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.
My organization’s values of accountability, leadership, and integrity play a central role in how I plan, execute, and monitor projects. Accountability ensures that I take responsibility for meeting deadlines, tracking deliverables, and being answerable to stakeholders. Leadership drives me to guide teams effectively, make strategic decisions, and inspire collaboration to achieve project goals. Integrity shapes how I handle challenges, communicate transparently, and maintain trust with both internal teams and external partners. Together, these values create a framework that not only keeps projects on track but also builds a culture of trust, reliability, and excellence.
In my organization, value is practiced through strong organizational support. Having spent three years in my current role, I’ve observed that one of the key values is staff welfare, especially during times of illness.
Whenever I fall ill, colleagues consistently check in through messages or phone calls, showing genuine concern. Additionally, my Director ensures that I receive proper medical attention, particularly in cases of recurring illness, and even offers prayers for my recovery.
This level of care and support makes me feel valued and appreciated, reinforcing my sense of belonging and commitment to the organization.
When I think about values and moral principles in my organization, I don’t see them as policies written on paper. I see them in the small daily choices I make as a project manager. Most times, nobody is watching, yet those moments quietly define the direction of the project and even the attitude of the team.
I have noticed that whenever I stand by my values, especially integrity and fairness, it affects how people respond to me. Team members become more open with information, even when things are not going well. They don’t feel the need to hide mistakes because they know they will be corrected, not humiliated. This alone has helped projects avoid bigger failures.
There are situations where pressure is high — deadlines, expectations from management, limited resources. In such moments, moral principles act like an inner guide. They remind me not to shift blame, not to sacrifice people for results, and not to choose convenience over what is right. Even when a decision is difficult, I have learned that doing what is right brings long-term peace and stability to the organization.
Values also influence how I relate with people. Respect has taught me to listen more than I speak. Fairness has helped me avoid favoritism, even when personal relationships are involved. Accountability has pushed me to admit my own errors before correcting others. These actions quietly shape the culture of the team without me having to force authority.
Over time, I have seen that when a project manager leads with strong moral principles, discipline becomes natural. People take ownership of their tasks, deadlines are taken seriously, and collaboration improves. Not because of fear, but because there is trust and consistency in leadership.
In my organization, values have become my compass. They influence not only how projects are delivered but also how people grow, how trust is built, and how the organization maintains its integrity even under pressure. For me, success is not just completing a project, but completing it in a way that I can confidently stand by.
The values of my workplace are affordability, sustainability, innovative, integrity and customer- centric.
Values and principles guides the moral of an organisation and likewise innovation.
So our core values must transcend to every part of our organisation.
Excellent blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!
Working in a religious settings,
We believe you should be a person of integrity, honesty.
You say the truth a all times nor works on Sunday and so on
One organizational goal is innovation and it influences my projects because I always aim to be original hile completing projects, to add a unique feature, to innovate new solutions