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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Two issues of professional conduct featured in this scenario are:Misrepresentation of Data: William’s decision to rely on pre-existing opinion research without informing John or involving him in the process is unethical. Presenting these results as if they were collected through the planned engagement program misrepresents the situation and could lead to misguided decisions.
b. Conflict of Interest: Karen faces a conflict of interest between her desire to maintain a positive office environment and her obligation to provide honest feedback. She feels pressured to avoid criticizing John or the report to maintain workplace harmony, even though she suspects the validity of the data.
The skills used to address ethical considerations in this scenario include:
a. Critical Thinking: Karen demonstrates critical thinking skills by questioning the validity of the engagement report and recognizing the potential risks associated with accepting it without scrutiny. She engages in a thorough analysis of the situation and considers the long-term consequences of different courses of action.
b. Communication: Effective communication skills are evident in Karen and John’s discussion about the problem with the report. They engage in an open dialogue, sharing concerns and exploring potential solutions. Additionally, Karen’s ability to communicate her idea of seeking assistance from a larger firm demonstrates effective communication in implementing ethical decision-making.
c. Problem-solving: Both Karen and John engage in problem-solving skills to address the ethical dilemma. They brainstorm potential solutions, weigh the risks and benefits, and ultimately devise a plan to rectify the situation by seeking external assistance to validate the engagement findings. This proactive approach demonstrates their ability to navigate complex ethical challenges.
Osuji Mirian
May 10,2024@2:26 pm
To me there were communication bridge between William and John but thank God Karen gave in a professional solution to it
In a scenario like this, conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, truthfulness in communication, respecting diversity, adhering to professional standards, and ensuring accountability in decision-making is crucial.
Reflecting on skills used to help bring ethics into decisions who are involved : Critical thinking skills, empathy, communication proficiency, moral reasoning, decision-making abilities, conflict resolution expertise, and a strong ethical foundation, all the aforementioned plays crucial roles in navigating ethical dilemmas and ensuring principled conduct in professional settings.
In the scenario given, there was no question about their expertise in the organization and the subject matter. However, the issue I noticed revolves around:
The issues:
1. Organizational approach to the project – Although it can be said that William knew about the purpose of John’s coming over, it was about the engagement program organized for brainstorming over the project. Yet, he went ahead to carry out the research without John. This has nothing to do with project management methods, in my opinion, William might have done things that way, but that’s not professional.
2. Communication: Initially Karen wasn’t going to discuss with John about the lapse because she was trying to secure her job, but eventually she did
How it was resolved:
1. Professional conduct: When Karen had reservations about John’s report, she didn’t approach it immediately, but eventually did. She knew enough not to rubbish John’s effort but also knew what the report says is a risk to the organizational brand.
Eventually, they put efforts together and solved the issue while carrying others along.
2. communication – They communicate in a detailed and comprehendible manner
3. Teamwork – they pull forces together to get the project done.
Mary Ayo
There is lack of communication and inadequate transparency between Williams and john which created a gap in the team spirit and interest. However, Karen was able to bridge the gap professionally using ethical approach and relentlessly focusing on the goal and not allowing herself to be subjected to lack of confidence being the newbie amongst them.
In this there’s lack of communication and lack of transparency. Williams feels he could carry out the work on his own with out others.
No proper research was made from the beginning and No team work.
But at the long run the issues was pointed out and even though lots of mistakes were already made , John was willing to listen to his partner advice and she helped, that helped too.
Team work is very important in project management
Lack of transparency, communication and team work particularly on the part of William. He seemed comfortable cutting corners. Eventually the problems were resolved through tact, critical thinking and team work.
I) Inadequate communication and transparency: There’s a lack of clear communication and transparency between William and John, leading to potential misunderstandings and inefficiencies in carrying out the project
. II). Over- confidence: Because Williams believed that he is people’s person, he undermined sharing his ideas with his team having felt that his plans were more valid instead of discussing with his team early.
III). Lack of Trust of and Team Spirit- Also William’s initial reaction and point of view to his other project team, especially John showed that the former do not totally trust the latter’s knowledge of the project’s environment. It is also a display of lack of team spirit to the team by John,
iv) Potential conflict of interest: Karen inability to challenge the report because of her worries it might impact John negatively is a demonstration of potential conflict of interest between keeping a positive work environment and ensuring the integrity of results of the project.
Skills Used to Bring Ethics into Decisions:
i) Communication
ii) Critical Thinking
iii) Problem-Solving and ownership Spirit
iv) Ethical Leadership
Familua Adeniyi Cohort 15 , Team 1
They lack the following from the beginning
Lack Transparency:They took a short cut from the beginning
Team spirit:They didn’t carry out the survey together.
Skill used in tackling this problem:
Critical thinking
Effective communication
Research and
Team work
Professional Conduct
• Team Spirit: There was no defined agreement between Wiliam and John on the plan or strategy to execute the project at hand.
• Communication and Transparency Issues: John and William’s differing expectations and communication styles revealed a lack of transparency.
• Conflict of Interest Concerns and Fear of discrimination: Karen’s hesitation to challenge the report due to office dynamics raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest between maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring project success. She was also very scared of being side lined and marginalized as a new employee.
Skills employed to integrate ethical considerations into the decisions:
• Leadership Style and Integrity: John’s leadership style was evident. He knew the report was too perfect to be true and pushed him to seek for honest opinion from Karen. He is also a man integrity and reputation. He was concerned about the reputation of the organization and what their clients thought of them, and this led to addressing the concerns identified in the report and supporting Karen’s initiative to involve external experts and local firms which helped identify previously overlooked hurdles.
• Effective Communication: John and Karen’s open dialogue helped uncover ethical concerns and discrepancies in the report. The Face-to-face communication also helped in uncovering the truth and John was able to read nonverbal cues and pushed for more honest feedback from Karen.
• Analytical Reasoning: Karen’s analysis of the report’s accuracy and potential risks demonstrated her ability to think critically and not accept information unquestionably.
• Problem-Solving: John and Karen show cased their problem-solving skills in addressing the ethical concerns in the report, exploring alternatives like seeking external expertise and opinion of the local folks to uphold the company’s reputation.
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