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.
1) Transparency
2) Excellent and timely service delivery
3) No kickbacks
These are a few of the values that guide us as a team and which is already a part of me no matter what project team I find myself
As an individual, its important you have good morals, This will go a long way in shaping your personal and professional life.
A project manager with high moral standards will easily follow the ethics of every ongoing project and uphold the core values of the organization or community.
Moral principles and value or generally ethics is simply a personal regulator that regulates and keeps in check what to do and what not as an individual and also in team management context. Those ethics guides us on handling tasks, risks, challenges with people we work in a given project.
Values and moral principles guide the actions of individuals in organizational contexts. It is important to reflect on them to understand how they will drive decision-making in projects
In my organization, we abide by the value of excellent services hence while I work I ensure I am working toward excellence therefore my methodology, procedures, and result are put in place to meet the organisation value
Ethics is necessary for all project managers. Ethics stretches from the need to have moral principles one abides with to values to rules and regulations to rules of conduct to ethical practices and then code of practices. This is a must have skillset for all project managers.
Values are a set of believe that act as map and guide to show how people should function either individually or in a group.
Below are some of the values imbibed by in my organisation;
1.Customer first:For an organisation that thrives wholelistically on people,we tend to put customers first in all we do making sure their needs are met and they are satisfied by our services.
2.Respect:Respect can’t be overemphasized in any organisation that holds growth in high esteem.for there to be growth there is need to teamplay and for there to be an harmonious team,each team members need to share respect amongst each other and also to customers.
3.Excellence:In any given field the goal should always be to be the best at what you do.Be it your service delivery or welfare of personnel in the organisation.The organisation shouldn’t fall short of excellence in any form.
4.Shared ambition:For an organisation to achieve their overall goal,members need to have same interest and same goal to achieve and must work in unison to achieve that goal.Anything outside this,the organisation is headed for the rocks.
5.Tenacity:Every member of the organisation must always have that drive and burning desire to succeed at a goal and never giving up come what may.
Project Mangers are should be ethical – upholding great values and moral principles
Project managers are accountable for the outcomes of their projects and must take responsibility for their actions and decisions. This includes acknowledging mistakes, learning from failures, and taking corrective action when necessary.
Project managers must ensure that their projects comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. This includes obtaining necessary permits and licenses, adhering to safety requirements.
Overall, ethics in project management are essential for building trust, maintaining credibility, and achieving successful project outcomes.
As a business owner in agriculture committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), maintaining sincerity and honesty in our operations is paramount. These values not only contribute to achieving SDG goals but also entail going above and beyond through continuous self-improvement to enhance our impact and value
Integrity, commitment, respect and team work