Best practices for ethical improvements in local government

Unethical behavior by public employees erodes trust and threatens organizational efficiency. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to develop a better understanding of how internal and external influences affect the ability of administrators to achieve ethical improvements in county government. This research is important because it can be used to improve ethical practices in county governments as well as other industries. The study was based on ethics, public administration, and accountability theories. Research questions addressed the effect of internal and external influences on administrators' actions, how administrators identify and correct ethical problems in their organizations, and how ethical improvements in six key areas affect accountability to stakeholders. Data collection was based on in-depth, semi structured interviews using open-ended questions. A purposive sample of administrators in county government participated in interviews. Interview data were electronically recorded and transcribed. Key findings from the study include:;• An administrator's personal values influence his/her ethical behavior to a greater extent than external factors such as budget or stakeholder pressures. • Formal codes, policies, and procedures are necessary but not sufficient to prevent ethical violations. • Penalties for ethical violations must be applied consistently in order to have more of an effect on ethical behavior. • When ethical violations occur, they can be identified and resolved more effectively when expectations for behavior set by the administrator are clear and mechanisms are in place to fairly resolve them. These mechanisms may or may not include a permanent ethics body.