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.
Work ethic includes discipline, transparency, personal moral and it is a core value in every organisation and when handling a project. As a project manager you must embrace your work ethic.
In my organization , two of our core values / work ethics are professionalism and discipline . these core values has helped us over the years to carry out our projects effectively .
In my organization, discipline, transparency and team work is the core value. This has really helped us build projects and has given us outstanding results over the years
Uwaebolem Ijeoma Veronica
Work ethic is a very important part of the working environment, and good values either personal moral values or that of the organisation, is key in every organisation as it shapes how things are done and what is expected of every member of the organisation or team. values are the fundamental pillar of motivation and drive at work. Where there are values, everyone knows and does what is expected of them[it inspires behaviour at workplace. In my workplace ,as a carer, empathy is one of our important values as you need to be empathetic to take care of someone, especially when they are not related to you. It influences how we treat our patients.
Project ethics is about making choices that are fair, transparent and responsible, so the team, stakeholders and outcomes aren’t compromised at any stage.
In my organization, our core values is ensuring that we don’t have any disgruntled customers, so as a project manager who interfaces with top executives of different organizations i remind myself consistently to ensure i establish a good relationship with all our clients. This has guided my conducts when implementing projects
The scope of ethics in production projects goes beyond rules and policies. It shapes safety, quality, trust, sustainability, and long-term profitability. Ethical project management ensures that production goals are achieved without compromising human values, legal standards, or societal responsibility.
My work on projects is guided by professionalism in adhering to standards and best practices, integrity in ensuring transparency and ethical compliance, team spirit through effective collaboration with all stakeholders, innovation by adopting improved and efficient engineering solutions, enjoyment in maintaining a positive and motivated approach to work, and commitment to delivering quality projects safely, on time, and to the highest standards.
Organizational values such as timeliness, discipline, innovation and many more should be held upon by a project manager because it will help you make wise/right decisions.
In my organizations we uphold moral values in high esteem and he me do not joke with remains truthfulness and disciple towards time
As a project manager, these are key values that shouldn’t be joked with
These values will influence exactly how I manage projects because nothing gives stakeholders and project sponsors joy more than a honest status report and a timely delivered project.