The Ethics Challenge in Public Service: A Problem-Solving Guide

By Carol W. Lewis and Stuart C. Gilman

Book Overview

Newly revised edition of the classic text for ethics in public service

Since it was first published in 1991, The Ethics Challenge in Public Service has become the classic text on public sector ethics used by public managers and in public administration programs across the country. This essential text features strategies, tactics, analytic tools, and on-the-job cases that have become invaluable for public managers and staff resolving ethical dilemmas. A digital instructor's guide is available that has resources, discussion questions, and slide templates for each chapter.

This thoroughly revised and updated Fourth Edition features a wealth of new material on topics including: The ethics of information (e.g., social networking, Wikileaks, information management, and e-government) The interaction between the branches of government, including expanded coverage of the role of the judiciary Global trends and links with practical concerns of American and international readers Determining the public interest and understanding how members of the public, administrators, and elected officials can work towards achieving this interest The relationship between ethics and accountability in government.

The Ethics Challenge in Public Service is an ideal textbook for foundation courses in public administration as well as for courses in public sector ethics. It also serves as a valuable tool for public managers who work in a world filled with ethical challenges--the grey areas of decision-making rather than those that are black and white.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1394276559
• ISBN13: 9781394276554
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 320 Pages

Customer Reviews

Required Readng for Public Servants

It's tough to be a manager in a public agency. In addition to obeying the law, public servants have an additional ethical obligation to "serve the public interest" and "uphold the public trust". Even the appearance of not serving the public interest is unethical for public servants. Thus, while it could be okay for a manager in a private company to hire relatives and to let employees sleep on the job, it would be unethical for a manager in a public agency to do so. This book was required reading for my graduate course in Ethics for Public Administrators. It should be required reading for every politician, public servant, and citizen, too.