Ethical Influences of E-Government Website Development

Abstract

Complementary and competing values of political, legal and public interest issues define administrative ethical decision-making in public organizations. Organizational values create an ethical climate that prescribes acceptable ethical norms of behavior. The relationship between technology and administrative governance can influence and shift organizational values that affect the ethical climate in public organizations. This theoretical inquiry considers how web based and Internet technology can result in value shifts in power distribution, social equity and persuasiveness of citizens as government web sites are forged. Discussions of these value shifts suggest ethical considerations in decisions by public managers that focus on building an ethical climate to support democratic governance goals.