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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One major issue here was lack of communication between john and William. William went ahead with the engagement metrics without consulting with john. he felt because he was a local and he knew what there view were and how things were being done there was no point discussing with john thereby ignoring the risk and problems that might occur.
Karen was being careful as she was only new and didn’t want to step over or hurt John’s feelings. I think it was brilliant of John to ask his partner of her opinion or view. goes to show she was seen hold in high regard of john. And also the fact John welcomed her ideas and input and they both had personal time time to collaborate and go through the report to find solutions, also seeking opinions from fellow co-workers. The ability for Karen to think outside the box, had an idea and laid it off to John who immediately approved.
I would personally say john is one of those Persons who anyone would love to work with.
Karen even though skeptical about John’s reaction with her criticism showed great skill of courage and determination by approaching communication with John in an informal way to get his view on her doubts and worries about the report.
John on the other hand showed a great deal of accountability, transparency and understanding by owning to the fact that he sees the possible risks too and the likelihood of bigger threats emerging if the report is not entirely accurate.
Issues of professional conduct
1) Lack of transparency in how the engagement report was produced.
2) Questionable accuracy of the “perfect” results.
3) Pressure to deliver positive outcomes instead of truthful findings.
4) Fear of speaking up about concerns (especially from Karen).
Skills used to address ethics
1) Critical thinking to question the report.
2) Risk assessment to compare possible outcomes.
3) Good communication between John and Karen.
4) Ethical decision-making to ensure the right action was taken.
The scenario shows a few professional conduct issues, mainly dishonesty, lack of transparency, and ignoring proper stakeholder engagement procedures. William tried to make the project look successful by using questionable research methods, while John and Karen struggled with the pressure of protecting the company versus doing the right thing.
The skills that helped bring ethics into the decision-making were critical thinking, communication, teamwork, problem-solving. Karen and John discussed the risks, investigated the report further, and involved an independent firm to ensure the project was handled properly and ethically.
As a Project Manager, one has the moral responsibility to abide by the values of the organization as in the case of the Project workers at xyz. First off, they do not make assumptions about the fact even though they had the urge to do so. Until after the facts are verified do they decide on what next to do on the project. Williams’ report couldn’t be accepted as reliable until it was verified. That’s is to show the non-negotiable value of transparency upheld by the firm.
The case study highlights key issues of professional conduct such as lack of integrity, poor stakeholder engagement, conflict between self-preservation and professional duty, and weak risk management. However, Karen and John demonstrated ethical decision-making through moral courage, honest communication, risk analysis, collaborative problem-solving, and professional diplomacy, ultimately protecting the project’s success and reputation.
Ethical themes touched on
1. Integrity – William substituted a convenient, pre-arranged report for genuine engagement
2. Courage – Karen had to overcome real personal and professional risk to speak up
3. Conflict of interest – William’s incentive was to clear the path for the next project stage, not surface real problems
4. Professional responsibility – Karen and John’s duty to deliver honest, rigorous work regardless of client pressure
Skills touched on
1. Risk management – Karen and John mapped the risks of both acting and not acting
2. Stakeholder management – navigating a sensitive situation without directly confronting William
3. Communication – Karen’s careful, indirect approach opened the door to an honest conversation
4. Problem-solving – identifying the global partner firm as a creative way through a difficult situation
Value was the ethics used because it shaped the results obtained.
The skills employed knowledge of the regulating environment and continuing professional development it helped Karen to see a loop hole and reached out to John to identify it.
Leading to the success
As a PM, the core values of the company or the institution should be maintained and also the ethics practice, moral principles and rules of conduct should also be maintained.
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