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.
Integrity in my work space comes in many forms, but above all refers to having upstanding character traits and work ethics including sound judgement, honesty, dependability, and loyalty.
Integrity for us means doing the right thing through your words, actions and beliefs even when no one is watching.
Having a high degree of integrity for us at work means that:
*You are trustworthy and reliable.
*You practice and encourage open and honest communication.
*You are responsible for your actions.
Ultimately, integrity for us is based on values rather than personal gain.
By showing that you are an honest and dependable person, you’ll gain respect and trust from your peers and managers, which can also play a big part in career growth, progression and overall success.
Many of us are aware of some characters adopted by some people who are willing to delegate but hesitant to get their hands dirty. That’s why in my organization we give credence more to people with integrity, that are willing to go above and beyond with their own work and help others out if the situation calls for it.
talking Ethics/ values in my little world of experience working with many startups not having clearly defined values or ethics. You find out that most of them end up getting confused about certain choices in the growth ladder there by making decisions in the moment not acco8 to any predefined set of rules. This has it’s pitfall in grooming followership as the organization is not known to stand out for anything and are usually selfish in decision.
Whereas in organisations with Ethics , codes of conduct, values, all available options are put on the table and the one that closely fits or relate to their predetermined ethics and values is most likely considered. This show all involved a pathway creating less confusing methods.
I believe humanity, empathy, understanding and teamwork will make an organisation achieve its set goals
I believe mission, vision and values are really important in an organization to help everyone know what they are driving at, there end goal.
Integrity, Empathy, transparency are core values I ensure everyone around me imbibe and exude. If we’d work together, we have to understand that there are demands I make for the progress of our development.
Moral values are very important in every organization. Which without there will be no organization. Morals like respect, punctuality, time management and so on. Therefore as a project manager these values are very vital and key to give me distinction and a choice compare to others. Reason because everyone needs to be valued, and a moral project manager provides value for client, respect their opinions and guide the project towards giving feedback that solve the need of the client etc. I have seen reason to have these values. Thank you
Ibrahim Asa Bagudu. Team 5.
My organisation’s values are Love, Leadership, Integrity, empathy, Teamwork and feedback, It has a brought about a healthy working culture, where everyone is relaxed to work, free to ask questions and give contributions without fear.
We are team spirited.
In my group, our values are trust, honesty, team work and accuracy. We tend to be transparent to the client we have due to the time we are to finish the project on time or not and also team work helps to finish the work faster
INTEGRITY : is about acting with fairness and moral principles in mind.
This ensures that we do the right things always on the project, irrespective of who is watching or not.
•HONESTY : . An honest person tells the truth and remains transparent in the workplace. Yet, valuing honesty also means you expect transparency from your team .
•ACCOUNTABILITY: means taking responsibility for your actions and being accountable to others. It is an important quality in the workplace, as it helps build trust in the project team.
•RESPECT:: Goes beyond simply being polite, respect means treating all employees, clients, customers, and stakeholders with dignity and worth.
It helps create a balanced and healthy work environment.
Don’t be isolated, seek help at any time
Inclusiveness in the sense that every human can join our team and become who they are meant to be