
2 External and Internal controls
The external control is the legislations and rules set by the government to maintain ethical issues in public sectors as well as private sectors. This external control includes institutional controls, political control and auditing. Internal control is the control within an organization (Cooper Chapter 6), This includes the administrators, managers and other heads of the firm. In external control there is another form that is known as the Code of ethics (Cooper Chapter 6). These codes of ethics are professional organizations that impose human values and legal action to unethical conduct by administrators. These human values need to be recognized in public sectors as well (Marias, 1979). Ethical conduct within the code ethics is rather broad compared to the specific legislations. External control can have a greater influence on such corrupt and unethical cases. As we read the case we realize that internal control can come under pressure by their superiors, as they could find themselves jobless (Dworkin and Near; Miceli, 2008). But the external control cannot come under such pressure and if the external control was stronger in this case the corrupt behavior of the doctor would not have continued for as long as it did. It is very much clear that the internal control was aware of what was happening, but still chose to keep silent, surely for personal reasons. Williams (1980) points out that every public administrator needs to show respect and trust in the legislation. But the weakness of the internal control is evident as the person that passed the information to media had asked to be kept in anonymity. This is a clear sign that the complainer felt insecure and wanted to protect himself from any unwanted risks. Henry (1975) points out that pressure on public administrators can restrict them from taking required action.
3 The Debate
According to me the external control can exercise higher amount of control and can help reduce such incidents from happening. The reason for me to believe this, is because the external control is an organization that is out of the control of any sector and since it does not exercise any power over the external cont...