Ethics

The significance of modern ethical formulations is the power for shaping attitudes and constraining behaviours. Ethics provide for a basic social need by defining the behaviours expected and that will be accepted from one another. Ideally, ethics and integrity allow individuals to live together in harmony.

The field of ethics involves systematizing, articulating, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behaviour.

The purpose of this block of instruction is to build the capacity of public safety organisations’ leaders by equipping them with the necessary education skills and knowledge in ethics to enable them to apply ethical thinking in leading their staff, and communicating with the community using ethical methods.

At the end of this lesson the students will be able to:

1. Define the concept of ethics and integrity.
2. Identify main ethical theories.
3. List characteristics of ethical behaviour/conduct/responsibility.
4. Identify some causes of unethical behaviours.
5. Distinguish characteristics of ethical and unethical leaders.
6. Outline strategies for promoting an ethical climate and culture in the organisations.