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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William’s report was too good to be true. It’s possible his report was not ethically created.
John and Karen saw through this and decided to carry out a research that’d reveal the real problems the project might encounter.
The skills I identified in this case study are: integrity, honesty (Karen was honest in her feedback), knowledge of regulatory environment, anticipating issues that may arise.
In these scenario the professional conduct employed include but not limited to:
1) engaging in program with key stakeholders
2) engaging the locals to get their own opinion
3) Analyzing the for and against, and coming up with best and save response.
These was achieved by
– effective communication
– Collaboration and
– Team work
Issues of professional conduct in this scenario include:
1. Lack of transparency: Williams had other strategy he adopted for the project which he failed to share initially with the others.
2. Lack of effective communication: There was a clear communication gap between the three and this reflected in the project.
3,. Lack of team spirit and coordination: There was no agreement on the way they were to work, everyone had various ideas without any common ground.
Skills used to bring ethics into decision include :
1. Effective communication
2. Critical thinking.
3. Research and networking skills.
4. Ability to work together as a team.
Can you identify a couple of issues of professional conduct featured in this scenario?
Yes. There was a case of ethical misconduct. William used an organisation that favoured their interest to get the needed feedback for the project.
Reflect on what skills were used to help bring ethics into decisions used by the people involved in this scenario. Can you identify them?
Yes.
The skills used were communication skills.
Evaluating stakeholders
Identifying stakeholders.
Based on the case study the scenario which I saw here was:
1) Lack of Transparency – William was not transparent with John about the engagement and reports, which made John to look incompetent.
2) Fear – Karen acted as if she was afraid of challenging the report and findings about the project John brought which could hinder the success of the project.
3) Communication – John was not willing to communicate with Karen at first about the report of the project.
Skills used to bring ethics into decision.
1) Communication – Karen knew something was wrong with the report and had to find a way to communicate with John.
2) Professionalism- Both John and Karen had to come up with a solution so the project would be successful.
3) Leadership – John was able to listen to Karen and other experts decisions to ensure the success of the project.
The scenario which played out exposed the ill-effects of disunity, unprofessionalism and mis-communication which are quite very essential in Project Management.
1. Issues of Professional Conduct:
• Lack of Transparency and Communication: John and William’s differing expectations and approaches highlight a lack of clear communication and transparency. This led to misunderstandings and inefficiencies on both sides in the task being assigned to them .
•Potential Conflict of Interest: Karen’s reluctance to challenge the report due to concerns about office dynamics highlights a potential conflict of interest between maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring project success .
2. Skills Used to Bring Ethics into Decisions:
• Communication: John and Karen’s effective communication helped identify ethical concerns. Their open dialogue uncovered discrepancies in the report.
• Critical Thinking: Karen’s critical thinking was evident when she questioned the report’s accuracy and implications. She analyzed potential risks instead of accepting the report blindly.
• Problem-Solving: Both John and Karen engaged in problem-solving measures to address the ethical dilemma. They explored alternatives, such as seeking external expertise, to maintain their good reputation.
• Leadership: John demonstrated leadership qualities by addressing concerns about the report’s validity and supporting Karen’s initiative to involve external experts.
Issues of professional conduct
* Communication – this was not mutual as there was communication gap among them
* Team spirit – there was no agreement on what the plan was
* Transparency -Kare was not transparent enough because she doesn’t want an issue in the company and she doesn’t want John to feel bad
* Over confidence – Williams felt he is the people’s person so he felt his plans were more valid instead of sharing ideas with his team and resolving on an agreed plan.
Skills
* Professionalism – Karen was professional enough to have a discussion with John and ironed the issue
* Transparency – Karen was able to tell John what she felt about his idea
* Project mapping – they were able to map out the risks of the project.
* Brainwave – Karen was wise enough to get more findings about the project.
*Negotiation – they were able to negotiate with a bigger firm.
* Time management – they were able to manage their time effectively within the course of the project.
1. Teamwork with Karen and John to address the issues identified in the report.
2. Critical thinking employed by Karen.
3. Networking and collaboration.
Some issues of Professional Conduct identified
-Deceit (Lack of objectivity)
– Honesty
– Credibility
– Professionalism
– Integrity
Skills employed to integrate ethical considerations into the decisions made by the individual involved were:
– Critical Thinking skills
– Risk Mapping skill
– Problem Solving skill
– Networking skill
– Negotiation skill
The major issue notice between the three parties is lack of poor communication.
John seem not be fully concern about the project to william discretion so he took it upon himself to clear it. Karen’s seems not to open up due to her position in the firm.
On the long run, they were able to clear out the table with Karen’s intelligence which was fueled by her desire of the firm’s reputation. Although, they were not able to meet the requirements but saved the project and kept the relationship the firm involved.