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.
Core values can vary greatly depending on the organization.
Here’s a few values my organization shares with my personal values and which have helped me and still help me that can influence the cycle of work in projects:
1. Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical practices in all dealings. This value would influence project work by promoting trust among team members and stakeholders, ensuring accurate reporting, and encouraging responsible decision-making.
2. Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking, experimentation, and continuous improvement. This value would influence project work by promoting the exploration of new ideas, finding novel solutions to challenges, and seeking opportunities for innovation and growth.
3. Teamwork: Promoting collaboration, cooperation, and effective communication within the team. This value would influence project work by fostering an environment where team members can work together effectively, share knowledge and expertise, and support each other towards project success.
4. Customer Focus: Placing the needs and satisfaction of customers or end-users at the center of the project. This value would influence project work by ensuring that deliverables align with customer requirements, maintaining a customer-centric approach throughout the project lifecycle, and prioritizing customer satisfaction.
5. Quality: Commitment to delivering high-quality outputs and maintaining high standards. This value would influence project work by emphasizing rigorous quality control measures, continuous monitoring of project progress, and adherence to established standards and guidelines.
6. Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions, decisions, and outcomes. This value would influence project work by promoting a sense of ownership, encouraging team members to meet their commitments, and ensuring that project outcomes align with the agreed-upon objectives.
7. Flexibility/Adaptability: Being open to change, embracing new approaches, and being responsive to emerging challenges. This value would influence project work by promoting agility, enabling the project team to adapt to changing circumstances, and effectively manage unexpected situations.
In my organization as an editor, our Values and moral principles are tailored by the adage that states; “anything worth doing at all is worth doing fine”.
Having this in mind, a conscious effort is consistently employed in every facet of our work including; script composition, proofreading/editing, and publishing.
As an individual, my code value centers around being transparent and showing respect for others. As a project manager, when you are transparent, you build trust amongst your sponsors, clients and team members. Trust in people provides extra motivation to drive project deliverables. Trust and respect are also important ingredients for good team spirit which is vital for Project delivery.
Core values can vary greatly depending on the organization.
Here’s a few values my organization abides by;
Creativity: Encouraging innovative thinking and out-of-the-box solutions.
Authenticity: Embracing genuineness and transparency in all interactions.
Empathy: Understanding and empathizing with the feelings, perspectives, and experiences of customers.
Teamwork: Collaborating effectively, fostering a supportive environment, and recognizing the collective effort.
From my understanding, The organizational values is transparency, team members may prioritize open communication and sharing of information throughout the project. This can lead to better collaboration, trust, and ultimately, more successful project outcomes. On the other hand, if a value is innovation, team members may be encouraged to think creatively, take risks, and explore new ideas to drive project success.
For me, my values set me apart in the company because they reflect on my unique perspective and principles. By adhering to the values of integrity, innovation, and collaboration, my approach to challenges comes with a distinct mindset, which often uncovers inventive solutions and fostering a culture of openness and teamwork.
My commitment to these values not only enhances my individual contributions but also elevates the collective success of the team showcasing my invaluable role within the company.
The my organization core values are
Fairness
Accountability
Integrity
Social responsibility
These are like philosophy on how will carry out business and guild the conduct of every member in a team
What sets me apart from other employees in my company are my values, which ensure that I uphold standards and that both my behaviour and that of my teams are well-packaged. Together with the project team’s moral code
Every successful organization must have rules and regulations that guide the conduct of the worker in the organization, In my organization as a site worker, you are not permitted to steal, honesty and hard work is our watchword
Our organizational values include honesty, integrity, mutual respect, and excellent performance, transparency.
This ensures projects are delivered with the desired output for the client in a timely manner and there is no form of waste of resources. Values can help everyone to act in line with the rules and regulations guiding the organization. Values also ensure that every team members adhere to safety measures that has been put in place to keep the site safe.