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.
At my workplace, the values we follow profoundly influence how we work on projects. They guide our decision-making processes, shape our approach to problem-solving, and impact how we communicate and collaborate within teams. Our values are;
– Collaboration: We value working together as a team, leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise to achieve common goals.
– Integrity: Integrity is fundamental in our work. We prioritize honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all our interactions and decision-making processes.
– Diversity and Inclusion: We embrace diversity and inclusion, recognizing the value of different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.
In the organisation where I work, Accountability and transparency are some of our values and it has helped in promoting trustworthiness among staff contributing to the organisational culture and strengthening the relationship with stakeholders.
In the company where I work, Trustworthiness, integrity, excellence and delivery is our core value and this has moved the organisation to where is it currently. Most people or clients seek for whom they can trust their investment or transaction with so as to be comfortable and free from the fear of been a victim.
Values at my work place include:
Openess
Pioneering
These values guide me in projects because everything I do has to align with these values. Openess encourages and guides in interactions with stakeholders ensuring that projects are run in a transparent way. Pioneering guides in bringing creativity to what is being done such that I don’t have to only limit myself with how things have been done before but I can come up with creative ways of addressing issues.
My organisation vales are professional integrity and honesty, and these have been the secret to their growth and success. Seeing how these core values has contributed immensely to the organisation advancement, we then make them our tag.
Professional Integrity and honesty are twin brothers and almost everybody will want to do business with whosoever that posses them. These two values will make earning the trust of clients, and stakeholder easier, and also birth loyalty from Project team.
Using my workplace as a case study, our core values which are fundamental to the achievement of the mission and vision of the company are as follows; Integrity, Quality, Energized team and Customer centricity. The listed values can affect on a project, for instance Quality as one of my core values: Proactively improving quality of project executed or ways of handling project will make one outstanding among peers.
Where I worked before now, our core value as a team was Good attention to details, integrity and communication. These value helped in ensuring information is passed effectively and there was little or no error margin.
Core values are at the heart of every company’s service delivery and success. For me and my team(s), some core values that form a bedrock for project management and execution are:
Communication
Collaboration
Innovation
Excelllence
Integrity
Sustainability
Commitment
Passion and Knowledge
These serve as the bedrock and guiding pillars for community growth and business dealings with clients and other team stakeholders.
Core values not only reflect the company’s ethos but also shape its approach to assisting projects. Here are some of the key values that assist in project execution:
1. Communication
2. Quality Excellence
3. Customer-Centric Approach
4. Safety First
5. Innovation and Adaptability
6. Integrity and Ethical Conduct
7. Team Collaboration and Empowerment
8. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
By upholding these values, it assists projects but also sets a standard of excellence for the project. Whether it’s ensuring quality, prioritizing safety, fostering innovation, or promoting sustainability, these values serve as guiding principles that drive the company’s success and create value for clients, stakeholders, and the community.
Some major values guiding the rope of a project manager includes communication, transparency, team spirit, empathy etc. These values, when put in place will bring about excellent relationships among all the stakeholders in a project this leading to a positive outcome.