It is now time to review a case study that focuses on ethical behavior.
Access the Open APM’s ethics case study resource provided below to read a scenario concerning ethics in projects.
Can you pinpoint a few instances of professional conduct highlighted in this scenario? Reflect on the skills employed to integrate ethical considerations into the decisions made by the individuals involved. Can you recognize them?
Share your responses in the discussion section below.
After posting your comment, proceed to the next step, where you will find some potential answers provided by APM for these questions.
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Some issues of professional conduct between John, Williams and Karen in the scenario was:
-Poor communication: John didn’t communicate weel with Williams about how he expected the engagement program to be and william didn’t make John fully awear of what was going on.
-Poor team work: The team as a whole didn’t work together to see to it that the project went on as planned.
1. Issues of Professional Conduct:
a)Lack of transparency and communication: John and William seem to have different expectations and approaches regarding how the engagement program should have been conducted and reported. There’s a lack of clear communication and transparency between them, leading to potential misunderstandings and inefficiencies.
b) Potential conflict of interest: Karen expresses concerns about challenging the report because she worries it might reflect poorly on John and affect the office dynamics negatively. This situation highlights a potential conflict of interest between maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring the integrity of project outcomes.
2. Skills Used to Bring Ethics into Decisions:
a) Communication: Effective communication between John and Karen played a crucial role in identifying the ethical concerns regarding the engagement report. Their open dialogue and willingness to discuss potential issues helped uncover discrepancies that needed to be addressed.
b) Critical Thinking: Karen’s critical thinking skills were evident when she questioned the accuracy and thoroughness of the engagement report. She didn’t accept the report at face value but instead analyzed the potential risks and implications of relying on it without scrutiny.
c) Problem-Solving: Both John and Karen engaged in problem-solving to navigate the ethical dilemma. They explored alternative options, such as seeking input from external experts, to ensure that the project’s integrity was maintained despite the initial shortcomings in the report.
d) Ethical Leadership: John demonstrated ethical leadership by acknowledging the need to address the concerns raised about the report’s validity. He also supported Karen’s initiative to involve external expertise, showing a commitment to ethical decision-making and project integrity.
Professional conduct in this scenario
between Williams,John and Karen are:
Lack of team work
Lack of collaboration
Lack of good communication, Lack of coordination.
The skill used to bring ethics back into the decision: Effective communication
Team work
Transparency
Critical thinking
The scenario underscores the critical importance of three elements in project management: valuing contributions, effective communication, and collaboration.In this case, the issues arose primarily from William’s failure to recognize the importance of these elements. Assigned to manage a project alongside the experienced manager, John, William neglected to involve John in key decisions. This oversight led to significant project challenges.
However, when Karen stepped in and communicated with John, valuing his experience and insights, they collaborated using Karen’s proposed solutions combined with John’s feedback. This effective teamwork and communication quickly resolved the project issues.
This example illustrates the powerful impact of valuing each team member’s contribution, maintaining open lines of communication, and fostering collaboration to achieve project success.
Highlighted below are the instances of professional conduct in the APM’s ethics case study scenario:
i) Moral principles and value exist between John and William which led to John accepting William’s point of view of opinion research firm, even when he was not 100% convince.
ii) Also, ethical practice, code of practice and value were seen in the discussion between John and Karem the following week to the reputation of XYZ firm by ensuring the first stage of the project was executed according to the firm’s code of practice; while not discarding William’s point of view.
Skills employed to integrate ethical considerations into the decisions made by the individual involved were:
Communication
Ethics and standards
Knowledge of the regulation environment
Negotiation and
Time management
firstly, with the scenario presented, a few of professional conduct played out
1. lack of team work: The team looked divided and where not working as a team.
2. lack of coordination; There was no coordination between John, Williams and Karen, each of them were doing their own thing.
3. lack of transparency and honesty: Williams went ahead to handle everything all by himself forgetting he wasn’t there alone.
4. Misplaced priorities: John decided to go for sightseeing instead of focusing on the work they were there to do first.
Skills used to help bring ethics into decisions used by the people involved in the scenario
1. critical thinking: Karen was able to think, make research and communicate with people to provide solution to the issue on ground
2. Open to criticism: John was open to criticism and did not see Karen as someone who is not as experienced as him, he had good listening ear.
