“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to
ruin it.”
–Warren Buffett
Ethics is what one ought to do–the kind of behaviors that would
make the world a better place, especially if everyone engaged in
them.
The key question is: how does the conscientious public servant
sort through competing considerations and determine “the right
thing to do?” When it comes serving the public, how does one put
one’s values into practice?
The “front page” test is analytically useful because it
encourages a public official to think about how his or her
actions might look to the outside world.
What tools and techniques are available to local officials to
promote a culture of ethics in their agency?
After explaining key concepts of public service ethics, this
booklet offers a variety of concrete steps public sector
leaders can take to promote ethics throughout their organization.
