VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC SERVICE

Foundational values are a set of laws, concepts, and beliefs that aid in the appropriate and effective discharge of functions. Values are commonly conceptualized as key components of organizational culture and as instrumental in deciding, leading, and informing behaviour in organizational theory. While the practice, research, and understanding of public administration have all changed dramatically in recent decades, the concept of "public service values" remains central to all elements of government and administration. 


Importance of values in the public service: 

Given the nature of the public sector, identifying which values or sets of values are acceptable for public organizations is difficult, and the lack of research into how values are successfully translated into action exacerbates the problem. Public sector organizations work in situations that are always changing and brimming with competing demands and commitments. Values provide a compass for guiding activities in an uncertain environment that is susceptible to frequent structural and functional change. If the public service's work is not based on or driven by a set of suitable values, it risks losing the faith and respect of those who rely on it - the general public.

Depending on the administrative and political priorities at the time, different emphases on different values may be placed, but adherence to a set of broadly consistent and recognized values is crucial for stability and coherence. Because public managers' values are formed through interactions between self, situation, and society, values must be reexamined and challenged regularly.


Values essential for public service or administration: 

Public authorities must act in a way that proves to the public that they are trustworthy. This requires sustaining essential public safety and well-being objectives. Following mentioned are the important values that every person in public administration should have: 


1. Professionalism: 

Because of the public glare, being a public administrator carries a certain amount of status. As a result, public officials must constantly professionally conduct themselves. Anything they do has the potential to harm their reputation. This is the first basic principle, and it entails wearing decently and treating others equally. Character attributes including accountability, reliability, efficiency, competence, objectivity, and confidence are included in professional values.


2. Ethics: 

Professional values are followed by ethical values. To earn public trust, public officials must act with integrity in whatever they do. Integrity entails being truthful and fair in all interactions, whether with neighbours, friends, or businesses. The public has access to whatever a public administrator does and says. Many public officials have been caught misrepresenting the public or acting unethically, and their careers have been ruined as a result. Integrity and adherence to laws and regulations are required of public officials at all times. They must not take advantage of their position of power. If you want to be a public official, you must be willing to be scrutinized constantly by the public.


3. Transparency: 

In government, transparency involves giving citizens access to information that is considered public. This should be a company goal, and it should be considered when performing any public business, regardless of job designation. If an organization's goal is to provide the greatest possible service to its constituents, avoiding or failing to achieve transparency will have a substantial negative impact on the connection between the organization and the people it seeks to serve.


4. Accountability:

The public employs public administrators, and they are held accountable for their words and deeds. Accountability and dependability are two democratic virtues. Essentially, this is being professional in all aspects of your life and doing what you say you'll do. Public trust cannot be established without accountability. Furthermore, government officials must ensure that the public has access to information by being as transparent as feasible. The purpose of public officials is to serve the public rather than to preserve secrets from them. All decisions must be made in a diplomatic manner and with the best interests of the public in the heart. 


5. Leadership: 

Few organizations in the public sector can thrive without effective leadership. Setting a professional example for employees and holding the motivation to attain corporate goals are both examples of leadership. In order to accomplish so, leaders must be able to recognize individual skills and allow those talents to be used for the benefit of the organization. Leadership, admittedly, can be a delicate balancing act between being an active team member and overseeing overall operations. A leader must maintain contact with employees while also acting in a managerial capacity when necessary.


6. Objectivity:

The final key principle in public administration is objectivity. Respect, equality, and justice are all part of it. Regardless of whether or not someone has money, they must be treated decently. Discrimination exists all around the world, and it is the responsibility of a public administrator to ensure that the laws enacted do not violate anyone's rights. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.


Conclusion: 

It is never acceptable for a public official to disparage someone based on their political, cultural, or religious convictions because this is not professional behaviour. It's fine to have ideas, but this key public administration ethic means that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic standing, should be treated fairly. A good public administrator is shaped by public service values. These fundamental values, on the other hand, are more than just beliefs and ideals; they are motivations that drive behaviour. To achieve public trust, public officials must uphold all of the essential values. If you wish to be a public administrator, you'll need to study them as well.


REFERENCES: 

https://www.ipa.ie/_fileUpload/Documents/CPMR_DP_39_PublicServiceValues.pdf

https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/the-five-core-values-of-public-administration/

http://onlinempa.usfca.edu/resources/news/public-administration-the-4-core-values/

https://tlp.iasbaba.com/2019/08/day-36-q-4-what-are-some-of-the-foundational-values-for-civil-services-why-are-they-called-foundational-explain/



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