3. communication: Good communication played out between Karen and John and it helped them to solve the case before them.
Integrity, team work, responsibility principle and public interest are the professional conduct played out in the scenario. Collaborating is a key factor in project management, and a project manager must be willing to collaborate part of which communication is. John adopted communication and ethical skills.
In the scenario presented, a few issues of professional conduct are evident:
Lack of Transparency: The agency overseen by William seems to have conducted the engagement program without informing John, the project manager from XYZ, resulting in a lack of transparency and a communication breakdown between the parties involved.
Potential Conflict of Interest: Karen, a new member at XYZ, faces a dilemma where she hesitates to criticize the engagement report despite her reservations about its accuracy. This situation hints at a potential conflict of interest between maintaining a positive work environment and upholding professional standards.
In terms of skills used to bring ethics into decisions in this scenario, several key skills stand out:
Communication: John’s ability to communicate concerns and engage in open dialogue with Karen demonstrates effective communication skills, which are essential for addressing ethical dilemmas and resolving conflicts.
Critical Thinking: Karen’s critical thinking skills are evident when she questions the accuracy of the engagement report and seeks solutions to address the potential risks associated with it. Critical thinking helps in evaluating information objectively and making informed decisions.
Problem-Solving: The collaborative effort between John and Karen to brainstorm solutions and eventually involve a global firm for an independent review showcases strong problem-solving skills. This skill is crucial in navigating complex ethical challenges and finding viable resolutions.
Ethical Decision-Making: Both John and Karen demonstrate ethical decision-making skills by prioritizing integrity and seeking solutions that align with professional standards, even if it involves challenging the status quo and addressing uncomfortable issues.
Overall, this scenario highlights the importance of transparency, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making skills in navigating ethical dilemmas within project management contexts. These skills play a vital role in upholding professional conduct and fostering a culture of integrity and accountability in organizations.
In this case study there were a few issues of professional conduct that John, William, and Karen faced:
1. Lack of Transparency and Communication:
John was surprised to learn that the engagement program had already been carried out without his knowledge. There was a lack of transparency in communicating the progress and results of the program.
William didn’t share the information with John, which led to confusion and misalignment of expectations.
2. Confirmation Bias and Overconfidence:
Karen reviewed the opinion research and felt that the results were too perfect and aligned with expectations. She feared confirmation bias, where the findings were interpreted to fit preconceived notions.
Overconfidence in the positive results could lead to complacency and overlooking potential risks or challenges.
To address these issues, the following were the skills used:
1. Transparency and Open Communication:
Effective communication, there should be regular updates, progress reports, and sharing of critical information that is essential to the project.
John and William should have communicated openly about the engagement program’s status, findings, and next steps.
2. Critical Thinking and Objectivity:
Karen’s suspicion of overly positive results demonstrates critical thinking. She recognized the need to question the findings and consider potential biases.
Objectivity is crucial when evaluating research or reports. Karen objectively assesses the data, and challenges the status quo.
3. Ethical Decision-Making:
John, William, and Karen collaborate to ensure that decisions align with ethical standards and project goals.
As a team, it’s essential to maintain ethical conduct in professional settings to build trust, maintain credibility, and achieve successful outcomes. Open communication, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making contribute to a positive work environment and effective project management.
Issues of professional conduct could include:
1. **Conflict of Interest**: If a project team member has a personal relationship or financial interest with a supplier, they might prioritize that supplier’s interests over the project’s best interests.
2. **Misrepresentation of Information**: There could be instances where project progress or costs are misrepresented to stakeholders to maintain a positive image or secure additional funding.
Skills used to address these issues might include:
1. **Ethical Decision-Making**: Project team members need to assess situations impartially, considering the ethical implications of their actions and decisions.
2. **Communication**: Open and transparent communication is essential to address conflicts of interest or misrepresentation of information. Team members need to feel comfortable raising concerns and discussing potential ethical dilemmas.
These skills help ensure that ethical considerations are integrated into project decision-making processes, promoting integrity and trust within the project team and with stakeholders.