GS4 — Module 4
Administrative Dilemmas
Political pressure · Public vs private interest · Whistleblowing · Crisis decision-making
Back to Ethics
The four pillars of this module
The hardest dilemmas civil servants face — and the tools to navigate them
Political Pressure
How elected officials can cross the line from policy direction to illegal instruction — and how a civil servant navigates this without destroying their career or their integrity.
Public vs Private Interest
The foundational tension in governance: decisions that benefit a private party at the cost of the public. Probity means being able to identify and resist this — even when the private beneficiary is powerful.
Whistleblowing in Governance
When institutional channels fail, the officer who speaks up becomes the last line of accountability. Real cases, legal protection, and the ethical calculus of going public.
Crisis Decision-Making
Time pressure, incomplete information, and high stakes define a crisis. Ethical anchors — principles internalised before the crisis — are what keep decisions sound when everything else is uncertain.
Why administrative dilemmas are GS4's hardest questions
No clean answer
Every option has a cost. The examiner wants to see you name the cost honestly and justify your choice.
Real-life stakes
These dilemmas are taken from real events. Examiners expect institutional knowledge, not abstract theory.
Tests your character
How you resolve a dilemma reveals your values more than any theory answer. Write as if you are actually in the room.