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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The scenario highlights the consequences of poor teamwork and communication. John, an experienced project manager, struggled to communicate effectively, leading to a lack of team cooperation. He seemed to defer to Williams, believing it was acceptable since he wasn’t in charge. This was a mistake, as a project manager should always strive for team success.
Williams relied on his network and exposure, neglecting the importance of a structured process, risking the firm’s reputation. Karen noticed the flaw in having results without a proper process or team effort. She questioned the authenticity of the results, valuing her firm’s principles.
Despite her initial hesitation, Karen effectively communicated with John, emphasizing the importance of teamwork to uphold the company’s values. Key skills in this situation included:
1. Communication Skills
2. Leadership Skills
3. Good Planning Techniques
The case study highlights various professional conduct issues, including:
Communication and Transparency: John lacked complete information on local processes and expected a more structured feedback system. William assumed that the local agency’s methods were adequate without fully explaining or justifying them to John. Karen was hesitant to provide critical feedback due to concerns about disrupting team dynamics.
Integrity and Honesty: William’s approach suggested a possible complacency with superficial data collection. Karen initially hesitated to address concerns about the engagement report’s overly optimistic results, which could have misled stakeholders about the project’s viability.
Skills Addressed:
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Karen and John employed critical thinking to evaluate the risks of proceeding with the engagement report and devised a strategy to address potential issues.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Karen proactively sought collaboration with a local firm to enhance the accuracy of the engagement program, demonstrating effective teamwork and resource utilization.
Communication Skills: The scenario underscored the need for open communication, as Karen’s discussion with John about her concerns led to a more productive dialogue on how to move forward.
Adaptability and Resourcefulness: Karen’s willingness to seek alternative solutions showcased her adaptability and resourcefulness in providing a more accurate assessment.
Professional Courage and Accountability: Despite initial reluctance, Karen’s decision to speak up and John’s readiness to re-evaluate the report demonstrated professional courage and accountability, ensuring a thorough and honest evaluation of the project’s engagement phase.
These skills were crucial in making ethical decisions and ensuring a comprehensive and honest evaluation of the project.
Sodiq Salaudeen
Cohort 16
Team 8
Some of the issues of professional conduct featured in this scenario are;
*lack of priority; if John had insisted on work before leisure, William would have allowed him follow due process in engagement and getting the right information to help with the report.
*Absence of team spirit; on the other hand, William should have made a collaborative effort to work together with John
The skills that were used to bring ethics are;
*Effective Communication
*Collaboration
*Leadership and team work
The Scenario depicted here shows what lack of team work , and good communication could result to if not properly managed.
One issue that was present, was John being an experienced project manager, not been able to communicate effectively with his team members, there was no team cooperation or communication..
In my opinion, John felt since he was not in charge of the task, he could give in to whatsoever Williams brings to the table. Which to me is totally wrong.
As an experienced project manager , where ever you find yourself, your duty is to ensure you give it your all to see to the success of the task at hand as a team. So to me he failed in that regard.
Williams on the other hand is pictured as someone that feels with the right network and exposure, you really don’t need to do anything to solve a problem. He fails to understand the Beauty of a Process, the vast reality on its own in carrying out a task from the scratch to the end. This would have led to the reputation of XYz firm being ridiculed and questioned .
Karen on the other hand was able to see the problem having a result without a process or a team effort. Nothing seems to be this perfect and she was able to raise questions on the authenticity of the results.
Even though she was hesitant in communicating her actual thoughts to John, we could see at the end she was able to get through to John. She valued her firm’s values and what they stand on , so even though it felt she approached John casually, she was able to make him see the need to follow through a task as a team so as to uphold the company’s moral principles and values.
So the Skills that were used to help bring ethics includes
1) Communication Skills
2) Leadership skills
3) Good planning techniques
Adewale Bisola M.
Cohort 16 Group 1
There was no effective communication between John and William
karen was able to identify and notify the criticism to John ,while John istened and accepted the feedback and s
Request for assistance from Karen and other team mates.
Karen conduct a good problem solving skill
One of the issues of professional conduct in this case study is presenting an adjusted report. Secondly the representative of the agency feels John does not want to work and the stakeholders engagement is a mere formality.
The skills used in bringing ethics into solution that is used in resolving the issues:
. communication
. collaboration
. Pattern recognition
.conflict resolution using third party and an authority
Odinfe David Chika
Team7
Cohort16
Eze Maryann Adaeze
Cohort 16, Team 1
Project management, the ethical values
often center on the two important variables related to the project that every project manager strives to control: information and funding. These are important assets in achieving project success, but they can also be manipulated to achieve other ends. No matter the project or its priority, funding always seems to be less than what’s needed to do the full job. This leads to constant squabbles between projects and organizations in an effort to stretch the funding to do the most good for the most projects. Opportunities exist at all levels to apply the funding inappropriately, based on personal agendas rather than organizational priorities.
Because most project offices do not actually build anything themselves, you might say their most important product is the information that allows their vendors and support organizations to do the hands-on work. Project offices strive to have the best and most current information on all aspects of their projects, but that information can also be manipulated to achieve other outcomes.
There was no effective communication and transparency between John and William
karen was able to give constructive criticism to John ,while John was listened and accepted the feedback and sort assistance from Karen and other team mates.
Karen displayed good problem solving and analytical skills
Edeh Chibueze Goodluck
Team 3, Cohort 16.
Starting with John’s eagerness to dive into the survey he make to the host location for, it didn’t hamper him in discovering the need to establish a common ground for communication with his local contact William.
On the issue of being provided with a doctored survey report done on assumption, John and teammate Karen were able to identify the problem and predict the risks involved despite not being able to find solutions/counter-measures for the risks.
They exhibited good problem-solving skills as well as communication skills by involving their co-workers to deliberate on the risks and how resolve them.
Karen displayed good research capabilities in discovering a company that could help their team get better survey reports from the locals of the overseas government.
Stephen Izuchukwu Emeasoba.
Cohort 16, Team 9.
1. Lack of proper communication and collaboration between John and William during their initial engagement towards data collection.
2. Lack of Transparency, Honesty and integrity from William on data collection.
3. Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking was demonstrated by Karen in questioning the report of the data collected.
4. Effective communication and Persuasion displayed by Karen to ensure John addresses the issues with the engagement report.
5. Initiative and Problem-Solving displayed by Karen in researching and suggesting to John the involvement of a global firm.
6. Teamwork and Collaboration displayed by John and Karen in resolving the issues.
7. Responsibility and Ethical Leadership displayed by John in accepting and acting upon Karen’s drawbacks.