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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The scenario highlights several professional conduct issues, including a lack of transparency, poor quality assurance, and the risk of accepting inaccurate information without verification. William relied on a report that appeared unreliable, while Karen initially hesitated to raise concerns because she feared the impact on her probation. The case also shows the importance of acting with honesty, accountability, and protecting the interests of the client and stakeholders.
John and Karen demonstrated ethical decision-making by using critical thinking, open communication, collaboration, and risk assessment. Karen showed courage by speaking up about her concerns, while John listened carefully and worked with her to investigate the issue. Together, they chose to verify the report through an independent review, showing integrity and a commitment to protecting the project’s success and the firm’s reputation.
Based on the case study, here are the key issues of professional conduct and the skills used to uphold ethical practice.
Professional conduct issues featured in the scenario
Lack of integrity and honesty: William claimed the stakeholder engagement had already been completed without following the agreed project approach. He intended to present a report that gave misleading results and even planned a photo opportunity to make it appear that the engagement had been carried out properly.
Failure to challenge unethical behaviour: Karen initially hesitated to question the report because she feared upsetting John and affecting her probation. This highlights the ethical issue of remaining silent instead of raising concerns about suspicious findings.
Skills used to bring ethics into the situation
Critical thinking: Karen carefully reviewed the report and recognised that the findings were unrealistically perfect. She questioned its credibility instead of accepting it at face value.
Open communication: Karen honestly discussed her concerns with John, and they spent time reviewing the report, assessing the risks, and considering possible actions together.
Risk assessment and ethical decision-making: John and Karen evaluated the consequences of accepting the report versus challenging it, choosing the option that protected the project’s integrity and the firm’s reputation.
Collaboration, Research and problem-solving: Karen researched an independent global firm to review the work. John supported the idea, and together they arranged an independent review that uncovered problems and ensured the correct stakeholder engagement was carried out.
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After reviewing the case study, here are my thoughts:
1. Two issues of professional conduct in this scenario –
First, lack of integrity and misrepresentation. William delivered engagement results that were not actually collected from workers on the ground. Reporting fabricated or second-hand data as genuine stakeholder feedback violates honesty and professional standards.
Second, failure in due diligence and stakeholder engagement. John accepted a report without verifying the process, and the engagement programme bypassed the workers who actually face the project hurdles. This breaches the duty to ensure accurate data and proper consultation with affected stakeholders.
2. Skills used to bring ethics into decisions:
Karen and John used critical thinking to question why the report looked “too perfect” and to assess risks of using it versus challenging it.
They used courage and professional accountability to raise concerns despite risk to relationships and Karen’s probation.
They used problem-solving and initiative when Karen researched a global partner firm and proposed an independent review to get real data.
They also used long-term perspective and loyalty to company values, as Karen nudged John to look beyond one project and protect the firm’s reputation.