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 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.
Core values of my Organization are compassion, justice, and integrity, inclusion, humility, and collaboration because my organization deals with people centered care (Health).
The core value in our organization is “every drop counts” as we deal with fluid management solutions. This has helped to shape our moral principles towards making sure none of our client loses products as a result of using our equipment or services.
As it was discussed ethics and values are vital in a working environment. While morals has to do with do’s and don’t, values in its own has to do with the code and conducts that is expected in a working environment. For example coming to work early, dealing with one another respectfully, working with sincerity and purpose.
Yes when there are values that are upheld at a place a work it goes a long way to achieve good results at such place of work.
Moral rules and value has help me when i was a child even as an adult with my own family. There are some ugly attitudes I can’t exhibit, why because that is not the way I was raised. Now I have set out my own family moral rules and value which will help shape my children lives
Working as a Quality analyst across the food and pharma industries have broadened my understanding on the importance of upholding values within the organizations.
While the mission remains to provide safe and quality products, the core values center around integrity, sustainability, excellence and innovation. Within departments, teamwork, open mindedness, empathy and even the right attitude to work and colleagues have helped positively shape how I interact with other aspects of life outside of work.
The scope of ethics in project management covers things like honesty in reporting progress, fairness in allocating resources, and respect for stakeholder’s rights . These helps to reduce conflict, build trust, and ensure the project is delivered with integrity
My understanding of the importance of upholding values became clearer during my time working in a law firm. Two of their core values were teamwork and empathy. These left a lasting impression on me. Teamwork taught me that I don’t have to carry everything on my own. When people work together, things are done more smoothly and effectively. Empathy, on the other hand, reminded me that support shouldn’t be based on someone’s position or status. If there is a need and I can help, then I should. These values have shaped the way I work today and continue to guide me in how I approach tasks, collaborations, and projects. They’ve helped me grow into a better and more thoughtful professional.