INSTITUTIONALISING ETHICS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC SECTOR

Abstract

This article, explores strategies and mechanisms for institutionalizing ethics to instill ethical values, accountability and integrity in the South African public sector. It examines institutionalization through the theoretical lenses of neo-institutional theory and applies social constructivist thinking to explain how an ethical culture can embed and get institutionalized in the public sector. It is the contention of this paper that, influences on ethical choices manifest within the context of a robust deconstruction of meanings and messages embedded in institutional culture settings and organizational structural arrangements. Neo-institutionalism as a theoretical framework unravels, why and how organizations adopt processes and structures for their meaning rather than their productive value. From this perspective, the paper argues that ethical compliance strategies still fall short of institutionalizing ethics. Institutional messages and communication it argues, replicate and diffuse institutional logics. Organizational symbolism also fits within the overall rubric of organisational culture. Thus, the article argues that institutionalizing ethics in the public sector, has to revolve around stewardship and servant leadership for building and maintaining high levels of stewardship-based trust. Ethics education and training are therefore critical elements of the institutionalization of ethical values. The paper thus contributes to the sustaining of the gains of good governance. The institutionalization of ethics within the public service it is argued is predicated on a robust organizational architecture and culture embedded in underlying public administration and public service values and principles.