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.
Working and following the ethics of an Organisation is one of the best practices a good PM must follow some of these ethics are the rules and regulations binding the Organisation. Values in my Organisation, and line of Job are Honesty to the customer knowing a customer’s concern, and making sure you solve it diligently by resolving their complaint.
For PM the core value needed is to communicate with honesty with your team members and stakeholders so that they can know what is going on.
Working ethically is a skills a project manager needs
Value and morals are part of it when In my organization we believe in transparency, accountability and collaboration working on team members strength and weakness and creation an avenue for improvement and encouragement
This action has boost our moral and values as individual and organization as well
In my organization the values
are Excellence, integrity, innovation, collaboration, accountability and respect . These values guides my approach to work and results , It is expected that I deliver excellent results without tempering with any of the core values such as integrity, accountability and respect.
These core value has made project manager and team to always think innovation and Excellence in the progress of projects .
I work in a place where they take honest and integrity as one of there important core value. So as a project manager you have to be honest
Integrity:
Having integrity means being completely honest in everything we do. It means being open and unashamed because our actions reflect our values. It means keeping our word and doing what we say we will do with exactness as best we can. It means keeping our iDeliver promise by only making commitments we can keep.
Charity: this means that we show genuine love and concern to our customers and staffs to bring about fairness and excellent services to meet our customers needs.
Inquisitiveness: This means we taste for knowledge through healthy curiosity and open mindedness. We take interest in the worldwide community. We seek to best understand the needs of our clients. We strive to learn new things and establish creative business solutions.
Persistence: though we are a small force in a big world. Still, we don’t give up, but do our best to accomplish our mission.
As a project manager, embracing core values is fundamental to fostering a positive work environment and achieving project success. Here’s a summary of how each core value applies within the scope of my organization:
1. Honesty: Project managers prioritize transparency and truthfulness in all communications and dealings with team members, stakeholders, and clients. They uphold honesty to build trust and credibility within the project team and ensure accurate reporting of progress and challenges.
2. Respect: Project managers demonstrate respect for the diverse perspectives, skills, and contributions of team members. They create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to share ideas and opinions. Respect fosters collaboration and strengthens relationships within the team.
3. Integrity: Project managers adhere to ethical principles and uphold moral values in decision-making and actions. They operate with integrity, maintaining consistency between words and deeds. Integrity builds trust and credibility, essential for successful project outcomes and long-term relationships with stakeholders.
4. Leadership: Project managers exhibit strong leadership qualities by providing clear direction, inspiring motivation, and guiding the team towards common goals. They lead by example, empower team members, and effectively navigate challenges to drive project success.
5. Teamwork: Project managers recognize the importance of collaboration and synergy among team members. They foster a cohesive team environment where individuals work together towards shared objectives, leveraging each other’s strengths and supporting one another to overcome obstacles.
6. Safety: Project managers prioritize the health and safety of team members and stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. They implement safety protocols, identify and mitigate risks, and promote a culture of safety awareness to prevent accidents and ensure the well-being of all involved.
7. Meritocracy: Project managers value merit and performance, recognizing and rewarding individuals based on their contributions and achievements. They create a fair and equitable environment where talent and effort are acknowledged, fostering motivation and commitment within the team.
8. Pursuit of Excellence: Project managers strive for excellence in all aspects of project execution, seeking continuous improvement and innovation. They set high standards, encourage creativity and initiative, and pursue excellence in delivering quality outcomes that exceed expectations.
By embracing these core values, project managers cultivate a culture of integrity, collaboration, and excellence, laying the foundation for successful project delivery and lasting success.
I work in aviation industry and this are a few of my companies values that I apply in in my day to day one way or another .
1.Customer Focus: Prioritizing customer satisfaction and delivering high-quality services tailored to meet the diverse needs.
2. Excellence Striving for excellence in all aspects of service delivery, operational efficiency, and customer experience through continuous improvement and innovation.
3.Integrity: Conducting business with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and compliance with regulations.
4.Safety and Security: Commitment to ensuring the safety and security of passengers, employees, and assets across all operations, adhering to stringent safety protocols and industry regulations.
5. Innovation: Embracing innovation and technology to drive operational efficiency, enhance service offerings, and adapt to evolving industry trends and customer preferences.
Values like Excellence,by all means be significantly excellent, be at the top of your work at all times, always surpass your work rated performance weekly, be efficient and fast not excluding appropriateness.
Be time oriented.
Remember you are on the run all through work hours because your client trusts and depends on your services.
I work in an Health Facility, and their value are,
1. honesty: sincerity is one of the key role in health care, it create room for trust.
2. punctuality: timing is an essential tool that brings seriousness
3. Fairness: we will take everyone as equals
4. Integrity: our morals will never be questioned
5. Justice: be rest assured of being treated right
6. Professionalism: standards will be upheld at all times.
All these helps us as a team and as an individual to achieve our goals.
Discipline, integrity, personal improvement amongst others are flagged high in my organization. As an instructor, one has to be disciplined first before he can command discipline from and in others. Also, by having integrity, others believe in me, my work, my teachings and my principles and many likes to follow suit.
I also improve myself personally and in view of that, projects, people have been committed to my care to manage and the results were always awesome.