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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In this scenario , we can see that the company’s ethics/values has been compromised . John follows through he was waiting for the engagement programme which was supposed to hold within the key stakeholder . William though a ‘professional’ lacks ethics in practice as he failed to include the rest team members before taking his decision in the project , he also lacks in team work , given how he completed the project . Karen on the other hand though learning , displayed strong work values/ethics .Though the three of them are professionals on their levels failed to be inclusive and displayed poor communication skills . But at the end we can see that through professionalism , teamwork , inclusivity and proper communication, they were able to meet their goal.
The case highlights important issues of professional conduct, particularly the need for integrity and objectivity in stakeholder engagement and data collection. The engagement results appeared unusually positive, raising concerns about potential bias and whether the information truly reflected the views of those delivering services on the ground. Another key issue was the pressure on a junior team member, Karen, who initially felt unable to challenge the findings due to her probationary status and concern about damaging relationships, illustrating how organisational dynamics can inhibit ethical behaviour. The skills that enabled ethical decision-making included moral courage, critical thinking, and professional judgement. Karen demonstrated integrity by voicing her concerns despite personal risk, while John showed openness and responsibility by taking those concerns seriously and reassessing the evidence. Together, they applied risk analysis and effective communication to balance commercial pressures with long-term reputational and public interest considerations. This ensured that ethical standards and professional values guided the final decision rather than convenience or short-term success.
The image reflects a professional setting where ethical challenges such as data integrity, inclusivity, confidentiality, and accountability may arise. The people involved appear to rely on communication, critical thinking, ethical judgment, collaboration, and stakeholder awareness to guide responsible and ethical decision-making—key competencies for professionals, especially in project and strategic management contexts.
The case scenario was one depicting of a firm willing to uphold their values.
William as the source of influence and the lover of people puts him at the edge as a good communicator, however, it was unwise of him to leave out his experienced Project Manager, John out of the discussion.
John on the other hand despite the professional gap was willing to listen to Karen and together, they were able to find solution to their imminent problem.
The scenario shows professionalism through ethical awareness and decision-making. John values proper stakeholder engagement and integrity but does not fully question the process. William focuses on efficiency and delivery, showing professionalism, but compromises ethics by prioritizing pleasing results over transparency. Karen demonstrates strong ethical judgment by questioning overly perfect findings, though she hesitates to speak up due to workplace pressures. Overall, the key skills shown are integrity, critical thinking, ethical awareness, and emotional intelligence.
The scenario is about a staff of the company that did not follow through with the project plan of a particular project with an international organization. John who is the Project manager in this case did not initially follow through with the project plan and also reneged his organizational ethical values, by going through a short cut to obtain a critical data needed for their project, but with the help of Karen, he was able to get back on track.
The skills employed include in this scenario are:
Communication
Ethics and Standards
organizational skill
Conflict management
One of the skills employed was seeking/asking for partnership or rather collaboration which helped him pull through.
This scenario demonstrates that ethical professionalism is not about avoiding risk, but about managing risk responsibly through integrity, judgment, and courage.
Karen’s ethical awareness, John’s openness, and their joint problem-solving exemplify good professional conduct, while William’s approach highlights the risks of prioritising convenience and optics over transparency.
Communication was poor especially from Williams end. There was no ethical consideration in this case.
Lack of transparecy and poor communication.