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, 2 stand out which i will like to share. We “act as owners”. this implies that i would treat the business as mine and not be wasteful with resources. It means i will act with the best integrity. Another is that were open and inclusive meaning we will deal impartially and not be discriminatory towards those with varying opinions, background, race, gender etc.
This is critical to fostering team work and cohesiveness among members of a team.
My organization values is centered on transparency communication, teamwork, honesty, time management, integrity and daring to be different. These are my core values.
With these, I’ll be able to put in my best and get a good result.
My organization values and encourages transparency, innovation and most importantly, curiosity. We believe a curious person is one who is looking to and willing to learn. This means that they are continuously evolving both professionally and personally and the impact is greatly evidenced in the projects that we deliver.
Having a standard moral principle and ethical culture is a non-negotiable trait in a P.M. In my organization, for example, we pay attention to honesty, integrity, and inclusivity as the core of our organizational values.
It is important for a project manager to have a high level of moral principle, values and honor
In an organization, the core values to be imbibed by project manager and team members are ,
Discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, tolerance, teamwork , communication, collaboration and time management which will help in producing a successful project/ results.
Some of my organizational values are:
Integrity – it will ensure that the project manager and other stakeholders act honestly in all interactions. Hence this may enhance project success
Accountability – will ensure that the project manager and the team are responsible for the actions and the decision they make in their pursuit of completing the project. Hence the level of some risks will be reduced if not eliminated.
Innovation – in most cases organizations undertake projects either to increase efficiency, and/or productivity, or to solve some of the hurdles the encounter as a company. Hence this value will help the project manager to put that in to consideration and to be creative and not just re-invent the wheel.
Excellence – this will ensure that the project manager and the team go an extra mile by exceeding the client’s expectations, hence quality of the project cannot be compromised.
In my organization, we have these values: extra mile, stronger together, and Knowledge-based.
Extra mile: To get a successful project, I will need to go above and beyond to achieve this project. Putting in extra energy, time, and resources to ensure the project succeeds.
Stronger Together: Collaborating with other project fellow project managers to share knowledge, ideas, and experiences will ensure timely project execution.
Knowledge-based: Always improving in knowledge and skills helps to speed up projects.
I would like to mention some of the highly held values of my organizations. We greatly work with Transparency, Reaoect of rank and customer care. These has helped my relationship with coworkers, Leaders, Customer by consciously working with this set of values
Ethical values are expedient in every organization, as they help guide each member of the organization towards effectively achieving the set aims and objectives of that organization.
As a high school teacher, our values include: diligence, integrity, excellence and teamwork. These values guide us in working towards achieving the mission statement which is to raise generational leaders who are worthy in character and learning.