As we talked about before in this module, it’s important for project managers to work ethically. This means doing the right thing, not just following rules. There are written rules and laws, but there are also moral rules and values.
What are these moral rules and values? Let’s break it down with some explanations and examples.
Moral rules are like a list of dos and don’ts for how a person should behave. For instance, one moral rule is “don’t steal.”
Values are strong beliefs that guide how we act in different situations. They show what we think is good behavior. Values can be personal, but they can also be shared in groups like companies. When a bunch of people in the same group share these values, they shape how everyone acts in that group.
In companies, these shared values are super important. They make up the core of what the company’s culture is all about. These values are a small set of important beliefs that don’t change much, and they really influence how people act at work.
For example, The Open University (2019) has some values they believe in:
In our work, we stick to The Open University values of being inclusive, innovative, and responsive.
The value of being inclusive and innovative is a big part of what people do at The Open University. They use this value to make sure everyone can access knowledge through new and creative solutions.
Values and moral rules help everyone know how to behave in a group or at work. It’s good to think about them to understand how they affect the decisions we make when working on projects.
Think about the values your workplace or a group you’re in follows. Can you name some of these values? How do these values affect how you work on projects? Share your thoughts with other learners in the discussion below.
In my Organisation, we are Nigerians most realiable and trusted banking partner, we make lives better by delivering the simplest and smartest solutions and guaranteeing the best experience every time.
Value of our customer experience
Value of our client base
Value of our talent
Value of our banking platform
Value of our professional standard
Value of our earning.
In my field I was taught to honest, transparent, trustworthy and empathetic, this should also apply as an aspiring project manager. Treating clients and stakeholders with dignity and respect.
Any one with good personal values can easily adapt to the values/morals of varieties of organisations; intergrity, humility, receptiveness, respect among others are very important personal qualities for the success of project management.
As a project manager for an organization, I’ve worked for, I’ve learned how to turn organizational values (mission statements) into doable tasks, which has made sure that all of our work came from and contributed to the company’s value system. For instance, the project activities that the project manager creates and adds to the Gantt chart must be focused on ensuring that no child of primary school age is left behind in acquiring a basic education (mission statement). The PM must also evaluate all of the topics covered in earlier modules, including stakeholder identification and engagement, challenging conversations, and so forth.
Ethical Values in my organization are held in high esteem. Suffice it to say that as an executive assistant to a disciplined and morally sound CEO, I carry myself in a way that I don’t being disrepute to my boss and the organization. I am always civil, ethical and disciplined in my dealings with colleagues, associates and vendors. I understand the need to not mix business with pleasure or get into acts that can ruin my career or tarnish my company’s image. I am always conscious of the tone and language I use in communication and what I say to who and who so as to not get misconstrued or misinterpreted. Also I have mastered the right telephone etiquette and I carry myself with a great poise and sense of confidence.
As a project manager you must be trust worthy,honest principled and collaboration
Trust, integrity,openness and honestly is very important in dealing with stakeholders
Integrity is a key value in my organisation, effective communication, problem solving and quality assurance.
As a Project Manager, I believe that the extent of one’s adherence to ethics is a direct reflection and an extension of the individual’s personal value system.
It is evident that the values upheld by an organization are a direct reflection of the values held by its individuals and groups. In my perspective, transparency and empathy are fundamental values that guide my actions. I firmly believe in fostering an environment where open and honest communication is valued, and where understanding and compassion are extended to all stakeholders. Recognizing that our collective success relies heavily on our mental synergy rather than physical efforts alone, I emphasize the importance of teamwork and collaboration in ensuring the successful completion of projects.
In the organization where I belong to
It’s true that you can’t take value away from organization, because value is what makes organization better than the other
Honesty
Integrity
Professionalism
Bold
Energetic
Striving
Together
As a project manager, the Principle of Integrity and Honesty should be embedded in one’s dealing as individual and group.
This will help stakeholders and clients to value service rendered by such firm
As a project manager, you need to be transparent with your stakeholders. This will help your stakeholders trust you even more
I believe that Values that applies to Accountants are responsiveness, accountability and accuracy.
As a healthacare professional, the values organisation upholds are Confidentiality, Empathy, Team work, Integrity, commitment. These set of values helps us in carrying out our duties effectively.
In the organization I work with, some of the values we uphold here are:
i. Integrity(Human and Job): This includes being trustworthy and honest as a person and doing job related dealings.
ii. Working according to Job Standards and Ethics: This includes abiding by rules as a person and on-the-job(Job Integrity); doing every job according to construction standards and ethics.
ii. Always Have a Project Program: This helps to know what to do, at what time and what next to do after completion of a an existing job. It also gives an idea of when a job will be completed and what to be expected ( Programme of works).
As a project manager you need to be transparent and be able to solve problems , this way, your stakeholders will trust you more
As a music director, leadership and excellence and consistency needed. I mean, you have to show how good u can be as a leader, you have to compel your music team perform excellently on stage, u have to be consistent also.
As an healthcare organisation, my company values include compassion, respect and dignity as well as commitment to the quality of care.
This values guide our interaction with service users. It helps to treat them as we would like to treated and helps to ensure that the care we give is person centered