Leadership & Ethical Decision-Making Flashcards

A city manager is pressured by a council majority to terminate an employee for reasons the manager believes are politically motivated and legally unprotected. The manager should:

Answer: Consult the city attorney, document the request, and refuse if the termination would be unlawful

Legal and ethical obligations require the manager to seek counsel and refuse unlawful directives regardless of political pressure.

Which of the following best describes 'transformational leadership' in a municipal government context?

Answer: Inspiring staff and community stakeholders to pursue a shared vision of organizational change

Transformational leaders motivate followers by articulating an inspiring vision and fostering commitment to collective goals beyond self-interest.

The principle of 'equal treatment under the law' obligates a city manager to:

Answer: Apply policies and services uniformly regardless of residents' political connections or social status

Equal treatment means applying rules, policies, and services consistently without favoritism, a core legal and ethical obligation of public administrators.

A city manager notices that a senior staff member is showing signs of burnout. From an ethical leadership perspective, the most appropriate action is to:

Answer: Have a private, supportive conversation and connect the employee with available resources

Ethical leaders address burnout proactively and compassionately; a private conversation respects dignity while connecting the employee to appropriate support.

When making a major policy recommendation to the council, a city manager who presents only the information that supports the recommended option is violating which ethical principle?

Answer: Transparency and honest communication

Managers are ethically obligated to present complete, balanced information to elected officials so they can make fully informed decisions.

An ethical decision-making framework that asks 'Would I be comfortable if this decision were reported on the front page of the local newspaper?' is known as the:

Answer: Newspaper front-page (or sunshine) test

The newspaper/sunshine test is a quick heuristic that checks whether a decision can withstand full public scrutiny—a practical tool for public managers.

A city manager who builds coalitions across community groups, negotiates with unions, and aligns department directors toward a unified budget priority is primarily demonstrating:

Answer: Political competency and collaborative leadership

Political competency—building relationships and managing competing interests to achieve organizational goals—is a critical leadership skill for effective city managers.