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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Communication is very important for a team work.
Williams failed to carry out the core value of the organisation. He lacks Communication and he is so corrupt by dancing to the tune of the survey department of the client company.
There has to be synergy amongst the team members, and that was what John and the other lady displayed.
Also, John is not static when it comes to the code of practice, and he values the opinion of his coworker.
From this scenario we see that william is a typical representation of what happens in project cycles, when it comes to how people are not sincere with facts and eventually stem project execution timelines. We can summarize this by saying William has very poor work and project values, because he is manipulative and very bad with team work especially when he doesn’t have anything to gain in monetary terms.
In the case of John on the hand, he displayed the highest levels of professional conduct by being open with the focus of his visit to the host country and how time management would be very important with delivering the project on schedule. He is also someone who is not easily manipulated, and is very clear headed, asking very concise questions as to how and why things are the way they are. His inquisition into the authenticity of the report given him by William saved the company xyz from a bad rating in future.
Moreso, Karen is a project management rookie with a lot of understanding of the rules of conduct in an office space, especially one that has to do with consulting. Her approach in addressing the issues she also pointed out from her analysis of the report, and her suggestions shows that though she brought some bad news to the table, she through research was able to suggest ways to solve the logjam. This also further emboldened John, and expose any fraudulent and sinister plan on the part of William and the body that issued that report in the first place.
In conclusion, the key skills deployed here are;
1. Communication
2. Research
3. Team work
Hi my name is Pamela
William claims the engagement was already completed but it wasn’t as the two teams were supposed to work as a team and he provided a “perfect” yet false report. John
• False reporting and Misrepresentation
• Improper Influence
• Lack of transparency and accountability
Ethical skills used in this scenario were;
• Moral Courage(Karen)
• Ethical Reasoning
• Team work and Collaboration
• Problem solving
Geraldine Ezeisi
Good Leadership: John as a leader knowing the team members might not be comfortable criticizing the report made it ok for Karen to speak up about her concerns and the issue was resolved.
Open to Research , through their research they were able to get a solution
Open to Collaboration: When they knew that the issue might be a bit difficult for them to tackle they had to sort for help from a bigger firm.
Good and clear communication .
Upholding values and ethics will always be a good demonstration of a good Project manager.
The communication skill was used. And not just communicating but effectively.
Effective communication is the bedrock for the success of any project. There should be no room for second guesses and personal opinions should be brought to the table for proper deliberation before making informed decisions. Also, being frank and doing the right thing is always the best decision irrespective of how difficult it may appear at first. You never can tell how speaking up and acting right and ethically would bring clarity and ease pressure in uncertain times in a project in the long run.
John and Karen acted professionally and ethically.
Abosede Adewole Submission
This case study highlights the importance of ethical behaviour in consultancy work, particularly in stakeholder engagement, data credibility, and professional responsibility.
Professional conduct is demonstrated when John questions the validity of the engagement process after learning it had been completed without the agreed methodology. His concern reflects diligence, accountability, and respect for proper professional standards. Karen also displays strong ethical awareness by recognising that the engagement findings appear unrealistically positive. Despite being on probation, she critically evaluates the data and understands the risks of proceeding without challenge.
Ethical leadership is evident in John’s willingness to listen to Karen’s concerns and engage in an open, reflective discussion. Together, they assess the consequences of both accepting and challenging the report, demonstrating responsible risk assessment. Their decision to prioritise the firm’s long-term reputation over short-term project convenience reinforces professional integrity.
The choice to seek independent verification through a reputable global firm further demonstrates transparency, objectivity, and accountability. This action ensures that decisions are based on reliable evidence and that stakeholder voices are genuinely represented.
The key skills employed include critical thinking, ethical reasoning, moral courage, effective communication, and collaborative problem-solving. Overall, the case illustrates how integrating ethical considerations into decision-making protects project outcomes, professional credibility, and public trust.
Few instances of professional conduct in the case scenario;
1. Good communication skills that was exhibited by john when he spoke with karen and got her honest opinion that led to them having hours of discussion on the problem and what should be done.
2. Proper investing on the project and understanding of the project and goals helped john make important and informed decision.
3. Ability to research which led to finding out an organization they could collaborate with to get the result they want.
4. John was very professional by sticking upholding and making sure the ethics and standards in regards to the organization and project is upheld without cutting corners.
Instances of professional conduct highlighted in this scenario
1) William’s way of working is just to get the job done, not minding how it is done, even if he has to cut corners. Highly unprofessional.
2) John was reluctant in check mating the process. He was at a fixed road and wasn’t proffering solutions
3) Karen was afraid of speaking up at first but found a way to express herself to John later, which led to the brainstorming that came about the way out.
Reflecting on the skills employed to integrate ethical considerations into the decisions made by the individuals involved
1) Effective communication and working collaboratively among XYZ company team staffs
The case study portrays a sort of dilemma that we all face in different capacities. Karen needed to criticize the report but she had doubts, given that John was her superior. this, however was a mistake- She should have given her honest review in a professional and calm manner. As for John, he demonstrated good leadership by bringing his concern to his team. Karen and John demonstrated good decision making skills by weighing their risks. Upholding their values and ethics was also a good demonstration. William seems to have low communication and teamwork skills, and lacks transparency.