CPM Public Sector Leadership & Ethics 3

Question 1

A city department head learns that a vendor who just won a large contract donated to the mayor's reelection campaign. The most ethical response is to:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the relationship to the ethics officer and request an independent review

Answer

Even when procurement rules were followed, potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed and independently reviewed to protect integrity.

Question 2

Which model of ethical decision-making asks managers to test a decision by imagining how it would appear on the front page of a newspaper?

Accepted Answer

The newspaper front-page test

Answer

The newspaper front-page test is a practical heuristic that asks whether a decision could withstand public scrutiny if reported by the press.

Question 3

In the context of public sector leadership, 'upward communication' is important primarily because it:

Accepted Answer

Gives leadership accurate information about operational realities and staff concerns

Answer

Upward communication channels ensure leaders receive unfiltered feedback from the field, improving decision quality and organizational health.

Question 4

A public manager faces pressure from a city council member to hire a specific applicant for a vacant position. The manager should:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate the applicant through the standard merit-based process and document all interactions

Answer

Merit principles require fair evaluation; the manager should document political pressure and proceed with a standard, defensible process.

Question 5

Which leadership competency involves understanding one's own emotions and how they influence behavior and decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Self-awareness

Answer

Self-awareness, a core component of emotional intelligence, is the ability to recognize one's own emotions and their effect on others.

(CPM) Certified Public Manager Practice Test

(CPM) Certified Public Manager Practice Test

CPM Public Sector Leadership & Ethics 3