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.
In the organization I work in an oil factory, inclusivity, adaptability, readiness to work, innovation in the sense that you must be able to think about things we can do to improve our product in our organization.
Punctuality, we have to be at work before the actual time to relieve the just concluded shift of their work and take over.
Integrity; maintaining our integrity
Quality: maintaining our priduvt quality always
PM group 6
Cohort 12
In the organization I worked one of the organizational values is accountability and integrity.
In the telecom Industry employment is mostly given based on someone vouching for your integrity and accountability. Once you are seen as not being accountable and lacking integrity your future in the organization is over.
Odinfe David Chika
Team7
Cohort16
In my workplace our organizational values include intergrity, innovation, excellent delivery, quality and punctuality
In my organisation, integrity and transparency are core values.
In my work place ,one of the and major value is delivering quality products to our customers and making it readily accessible. Having this values ,has it made it possible to us to always ensure the right raw materials and its adequate proportions are used so as not to compromise on our quality
The scope of ethics in projects covers the Values and moral principles guiding the actions of individuals within organizational contexts.
Ethics play a crucial role that involves principles, practices and policies for making sound decisions based on moral values. And this becomes the way of life of the people within the organization.
In my organization, it fosters trust and integrity which is crucial for team collaboration, respect, fairness, reduced conflicts and creates a positive work environment that promotes inclusivity which ensures all employees are treated justly. It also help my organization maintain a positive reputation.
My values as an Entrepreneur, Honesty, diligent and transparency. In my dealing with clients. I try to be transparent and deliver on whatever contract we have.
Some of the values in my workplace include integrity, excellence, diligence, innovation, and more. These values guide the way I show up at work in everything I do. It’s literally a yardstick to measure the work I carry out.
My business as an Entrepreneur selling fabrics, some of my values are: Honesty, integrity, trustworthiness and transparency. These help me to always deliver to my costumers quality products, stating each category clearly.
Ethics in project management encompasses a broad range of considerations, from honesty and transparency to legal compliance and social responsibility. By adhering to ethical principles, project managers can build trust, enhance collaboration, and ensure the successful and sustainable completion of projects. Ethical project management not only contributes to the success of individual projects but also upholds the reputation and integrity of the organizations involved.