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 project manager, I believe that organizational values is the compass for my actions and decisions so i shape team collaboration
values like team work and respect fosters a collaborative environment. I am always open to communication, active listening and a fair workload distribution
I also maintain quality and standards such as customer focus and excellence to meet stakeholders expectations
Ethics are moral principles that define a person’s behavior. They are build to shape the conduct of and individuals in every situation. It’s that element in people’s behavior that distinguish them from others. It’s that acceptable behavior and conducts allow of a member of a given group , organization or professions. They are the core values the organization stand for and all conducts and behaviors of the members must conform to it in order to make them distinctive from others. Eg selflessness, respect for others, morale , discipline, integrity and courage are the values that shape my organization. These are instilled in the individuals members to guide their actions in every situation.
Idoko Precious
As a content creation officer in my organization ethics is our utmost priority, rules and regulations are not negotiable. The rule of conduct includes punctuality to work, moral principles, approaches to clients, and how work is carried out. And we can say these things make the workplace organized for day-to-day work and also conducive for staff and management.
As a practicing Veterinary Technologist, the core values in my organization include competency, honesty, compassion, and acceptance. These values have helped me stand out in my role by ensuring I attend to animals’ needs with both skill and empathy.
These same values will positively influence how I work on projects. For example, compassion and acceptance will enable me to show empathy and understanding toward stakeholders, while honesty and competency will guide me to remain transparent and committed to delivering quality outcomes in my role as a project manager.
In my work place, we take values as the core of the organization cause its the basis of everything we do and what drives my organization to perfect delivery, my organization core value of accountability, quality and fast delivery is what my organization which is a logistics company, domestic and international, we pride ourselves on being accountable and deliver our clients goods as fast as we can and also maintain the quality of service we offer to our customers
As a professional network marketer, values such as integrity, honesty and loyalty in our service to prospects and teammates are important everywhere we work or finds ourselves.
For a seamless roject work, it’s crucial that the organization’s culture emphasizes open communication, teamwork, innovation, and creativity. A supportive culture also promotes risk-taking and openness to healthy conflicts which are crucial elements in effective project management.
Bello Destiny, 15 June 2025
LinkedIn: Jobs & Business News · app
For a seamless project work, it’s crucial that the organization’s culture emphasizes open communication, teamwork, innovation, and creativity. A supportive culture also promotes risk-taking and openness to healthy conflicts which are crucial elements in effective project management.
Bello Destiny, 15 June 2025
LinkedIn: Jobs & Business News · app
Values such as integrity, honesty and faithfulness in our service to the customers are highly put first where I work
Ethics and Values reveal who we are, and as a Project Manager, you must have the ethics that guide every organization because they are the bedrock of the organizational culture. Ethics and Values can be developed by an individual or group.