Viewing Posts by Dr. Deepa Bhide
A Story of Ethical Crossroads - Delayed Delivery
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Situation: Anika (name changed to protect privacy), a project manager at a tech startup, was overseeing the launch of a new mobile app. The deadline loomed on her as they planned to showcase the app to potential investors at a tech conference. The pressure was immense. As the launch date approached, Anika discovered a critical bug in the app's user interface. The development team worked tirelessly to fix it, but time was running out. Fixing it properly would mean missing the conference deadline. A quicker but less elegant workaround was possible – it would mask the bug for the demo, but it wouldn’t be a long-term solution. Anika faced a difficult choice. Even with the workaround, presenting the app at the conference would generate much-needed buzz and attract potential investment. But it would also mean introducing a product that wasn’t fully functional. Disclosing the bug would likely dampen enthusiasm, but it would be the honest thing to do. She considered the implications. Deceiving potential investors, even with a temporary fix, felt fundamentally wrong. It could damage the company's reputation and erode trust. Behavior: Anika gathered her team and explained the situation. After a difficult discussion, they decided to be transparent. At the conference, Anika presented the app, highlighting its key features and acknowledging the minor UI issue. She explained that they were committed to delivering a polished final product and would have a fully functional version available soon. While some initial disappointment was palpable, the honesty and transparency resonated with many attendees. Several investors appreciated Anika’s candor, seeing it as a sign of integrity. In the long run, the company gained more respect and trust than it would have by concealing the bug. Impact: Anika’s decision demonstrates that ethical conduct is a moral imperative and a sound business strategy. By upholding the PMI's core values (Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty), project managers build trust, foster strong relationships, and create a foundation for long-term project and organizational success. In the long run, honesty and transparency are far more valuable than any short-term gains achieved through unethical means. Have you experienced such scenarios in your professional life so far? How did you face them and manage them? Please share your experiences. PMI’s Ethical Decision Making Framework - https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/ethics/ethical-decision-making-framework.pdf?_gl=1*1bqx469*_gcl_au*OTkwMTE2OTYyLjE3MzM2MzkzNDM. |
Navigating the Ethical Landscape of Artificial Intelligence: A Balancing Act
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How do you deal with the balancing act of ethics in an AI-powered world? Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a science fiction concept to ubiquitous in our daily lives, transforming industries and shaping the future. However, this transformative power comes with significant ethical considerations, raising concerns about potential biases, discrimination, and the erosion of human autonomy. In the ever-evolving realm of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) stands as both a beacon of innovation and a source of ethical quandaries. AI is increasingly used in businesses across the board, ethical concerns are likely to arise due to conflict between the AI recommendation and human values or what needs to be done right! "With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon." – Elon Musk. Musk's ominous warning reflects a widespread concern about the potential dangers of unchecked AI development. While Musk's perspective may lean toward caution, it underscores the importance of ethical considerations in AI. "There is a diversity crisis in AI... there is a tendency to build technology that benefits a select few." - Timnit Gebru. Gebru's emphasis on the lack of diversity in AI development brings attention to an ethical concern often overlooked. The potential biases embedded in AI systems can perpetuate social inequalities, making diversity a crucial aspect of ethical AI design. One of the primary ethical concerns surrounding AI is the issue of bias. AI algorithms are trained on vast amounts of data, which may contain inherent biases that can be amplified through learning. These biases can lead to discriminatory outcomes, particularly in areas such as hiring, lending, etc. A 2018 study by Joy Buolamwini revealed that facial recognition systems from prominent companies exhibited higher error rates for darker-skinned and female faces, highlighting the bias present in AI algorithms. This study highlighted the importance of removing bias from the data before an AI model could work on it. This data also emphasizes the need for rigorous testing and diverse datasets to mitigate biased outcomes in AI applications. Mitigating bias in AI requires careful data curation, algorithmic auditing, and the development of fairness-aware machine learning techniques. Another ethical concern is the potential for AI to erode human autonomy. As AI systems become more sophisticated, they may make recommendations that have significant impacts on people's lives without their input or consent. This raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and the preservation of individual autonomy. Ensuring human oversight and control over AI systems is crucial to preventing their misuse and preserving human agency. To address ethical concerns, AI developers must prioritize transparency in their algorithms. Understanding how AI systems make decisions is essential for developers and end-users, fostering accountability in deploying AI technologies. Navigating the ethical landscape of AI requires a comprehensive approach involving policy, regulation, and industry collaboration. Governments must establish clear guidelines and regulations for AI development and deployment, ensuring that these systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with ethical principles. Industry leaders must adopt responsible AI practices, prioritizing fairness, transparency, and human oversight. And researchers must continue to develop AI technologies that are ethically sound and beneficial to society. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape our world, the ethical considerations surrounding its development are more critical than ever. Quotes from thought leaders serve as a poignant reminder of the potential risks, while objective data sheds light on real challenges faced by AI systems. Achieving a balance between innovation and ethics is not just a choice but a necessity in the responsible evolution of artificial intelligence. The path forward requires collaborative efforts, transparency, and a commitment to ensuring that AI benefits humanity as a whole. What is our take on ethics and AI? How do we see treading the balancing act? Are there any specific pointers that we should be aware of? I would like to know your view of this contemporary topic… References: Buolamwini, J., & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, 81, 1–15 |
Organizational Ethical Dilemma - How do you handle this?
