Acting ethically – (PM Course Discussion)

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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Acting ethically – (PM Course Discussion)

2,609 thoughts on “Acting ethically – (PM Course Discussion)

  1. I think the issues here is lack communication, Mr Williams lack communication because he was not carrying the team members along which is not good skill while carrying out a project..
    Secondly there was no cooperation among them and leadership skill.
    Skill to develop, effective communication, collaboration.

  2. Issues of Professional Conduct:

    1. Lack of Initial Engagement:
    – John expected to organize and implement an engagement program, but William informed him that it had already been conducted by an opinion research firm. This deviation from the planned approach could undermine the quality and reliability of the feedback.

    2. Questionable Data Integrity:
    – Karen noticed that the engagement report appeared “too fine,” raising concerns about the accuracy and validity of the feedback gathered. This suggests potential issues with data integrity and the methods used to obtain the information.

    Skills Used to Bring Ethics into Decisions:

    1. Critical Thinking:
    – Karen demonstrated critical thinking by questioning the validity of the engagement report. Her concerns about the “too perfect” results showed her ability to analyze information critically and identify potential issues.

    2. Effective Communication:
    – John and Karen engaged in open and honest communication. When John sought Karen’s honest opinion about the report, they spent time discussing the problem and potential solutions. This open dialogue helped them address ethical concerns and make informed decisions.

    3. Risk Assessment:
    – John and Karen conducted a thorough risk assessment by mapping out the potential consequences of accepting the report as it stood versus challenging it. This helped them understand the implications of their decisions and choose a course of action that minimized risks.

    4. Problem-Solving:
    – Karen’s initiative to research and identify a global firm that could review the local firm’s work demonstrated problem-solving skills. Her proactive approach helped uncover issues and ensure that the engagement results were accurate and reliable.

    5. Ethical Consideration:
    – Both John and Karen were concerned about the ethical implications of running with potentially flawed data. Their decision to address the problem rather than ignore it showed a commitment to ethical principles and maintaining the firm’s reputation.

    Summary for Discussion Section:

    In this scenario, several issues of professional conduct are evident, including the lack of initial engagement and concerns about data integrity. Critical thinking, effective communication, risk assessment, problem-solving, and ethical consideration were key skills used to address these issues. By questioning the validity of the engagement report and proactively seeking a solution, John and Karen demonstrated their commitment to ethical decision-making and maintaining the firm’s reputation.

  3. The xyz is a new company and it’s reputation and brand as early as it is a should have been protected. Willam was not ethical in his work by not carrying out a thorough research with the locals on a project affecting them directly which could eventually lead to problems with the project.
    John and Karen save the situation by using a key project management skill which is communication. Their communicating their doubts and also communication with other colleagues on how to solve the situation helped save the project . They dealed with issue ethically, Maintaining and protecting the company’s reputation.

  4. the main thing the team lacked was communication, Mr Williams could have communicated his lead and research so they will all be on the same page, Mr john wasn’t paying so much attention to details, and the lady was reluctant to speak which almost cost them the project but in the end, they had proper discussion and sorted it all out

  5. Mr Williams lacks communication and team work in the survey. For every project communicating your ideas and findings with other team members is very crucial for the success of the project.
    Mr John on the other hand lack paying attention to detail if not he would sense Mr Wallliams wills to exonerate other team members from his findings.
    Miss Karen acted more professional despite the fact that she is new in the company she never allow that to stop her from giving her honest review and mapping out ways to get the project done even though they still carry Mr Williams along. In all working together as team is one of the best way to get things done faster and better. Never act like an hero or Island when working on a project, you must put the integrity of the company at heart by communicating, collaborating, researching and arriving at a safe point for the betterment of the organization.

  6. Hello everyone

    In day 6 of identifying the problems from the case study
    I think communication was the problem with williams, he could have conveyed his plan and update beforehand to keep John on board
    I think another issue with John was not being aware of his new environment overseas, if not he could have caught up with the attitude beforehand

    Cheers 🥂

  7. They all had their individual value’s and tried dominating it to become the organisational value. It took the Holistic view of Karen to be able to merge John and William view point together; But they were all concerned about the Project Success.

    Skills employed to integrate the ideas were:
    📌 Communication
    📌 Research
    📌 Leadership
    📌 Collaboration
    📌 Teamwork

  8. Communication was lacking, there was no solid plan on ground but after sharing an honest opinion things were sorted out. Also, a plan was later mapped out.

  9. Every project has its unique issues, in the case study :
    Mr john a seasoned project manager, but lacked a good communication skill, after planning with the team on what to do on reaching their destination he did otherwise and left his colleagues in the dark.
    While Mr Williams also the did not follow the project plan of meeting and talking with stakeholders instead got a result on how they should act from studies from past project, which was unprofessional, he also lacked communication skill because he did not informed the team of such an idea at the beginning.
    Miss karen is a young enthusiastic project manager who also lack an effective communication and negotiation skill, in her inability to relate her position with her superiors
    The solution to the case study are :
    1. Retrain the project managers bringing into consideration the skills that make for a good project manager especially communication.
    2. Have a proper organization chart showing the order of decision making.
    3. Bringing to there notice the ethics of the company so no body acts unprofessional.
    4. Teaching them to put personal differences aside and work together for the good of the company.

  10. From the case study, at first communication skills was lacking which led to some difficulties in the projects.
    Mr. John and Miss Karen was not able to communicate very well with Mr. Williams, so as a good Project Manager no matter how nice the project reviews may be, it is expected you sit with your team members and talk things out, look into the risks factor and other things that need close attention.

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