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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Issue identified: lack of effective communication and working as a team.
Working as a team and effective communication is crucial to how a project will be successful.
Although Williams conducted a research and his research can be seen as being good but he forgot that effective communication with his team members can provide him with eagle eyes to see the weaknesses.
There was initially a communication gap between all three members of the team. William wanted to handle things on his own as a local without doing the proper research with John which was the initial plan. Karen kept her opinion to herself until she was asked for a sincere review because she wanted to keep her job.
The approach adopted by Karen and John eventually came as a result of proper brainstorming and advice from other professionals. If John hadn’t asked Karen for an honest review, the project would have turned out a disaster
Issues:
Lack of communication
William relied only on what has been done . He made no research.
Skills that were used:
Teamwork between Karen and John
Critical thinking and analysis
Research
Adaptability
The case study highlights professional conduct and ethical decision-making through teamwork, critical thinking, and adaptability. John demonstrated cultural sensitivity and professionalism by constructively addressing discrepancies in the engagement process. Karen showcased analytical skills and courage by raising concerns about the report’s accuracy despite her probationary status, emphasizing the firm’s longterm reputation. Their collaborative approach involved transparent discussions, risk assessments, and contingency planning, ultimately leading to a solution through Karen’s resourcefulness in leveraging external partnerships. Together, they upheld ethical standards and ensured the project’s integrity while navigating workplace dynamics and cross-cultural challenges.
From the case study read, the project managers all employed good skills in solving the issue but they was lack of effective communication amongst the team members.
Issues of Professional Conduct
1. Compromising Stakeholder Engagement
• William skipped the planned forums to gather feedback and instead relied on results from a local opinion research firm. This raised questions about the validity and transparency of the data collected.
2. Karen’s Ethical Dilemma
• Karen felt uneasy about the “perfect” report but hesitated to voice her concerns initially because she was worried about workplace dynamics and her probation status.
Skills Used to Address Ethical Decisions
1. Critical Thinking
• Karen identified potential flaws in the report and questioned its credibility, showing her ability to analyze information critically.
2. Effective Communication
• Karen approached John carefully, using humor to start the conversation and eventually opening up an honest discussion about the report.
3. Teamwork
• By collaborating with John, Karen helped map out the risks and brainstorm solutions, leading to the decision to involve a global firm for a review.
4. Focus on Integrity
• Both Karen and John prioritized doing the right thing for the project and the firm’s reputation, even though it meant extra effort and potential risks.
This scenario shows how ethical decisions often require teamwork, honest conversations, and a commitment to professional integrity.
It’s clear that there are poor communication skills between the team members. William is not great at collaboration and he deviated from the original plan as John indicated. William also sounds condescending towards John.
I understand Karen not wanting to upset the status quo but she should have found a way to share her concerns.
She is obviously resourceful and a great problem solver as evidenced
the next week.
Esther Osuji
From the case study read there was poor and ineffective communication amongst the team members ,there was no transparency between the project manager and the team members, no collaboration, no proper planning and poor management of the project.
However they employed the following skills to solve the challenges they encountered with the project
•They had an open minded discussion
•Risk management
•Negotiation
•Problem solving skills
•Research
•Collaboration
From the case study read, there was lack effective communication and team collaboration among the project teammates. Williams as the Project manager was not handling the the team in the right way, he wasn’t giving updates, no meetings and he lacked communication with his teammates. The observed skills here are Negotiation, continual professional development by karen.
From the APM’s case study above, it is crystal clear that effective communication was absent amongst the team members. Between the Project manager and the team, there was no transparency as well. No proper planning, poor management of the project as well. However the following skills are employed to solve the challenge they encounter with the project: open mind discussion, research, risk management, negotiation, problem solving skill and collaboration.