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.
In my organization, the values includes: mutual respect, team work, transparency, integrity and accountability. These values guides members to achieve the organization mission and objectives
I work with a tech company and the values include;
Clear communication
Customer Satisfaction
Professionalism
Integrity
Loyalty
Respect
Team cooperation etc
This helps the organisation and team members to work together, build trust and achieve the company scope and objectives of every project.
Honesty, self motivation, self confidence are some of the value in the organization I work for
from the digital finance stand point We believe in that the unbanked should be more prioritize, therefore our focus is mostly on educating the illiterate about digital finance
Here are the values that guides the organization where i work as a Data Analyst
Inclusivity: Embracing inclusivity means that your projects are likely to involve diverse teams, which can bring a wide range of perspectives and ideas. It encourages open communication and collaboration, allowing team members to feel valued and heard, ultimately leading to more innovative solutions.
No Discrimination: An organisational stance against discrimination sets the tone for respectful and fair treatment of all team members. This ensures that project opportunities, responsibilities, and recognition are distributed based on merit and not biased by factors like race or religion.
No Abuse: A commitment to preventing abuse creates a safe and supportive work environment. This is especially important in high-pressure project situations, as it ensures that team members can voice their concerns without fear of reprisals. It promotes mental and emotional well-being, contributing to better project outcomes.
Ethical Decision-Making: When the values include ethical principles, decision-making in projects is guided by a strong moral compass. Ethical behavior is likely to be prioritized, which can influence project planning, execution, and stakeholder interactions. Ethical considerations can also help in risk management.
Positive Reputation: Adhering to these values can help the organization build a positive reputation. This is beneficial in project contexts as stakeholders are more likely to trust and support projects from an organization with a strong ethical and inclusive track record.
Legal Compliance: Many of these values also align with legal requirements related to workplace conduct. Ensuring legal compliance reduces the risk of legal issues during projects, which can be time-consuming and costly.
The organizational values and my personal values includes but not limited to; integrity, accountability, professionalism, transparency and customer satisfaction,
In the Real Estate industry where I belong, our corporate culture speaks of Professionalism, Excellence, Integrity, Knowledge and Services.
This core values influences how I carried out any assigned projects. However, professionalism and integrity stands out. When dealing with clients, I make sure they are aware of every details relating to the property, documents, government bye laws, etc. Integrity is a front burner in my job as. Real Estate Sales Force.
I work in a Christian organization and one of the values we have is that you must be spiritually sound. This is why every new employee goes through a probationary period of 3 months spiritual training before resuming official duties because we believe.
This value guides us as we work because it helps us to place God first while doing our jobs thereby working diligently and also guides our relationship with our clients.
In health care organisation where I belong we have different values, I will list a few of them.
Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings and perspectives of others.
Punctuality: Arriving on time, this is an important aspect of time management.
Confidential: keeping information private, secure and not disclosed to any individual or the public.
Neatness: Quality of being clean, orderly and well-organised.
Values are fundamental beliefs and principles that guides an individual behaviour, decisions and choices
They represent what is important to a person and reflects their moral, ethical and cultural perspectives.
Integrity is one of our core values as an organization. This has helped us to be honest and transparent in dealing with our clients. As a result, our clients are able to trust us with their funds.
My personal value is ‘people first’. My current workplace is very people oriented. Self development is key and general wellbeing is always a top priority.
In the organization where I find myself,
punctuality
Expertise
Coordination
Honesty are some of the values that guides us.
Integrity is one of our core values as an organization. This helps to foster honesty and transparency in our dealings with our clients.
Confidentiality is a major ethical rule in my organisation because we deal with people’s medical records which is confidential.