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.
Values such as being polite, and maintaining boundaries are practical in our organization.
It is important because it keeps people in check not to be rude and also not to exceed their boundaries.
Values and moral rules help everyone know how to behave in a group or at work during project management.
Ethics in project management is very important, it shows the value of team, clients, stakeholders among others. When the expected is done, it yields positive results whc keeps your integrity intact
In my English coaching work, we value patience, inclusivity, continuous learning, and encouragement. These values shape how we interact with learners and how we design our lessons. For instance, patience helps us support students at their own pace without judgment. Inclusivity ensures that every learner, regardless of their background or level, feels welcome and respected.
These values guide my approach to projects like lesson planning or creating learning materials. For example, I always try to include diverse content that reflects different cultures and experiences. I also focus on encouragement, making sure students feel confident and motivated to keep learning.
When working on coaching projects, these values help maintain a positive learning environment where students feel safe to practice, make mistakes, and grow. They also remind me to stay open to feedback and constantly improve my methods.
ELIZABETH CHIOMA FASUYI
Organizational Values in My Context
In a business like Lizzy Virtual Solutions, values such as integrity, efficiency, confidentiality, and client satisfaction are core to operations.
These values ensure ethical service delivery, trust, and long-term business relationships.
How Values Influence Project Work
Decision-Making: Ethical values guide project managers in making transparent, fair, and strategic choices.
Stakeholder Engagement: Aligning communication and actions with organizational values builds trust and credibility.
Risk Management: Ethical considerations help mitigate risks related to compliance, conflicts, and data security.
Performance & Accountability: Values like innovation and responsiveness improve efficiency and adaptability in projects.
By integrating strong ethical principles, project managers ensure sustainable success, positive stakeholder relationships, and organizational credibility.
As a Sales Executive, some of the values are integrity, innovation and teamwork which can bridge honesty, transparency and ethics in all interaction embracing creativity and continuous improvement and collaboration among members. These will influence the project ethical decision making and foster open communication.
As a Lawyer, the values to be upheld in my profession are confidentiality, accountability, integrity and discipline.
We are to abide by the professional code of conduct which is sacrosanct in the practice of law.
As a PM, sticking to your rules and regulations shows you value the relationship with your team, and stakeholders,
As a Virtual Assistant and Executive Assistant, a few key values shape how I work:
1. Reliability: Being dependable is crucial. My clients trust me to handle tasks efficiently and meet deadlines without constant follow-up. This pushes me to stay organised and proactive, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
2. Confidentiality: Handling sensitive information with discretion is a top priority. It means I’m always mindful of data security and privacy in every task, whether it’s managing emails, scheduling, or preparing reports.
3. Communication: Clear and timely communication is the backbone of effective collaboration. It ensures everyone stays informed, expectations are aligned, and decisions can be made without delays.
These values guide my daily work, helping me stay organized, maintain trust, and support my team in achieving our goals efficiently.
Good Ethics in project management in is very important, it shows you value your team, clients, stakeholders. When you do the right things, everyone is happy, it keeps your integrity intact