Chapters authored
Perspective Chapter: The Place of Virtue Ethics in Public Service Delivery
Public service delivery at any level refers to the delivery of public good, public safety, and public well-being in ways that are accountable, transparent and ethically defensible. This is done through the process of steering, directing and coordinating the affairs of the state, organization and any constituted body. But quite often, the consequences of this state of affairs is that there is, among other things, a ‘moral deficit’ in the public service delivery process which is suggestive of the dearth of moral excellence, virtue inculcation and discipline among the actors in public service. Based on the literature and in spite of the pursuit of effectiveness and the condemning of unethical behavior by public service managers, scandals still occur and allegations are still made. In this chapter, a brief description is given of some ethical concepts viewed as important in addressing the issue posed. Our approach is based on the concept of public service delivery making indirectly the necessary assertions for good administration. It is also suggestive of the sheer disregard for the character of the moral and political agent which actually provides the basis for appropriate action.
Part of the book: The Future of Public Administration