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.
As I reflect on my role as a Training Technology Administrator, I realize that our organization’s values are at the heart of everything I do. For me, it’s about inclusivity, innovation, and responsiveness.
These values inspire me to create training programs that are accessible to everyone, to seek out new technologies that can enhance the learning experience, and to be responsive to the needs of our learners and stakeholders.
By living these values, I aim to deliver projects that make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s not just about checking boxes; it’s about creating a positive impact that resonates with our organization’s mission.
I am currently a student and our value (the value of the school I am attending is embedded in their motor ‘Probitas Doctrinal’- meaning character is our value) and this has been the bedrock by which our operations (both academic and non-academic) has been continued to be carried out which has helped us to be outstanding wherever we found ourselves.
So one of the the group I belong to which is the church administrative of where I fellowship; our key value are Communication, paying attention to details, excellent in speech and work, high level of confidentiality,integrity and resourcefulness.
I work with credence as a project manager, some of our key values are communication, collaboration, excellence,receptivity and transparency.
This values helped to foster success in all the projects we have handled.
Some of the values of a group that I belong to is Honesty, Discipline and focus on growth by cultivating good habits and following them through daily.
As a business person my values are trustworthiness, integrity, excellence and confidentiality
Being a flight attendant some of the values I keep is all about keeping people safe and making sure they’re happy while they travel.
First, safety comes first. Flight attendants make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency and keep things running smoothly. That’s their most important job.
They also work hard to be professional. This means looking neat, being polite, and showing they’re serious about their work. But it’s not all about rules—they’re also really good at making people feel welcome and cared for.
Teamwork is super important too. Flight attendants have to work closely with the rest of the crew to solve problems and keep things on track. And sometimes, things don’t go as planned—like when flights are late. That’s where being flexible and staying calm helps a lot.
Most of all, they have big hearts. They listen to passengers, help them feel comfortable, and stay patient, even when things get tricky. Being a flight attendant means caring for people and doing their best to make every flight safe and happy.
As an accountant my values are integrity, accountability, accuracy and excellence. All these values has helped me in the way I prepare and report my financial statements.
As a virtual assistant, my values are excellence, confidentiality, resourcefulness and integrity to name a few. My employers/clients should be confident that any task I handle is done excellently.
As a VA one of the most important value I stand by is discretion, being able to keep the informations about my clients a secret and protecting sensitive information about their business