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 a drama minister and team head, selflessness has always been been a go ahead for me in achieving results.
As an expert digital marketer, empathy, amongst others, is key to getting into the heart of these customers.
as an undergraduate the principles of corporate ethics resonantes deeply with me
As a project manager we must build a good rapport with clients and make sure that they feel safe even when things aren’t right. we stay calm when hard situations arises, try to solve it as soon as possible even if the client is agitated, we still ensure that our client still feel safe
As a business person, I try to build trust with my customers, communicate with them politely ,and give them the room to interacte with me freely .
As a business person, I try to build trust with my customers, communicate with them politely ,and give them the room to interacte with me freely .
As a social media manager, organizational values like creativity, communication, inclusivity, integrity, and engagement shape your work by driving authentic, innovative, and audience-focused content. They ensure consistency, foster trust, and build strong connections with diverse audiences across platforms.
Trust
Integrity
Team work
Quality Delivery
Customer satisfaction
Professionalism
In groups of organization, integrity,trust, respect, Team work are qualities of values any one should adapt to
One of the values in the organization where I work currently, is every customer is a king and mut be treated as such hence, speaking to a client with utmost regards because their satisfaction is our major goal and is key and this has helped better my communication level in the few projects I have handled even when I am under presure and I get better daily at it.
Reflecting on my role, I see how organizational values guide my actions and decisions. At my organization, values like customer satisfaction, integrity, and innovation are central to my approach.
Customer satisfaction drives me to always put the client’s needs first, ensuring their concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.
Integrity ensures I handle client information honestly and transparently, especially in challenging situations like billing or technical issues.
Innovation encourages me to find new ways to improve processes and enhance the client experience, such as by implementing better communication strategies or upselling techniques.
These values shape how I engage with stakeholders, ensuring that my work aligns with both organizational goals and ethical principles, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the project and positive outcomes for our clients.
Over the years of dealing with internal and external customers of businesses, the need for core business and individual working values and ethics can not be over emphasized as it is relative to achieving organizational and personal goals.
Personally, I have developed ‘integrity, accountability, innovation and creativity’ as core values in my service delivery wherever in any team or organization I find myself.