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 organisational values includes integrity, innovation, transparency in mode of operations, excellence and uncompromised quality.
These values help guide in winning client trust, prompt delivery of projects within given time, top notch service delivery and overall customer satisfaction.
My organizational Core values
Integrity
Excellence
Empathy
Respect for one another
Openness
Quality delivery
These were the core values practiced and it really helped me as a project manager to navigate within teams to achieve project goals and quality delivery.
At Capita, our organization core values are listed below
Open – We are honest, transparent, and respectful
Ingenious – We think about what’s possible
Collaborative – We achieve more when we
work together
Effective – We care about doing the best job we can
These define who we are, how we work, and it help us create better outcomes.
My Organisation for core values
Excellence
Empathy
Honesty
Effective communication
Respect for one another
Quality delivery
I currently work in a company that helps people with savings and loans. One value system that my organization, PMR, upholds is Commitment. We are extremely passionate about making sure our customers reach their savings target. In line with this value, we ensure that once a due date is set, the savings remain untouched till the set date. This is because of the fickle nature of most savers and their need to terminate their savings as they like. It has not been easy but we uphold our stance thanks to this value system.
At E-mARK, our organizational values include ensuring customer satisfaction and creation of quality products. These values have shaped this business and ensures that every product created is of great quality, ensures customer satisfaction and great user experience.
Integrity and responsible autonomy are some of the core values of my organization. In my position, these two values seem to drive every task or decision I make in carrying out my responsibilities.
Ojo Oluwanifemi
As an Employee in LAPO Microfinance Bank, my company values are as follows:
People first
Integrity
Sustainability
Excellence
Passion and commitment
Enterprise and Teamwork
Fun and excitement.
These values has help to shape our work with clients and also Colleagues, making sure we are people oriented, always committed and dedicated to our job and while at work, we can still have fun.
These value has made us serve our clients better.
In 2021 in accordance to our values, “oracle finflowz was launched to make our online transactions better and faster, while in2022 Express savings was launched to help our clients save more efficiently. Our values made us to be very transparent with our clients.
In my organization, our values include respect for humanity, respect for human dignity and quality of care. These values have helped in our interactions with clients, and have promoted our services to humanity.
working ethically as a project manager is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. Ethical conduct contributes to trust, stakeholder satisfaction, risk reduction, and the long-term success of the project, making it a critical factor in project management success.
Values and moral principles helps in the overall stable functioning of such organisation in the path of progress.