RETRENCHMENT IN A

MUNICIPALITY

GROUP SEVEN
 Case Content
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 Overview of the case

 Claims on me.

 Ethical issues raised and their effects.

 How to resolve the issues raised by applying ethical

theories.

 Conclusion.
 OVERVIEW
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 As a personal director of Group 7 Municipality, I learn at a top-level staff meeting that the
municipality’s retrenchment plan calls for reorganization and cuts in managerial staff.

 The tentative blueprint has the city’s Department of Community Services absorbing the
small elderly services unit, whose programme director, a close family friend, is shared for
termination.

 The city manager, whose judgement I respect, mentions that the program director’s poor
performance and as the meeting adjourns reminds everyone that the discussion is
confidential as usual.

 As I leave, I remember that my friend is about to make a substantial down payment on a

new home.
 Question
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 What should I do?

 Claims on me
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 As a personal director.
 There is a claim on me to help the organization to build a
formidable human resource base who will help make the
municipality perform efficiently. (Profession and professionalism,
Waldo’s 6th Claim)

 It is also my responsibility to respect the organizations policy to

keep minutes of meetings as confidential. (organization-
bureaucratic norms, Waldo’s 5th Claim)

 Ethically, it is my fiducially duty to act fairly in the

implementation of all the municipality’s decisions . (Agency,
Lewis’ 4th Claim)
 Claims on me
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 As a family friend
 There is also the claim on me to help a friend or relation who
happen to find himself/herself in trouble or about to enter into
trouble. (Family and friends, Waldo’s 7th Claim)

 I also have the duty to protect my job, i.e. Not to engage myself in
any act that will go contrary to the norm of my work and get
myself fired. (Self, Waldo’s 8th Claim)
 Ethical Issues Raised And Their Effects
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 It will be unfair on my part not to tell my family friend anything and

watch him make a down payment for the new house, knowing that
he will not be in the position to pay for the rest. The effect is that he
will end up loosing his job and funds as well.

 It will also be unethical on my part if I try to shield people who are

found to have some short comings irrespective of my relationship
with them. This will impair my fairness and objectivity in dealing
with issues of the organization.

 It will again be unethical to indulging in revealing matters discussed

at a meeting to my friend who is not privy to such information. This
can possibly propel my friend to confront the city manager.
 Ethical Issues Raised And Their Effects
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 Any attempt on my part to influence the rules and or decision

making procedure to favour my family friend will be unethical.
Position Taken And Reasons For Taking
Such Position
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