PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct – a document nobody reads or a powerful tool to elevate the profession?
From the Ethics Bistro Blog
by Tara Leparulo,
Shenila Shahabuddin, Juan Posada Toro, Albert Agbemenu, Ming Yeung, Kannan Ganesan, Yannick Arekion, Witold Hendrysiak, Stelian ROMAN, Laszlo J. Kremmer MBA, CSPO®, CSM®, PMP®
We all tackle ethical dilemmas. Wrong decisions can break careers. Which are the key challenges faced? What are some likely solutions? Where can we find effective tools? Who can apply these and why? Dry, theoretical discussions don't help. Join us for lively, light conversations to learn, share and grow!
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That little booklet, the "PMI's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (CoEPC)", usually ends up in a drawer somewhere, right? Most project managers get it when they renew their certifications and don't think much about it after. Sarah was one of them. But lately, a decision she made on a project just didn't feel right. She picked up the pamphlet, almost by accident. Could this thing, usually ignored like a fire safety manual until there's smoke, actually help her figure things out? Was it just another piece of paper, or could it really make being a project manager better?
All PMI members, volunteers, certification holders, and certification applicants accepted the PMI’s CoEPC. Has this document been read, understood, and complied with, or was the checkbox confirming acceptance checked without reading it, like the legal clauses attached to contracts in small print? It is not easy to answer this question. We can however state that it is not a dead document covered with dust, having no impact on us.
Thanks to the complaint process in place and a group of PMI volunteers serving in the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) the CoEPC has become a powerful tool to enforce ethical behavior in the project management profession. Whenever an unethical behavior is observed anybody can file a complaint. This complaint will be carefully investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken.
We are not helpless facing somebody bullying, cheating, being dishonest or not respecting rules and regulations. All that is needed is our courage to stand for truth and justice and simply state the facts by filing a complaint. From this moment the case is in the capable hands of the ERC, which will do whatever is necessary.
Please visit the https://www.pmi.org/about/ethics/cases webpage to review the public reprimands recently published, which is just the top of the iceberg of the strongest sanctions applied. This is proof that PMI takes seriously the continuous effort to make project management an ethical profession.
Your involvement in this process is, however, critical. Code section 2.3.3 says: “We bring violations of this Code to the attention of the appropriate body for resolution.” Do you have the courage to act if needed?
Posted
by
Witold Hendrysiak
on: April 27, 2025 04:37 AM |
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Comments (3)
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Juan Posada Toro
Customer Success Manager| Rockwell Automation
Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia
Hi Witek, great blog and thanks for sharing and the invitation to reflect on it.
PMI’s CoEPC is a powerful tool, not just a checkbox. It enforces ethics through actionable complaints and ERC investigations. Public reprimands prove its impact. But its strength depends on us: reporting violations upholds integrity. Courage to act ensures project management remains ethical and respected.
Call to action: read it, use it and protect the profession.
This blog is a powerful wake-up call. The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is often treated like a formality—acknowledged with a checkbox and then forgotten. But the story of Sarah really resonated. It’s a reminder that this “little booklet” isn’t just a symbolic gesture—it’s a practical guide, and sometimes a lifeline, when facing tough project decisions.
Many of us have faced situations that don’t feel right, even if they’re not clearly wrong. That gray area is where ethics truly matter. It’s reassuring to know that PMI doesn’t treat ethics as fluff but backs it up with a transparent complaint process and an active Ethics Review Committee. Seeing public reprimands published proves the system is working, and more importantly, that silence is not the only option.
Section 2.3.3 of the Code makes it our responsibility to act when something isn’t right. That can be uncomfortable, even risky—but it’s how we protect the integrity of the profession. We owe it to ourselves, our teams, and the wider community to engage with the Code not just when trouble arises, but as a constant compass in our professional journey.
Let’s stop treating the Code like a forgotten manual. Let’s read it, apply it, and stand by it.
Ming Yeung
Adjunct Professor & Acting COO/CPO/CRO (contract)| Blockchain Venture Capital Inc.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Witek, your blog compellingly reframes PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct as a vital, actionable tool, not a forgotten formality. Through Sarah’s story, it highlights how ethical discomfort can prompt meaningful reflection and responsible action. I fully agree: ethics must be lived, not shelved. The Ethics Advisory Committee and Ethics Review Committee empower professionals to challenge misconduct and uphold integrity. Filing complaints isn’t just procedural—it’s a courageous stand for fairness, honesty, and respect. The Code is more than a checkbox; it’s a compass for ethical leadership. As project managers, our commitment to these principles elevates the profession and protects the trust placed in us. Thank you, Witek, for sharing your article to encourage deliberation amongst the project management community.
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