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 demonstrated his inability by failing to uphold the company’s core values of ethics and transparency while working on projects. He neglected to follow the established procedures essential for project success. On the other hand, Karen, being new to the team, initially prioritized job security over addressing the mistakes made. However, she later realized the importance of speaking up and decided to discuss the issues with John. This led to improved team collaboration, ultimately resolving the problem and ensuring the project moved forward successfully.
Williams has shown his inability to function as a good teammate by not following the duly set out plan, on the other hand Karen was afraid to criticise the work done by John because she was still on her probation period but cared more about not loosing her work.
But however at the end of the day, they showcase team work and collaboration which was used to solve their problem and also preserve the organisation’s reputation as a whole. Efficient research and involvement of larger companies who are already in the business helped to resolve their issue as well.
Udoudoh Unyime Francis
Cohort 24
Team 10
Williams has shown inability to be trustworthy by not following the appropriate plans and lay down rules to be followed.
Karen is also concerned about her probation period and job, not willing to criticize irrespective of the negative effect it can have on the projects.
Meanwhile, they eventually showcase team work skills, quality and excellent skills, efficiency skill , research and innovation skills by coming together to find solution to the ineffective plan for the project, choosing better option to carry out their plan and getting the right engagement to solve their problems.
Alo Eunice Ooreofe
Cohort 24
Team 1
Honesty and integrity problem
Presenting an already fabricated report is a clear indication that there was no good communication, and team work among them and the Lady was so much concern about protecting her job and was forced to raise an alarm.
The report was against the regulatory standard
Approach used to solve the problem
Clear communication
Team work
Collaboration
Research
Relying on big firms for help
Trying to find out if the report meets with the regulatory standards
Trying to k ow the risk factors and ways to solve it
Applying this to our workplace it means that whatever report presented to you as a PM we should try and validate it.
SUNDAY AILEOHI OHIOMAH
Honesty and Integrity:
William’s approach to bypassing the agreed engagement process and relying on already existing data raises concerns about the issue of honesty, integrity and transparency in stakeholders’ feedback. His approach compromised the project’s credibility and risks overlooking possible critical challenges.
Empathy, Accountability and Professional Judgment:
Karen who was on the other hand concerned about her job security (seeing that she was still on probation) and harmony in her workplace, hesitated to criticize William’s report. She was empathetic about John, whom she sees as a nice colleague, and this was a big challenge in balancing her personal and professional relationship.
THE SKILLS USED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM INCLUDE:
Problem-Solving, Effective communication, Teamwork and trust, Research and Innovation.
Karen and John fostered teamwork and trust. With their clear communication, they were able to brainstorm and proffer possible solutions to addressing the report by William.
Both assessed the risks of proceeding with flawed data and challenging it. By analyzing potential hurdles they might face if the data isn’t well investigated, they prioritized long-term organizational integrity over short-term convenience.
Karen’s initiative in researching and involving a credible larger firm to validate the data demonstrated resourcefulness and a commitment to ethical values. John also exhibited trust by keying into her idea.
Honesty and Integrity:
William’s approach to bypassing the agreed engagement process and relying on already existing data raises concerns about the issue of honesty, integrity and transparency in stakeholders’ feedback. His approach compromised the project’s credibility and risks overlooking possible critical challenges.
Empathy, Accountability and Professional Judgment:
Karen who was on the other hand concerned about her job security (seeing that she was still on probation) and harmony in her workplace, hesitated to criticize William’s report. She was empathetic about John, whom she sees as a nice colleague, and this was a big challenge in balancing her personal and professional relationship.
THE SKILLS USED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM INCLUDE:
Problem-Solving, Effective communication, Teamwork and trust, Research and Innovation.
Karen and John fostered teamwork and trust. With their clear communication, they were able to brainstorm and proffer possible solutions to addressing the report by William.
Both assessed the risks of proceeding with flawed data and challenging it. By analyzing potential hurdles they might face if the data isn’t well investigated, they prioritized long-term organizational integrity over short-term convenience.
Karen’s initiative in researching and involving a credible larger firm to validate the data demonstrated resourcefulness and a commitment to ethical values. John also exhibited trust by keying into her idea.
It was noted that there was no integrity and trust amongst the team, No team work, poor communication and also, there was limited knowledge of regulatory environment.
One of the major issues encountered among the several issues the team were interfaced with is lack of communication, which plays a vital role in the facilitation of every project.
The following skills were ennacted to bring ethics into the decision:
-Communication skills
-Negotiation skills
-Problem solving skills
-Team building skills
John wanted to keep it sane and professional , but Karen and William wanted it done their own way to make the work, but John as a representative of a firm and will want to conform to the values of his firm.
First issue was William skipping the planned stakeholder engagement and using a quick report instead, which did not reflect real concerns. Also, Karen doubted its accuracy but hesitated to speak up at first, fearing it might affect her job and relationships at work.
Meanwhile, if the flawed report was used, it could have led to bad project decisions and damaged XYZ’s reputation.
Some of the skills used to make ethical decisions include Research skills from Karen, collaboration and communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills. And Karen showed the strong values of courage and integrity.
1. ISSUES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT:
✓ LACK OF PROPER STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT – William bypassed the agreed engagement process, relying instead on a pre-existing relationship with an opinion research firm. This undermined the integrity of the data collected;
✓ POTENTIAL MISREPRESENTATION OF FINDINGS – The engagement report appeared too perfect, raising concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the data. Relying on possibly flawed information could compromise the success of the project; and
✓ ETHICAL DILEMMA IN REPORTING ISSUES – Karen hesitated to challenge the report due to workplace dynamics and her probationary period. This highlights the challenge of speaking up when integrity is at stake.
2. SKILLS USED TO BRING ETHICS INTO DECISION-MAKING:
✓ CRITICAL THINKING & ANALYTICAL SKILLS – Karen questioned the credibility of the engagement report and identified potential risks;
✓ INTEGRITY & ETHICAL LEADERSHIP: – John and Karen decided to investigate the issue rather than accepting flawed findings;
✓ STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT – They considered the impact of inaccurate data on project success and future client relationships;
✓ PROBLEM-SOLVING & COLLABORATION – Karen researched alternative approaches, leading to the involvement of a more reputable firm for validation; and
✓ EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION – Karen and John engaged in open discussions and sought external expertise to resolve the ethical dilemma.
OGBEKHIULU, Cynthia Ikhiannosen Cohort 24, Group 7