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.
Empathy and Excellence are some of the values we hold dear. We are there for you but we let our works speak for us when it comes to delivering great results.
Of a truth, value and moral principles guide the actions of every organisation.
Some of the values innacted in my organisation are:
Communication
Integrity
Team work
Consistency
Time management
Some of the values in the group I belong to is honesty and transparency. Not just being honest but being open, and clearly communicating with your clients and telling him what went wrong while handling his task in cases where such tasks are delayed.
The following are a few organizational values in my organization:
-A sense of community and family
-Respect for Authority
-Hospitality and teamwork
-Time management
-Conflict resolution.
-A high entrepreneurial spirit.
These values can influence my work in projects in the following ways:
– [ ] A strong sense of community and family influences my decision-making, as I’d prioritize the needs of the organization over purely business objectives which helps to build strong relationships and trust.
– [ ] Regard for authority fosters healthy communication and regard for input by a superior or subordinate.
– [ ] Hospitality/Teamwork helps to create a sense of belonging and trust and also leads to team building and collaborative efforts towards achieving organizational goals.
– [ ] Value for time helps me set realistic deadlines and prepares me for delays. It also helps me to be patient and adaptable to unexpected changes.
– [ ] Conflict resolution helps to encourage open communication, collaboration and willingness to listen to different perspectives and find solutions that work for everyone.
– [ ] A high level of entrepreneurial spirit helps me embrace creativity and encourage the zeal to find innovative solutions to challenges we encounter.
Our values as members of Be More foundation are;
1. Orderly
2. Mandate etc.
Our values as a process engineer:
Communicating
Proper work timing
Team work
Getting result
Preventing hazard
Documenting timeline
In my organisation, we value excellence and providing solutions. And this has helped every one in the team to do their work excellently. And we are quick to provide solutions to whatever issues or challenges come up during the course of work.
As a virtual assistant, one important value for me is accountability. I make sure to take responsibility for my work and meet deadlines because that builds trust. Good communication is also key. Adaptability and confidentiality are also important.
As a Virtual assistant my value is confidentiality, accountability and proactiveness
As a business manager,there’s nothing greater than transparency. There are other values you can try to abide to but transparency is key. This has proven positive development in my field.
In my organization, confidentiality, integrity and honesty prevails as morals. And as values, respect and modesty does.