| Abstract [eng] |
This Master’s thesis analyses the development and implementation of codes of ethics in public sector organizations. The aim of the research is to examine the theoretical and practical aspects of the development and implementation of codes of ethics in public sector organizations by identifying the main problems and areas requiring improvement. The objectives are the following: to reveal the theoretical foundations of organizational ethics; to identify the legal and organizational aspects of the development and implementation of codes of ethics; to analyse the codes of ethics of municipal administrations in Šiauliai County; and, based on empirical research results, to identify the problems related to the development and implementation of codes of ethics and to propose directions for their improvement. In order to achieve the research aim and objectives, the following research methods were applied: scientific literature analysis, analysis of documents and the legal framework, and a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. The first part of the thesis analyses the concept of organizational ethics, the role of codes of ethics in public sector organizations, and the theoretical aspects of the development and implementation of codes of ethics. It was established that ethics development in the public sector is perceived as a purposeful process oriented towards the consolidation of organizational values and the formation of employee behaviour standards. The scientific literature emphasizes the importance of managerial conduct, consistent communication, and employee involvement in enhancing the effectiveness of codes of ethics. The second part of the thesis presents the research methodology, discusses the criteria for document analysis and the principles of conducting semi-structured interviews, and describes the organization of the research and the process of data analysis. The third part of the thesis presents the results of the analysis of the codes of ethics of municipal administrations in Šiauliai County and the empirical research findings. It was established that the codes of ethics have a similar structure, while differing in the development of value-based and educational provisions. The interview results revealed that the application of the code of ethics in everyday activities is fragmented and is mainly associated with compliance with normative requirements, while in ethical situations employees more often rely on explanations provided by managers. It was also revealed that the implementation of codes of ethics is limited by abstract provisions, lack of information, and insufficient communication within organizations. |
