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.
As an entrepreneur, values play a major role in the success of the business, some of the values I inculcate in my business is trust, honesty, discipline and diligence which will eventually lead to growth in all the areas necessary
As a Nutritionist-Dietitian, accountability, empathy and integrity are part of the core values I uphold when dealing with my clients and that can be translated to project management.
As a public health person, confidentiality and empathy are values I uphold dearly in my day to day activities
As an entrepreneur, trust, honesty and self discipline are important ethics required to manage a successful business.
Values in organization help to fight against any form of discrimination and also give the staff of that organization the feelings that they are important and sense of belonging.
Punctuality, accountability, and transparency are some of the values and principles upheld by my organization. And I think these and also diligence are applicable in project management and as a project manager.
My very organization interpret values and moral as dependable, Reliable, trustworthy and loyalty toward the goals of every project.
As a fluids Engineer we hold in high esteem; intergrity, moral uprightness, fairness and honesty within my organization and down to our clients.
As an educator, some of the core values that we adopt in my place of work are integrity, accountability, and respect (mutual respect and respect for others rights).
Integrity and honesty are paramount because there must be transparency in order to achieve the school admiration goal.
Accountability, the ability to communicate progress, and resolving challenges facing the educational sector
In my field as a creative fashion designer, I uphold core values of integrity which is based on trust, honestly and ethical leadership
Innovation that is being creative in bringing out new styles, designs, etc
Customer satisfaction ensures that my actual and potential customers are satisfied.
As a Project Engineer in my organization, our core values are Ensuring Quality, Trust, and Accountability.
As an event planner and co-ordinator given our client a lasting impression on their memorable day through precise planning and extraordinary coordination is what we value and that as helped every team members in bring that to reality