2015 · GS Paper 4 · Q1(b)(ii) · 2 marks
Differentiate between the following: Ethical management and Management of ethics
In short
Ethical management means running an organisation ethically in its actual decisions, while management of ethics means the codes, audits and vigil mechanisms that institutionalise ethics. Enron's collapse in 2001 despite a detailed code of ethics shows that structure without ethical conduct fails.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 292 words
Ethical management
It means managerial decisions that meet ethical expectations beyond profit and law, as when Taj hotel staff put guests' lives first during the 26/11 attacks (2008).
Management of ethics
It means the structures that institutionalise ethics, such as codes, ethics officers, training, audits and the vigil mechanism required under Section 177 of the Companies Act 2013.
Substance versus structure
Ethical management is what the organisation actually does; management of ethics is the machinery meant to make it behave well.
Form without substance
Enron had a detailed code of ethics yet collapsed through fraud in 2001, a case of the Procedural Compliance Fallacy, rules followed in form without ethical intent.
Substance without structure
Integrity resting on one leader fades when the leader leaves, so the Central Vigilance Commission's preventive vigilance and the Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2014 try to institutionalise it.
Means and end
Management of ethics is the means and ethical management the end; codes work only when leaders model them.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.