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Mary*: Hey John, I didn’t see you for a long time. I hope all is well with you. John*: Not really. I have been on leave for the past two weeks. I am thinking of resigning. Mary: What happened? I thought your project was going well. John: The project is going well; we are in the second of the four sprints. The team is committed to the deliverables and engaged with the work. Just as we were in a steady state of the work, the client made a last-minute significant change to the project's scope with only a minimal extension to the timeline. As a project manager, I tried to defer or extend the schedule but that change was critical for them to survive in the market. I explained to the client that while I respect their request, I would need additional time to train my existing team on the new skills that would be needed to accommodate the changed scope of work. The client seems to have had a discussion with my manager about my request. Mary: What was the outcome of that discussion? I am sure your manager would have supported you. John: No, that was surprising! My manager wants my team to proceed with the new scope. I advised that the change would entail considerable effort and delay the project significantly. The project team would need added training, and we may need to hire a new skillset, too. My manager is unsupportive of training or hiring of the necessary skill sets. He has informed me of existing cost pressure preventing sanctioning an additional budget. They have asked me to discuss the scope internally with my team and recalibrate it. They would like me to hold off on features that are not a “must-have.” I don’t think this is fair to anyone. There is a lack of transparency. Mary: Oh! That’s unfortunate. What is his recommendation for going ahead with the project? John: My manager would like me to proceed with completing the project with the existing team and in the agreed-upon timeline. I tried convincing my manager by showing him the objective data around the existing gaps in the team to complete the project. I would like him to support me in talking to the client about the change. Mary: I think that’s fair. Have you scheduled a meeting with your manager to review the team's needs? John: My manager is not ready to listen to my requests. He has declined my meeting invite, adding a note of his decision to proceed with the changed scope with the existing team. He is against negotiation, and I think he is exercising his power of supremacy. I consider this to be unethical and disrespectful behavior. I also informed them that the client should be consulted before taking a call on the project scope. This is very unethical behavior. When my repeated requests fell on deaf ears, I planned a leave and now would like to resign. Mary: Sorry to hear that. While I am able to understand the context of your decision, I would like you to reconsider your decision to resign. Unethical behavior can cost the company its credibility and even trigger a lawsuit. Is this the first time that you have seen disrespectful behavior from your manager? John: This is surely not the first time and his behavior, often, has been the same way. The least I Does your organization have a Code of Ethics? If not, I suggest you review the Project Management Institute’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The Code has four values, namely Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty, with well-defined and expected behaviors. PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is time-tested, applicable to anyone connected with PMI in any capacity, and an industry-agnostic framework that is well accepted. It's easy to understand and explain in the context of unethical behavior. John: Oh yes. That’s helpful to know. How will it help me in my current ethical dilemma? Mary: Thank you. Outline your dilemma around the disrespectful behavior that you have noticed with your manager. As a proactive step to avoid any similar issues in the future, I suggest you the following recommendations for your consideration.
John: Thank you, Mary. This is helpful. I understand that our organization has a Code of Ethics in place, but I don’t think we have sufficient awareness about it. I agree with your suggestions. Resigning from the job is perhaps not a good option. I will talk to a senior leader in my organization and take on the responsibility of driving ethical behaviors at our workplace. Does this sound familiar to you all? I would like to know what you think about the topic. References
*names changed to protect privacy. All characters and incidents are fictitious.
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The Ethical Dilemma of a Project Manager
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Ethics and ethical behavior refer to general principles such as honesty, integrity, and morals. Acting ethically is noble and involves greater self-control, discipline, and maturity. Acting ethically is critical in our professional and personal situations. I recently came across a problem as follows. Mary* was a senior leader in ABC company that dealt with offshoring business processes to companies from other sides of the world. This was done to maintain a strategic advantage for the company and provide 24*7 cover for business operations. Mary had been a disciplined and dedicated project manager for the company with proper ethical behavior and practices. She exhibited immense integrity in the most challenging times of the project. As a result, she was often cited in meetings for her exemplary behavior. A recent incident in the organization proved challenging for Mary and her reputation. Mary was a part of the meeting with senior leadership. The meeting had been called to discuss some crucial scope changes to the existing project. The client representatives had proposed a complex feature to the application. Mary was aware of the existing skillsets of the resources on the project. The change was tricky, and she would need to retrain the existing resources or hire new skill sets. On realizing that this would pose difficulty in delivering the project, Mary quickly pointed this out. She knew she was responsible and accountable for the project. However, one of the senior leadership members challenged Mary’s concerns and asked her to agree to deliver the complex feature. Mary knew the current status and informed the leader about the situation. The leader, however, was firm in his direction as he knew the feature would help the project and the company. Mary and her team needed help to deliver the project and struggled while executing it. Due to unsatisfactory deliverables, the client withdrew their support for the project. The leadership summoned Mary to discuss what had happened. Mary put down her papers in the same meeting and resigned immediately. According to the Project Management Institute’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the definition of Responsibility is as follows. 2.1 Description of Responsibility Responsibility is our duty to take ownership of the decisions we make or fail to make, the actions we take or fail to take, and the consequences that result. Responsibility as a value is described in detail on its aspirational and mandatory standards in The Code. Did Mary act as per her responsibility? What is the difference between responsibility and accountability? Did Mary adhere to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct? I would like to know what you think about this situation. *Name changed to protect privacy Resources PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct: https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/ethics/pmi-code-of-ethics.pdf?rev=6af21906e5934b638ceeabeb4137f41d&sc_lang_temp=en PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Value Cards: https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/ethics/code-values-card.pdf?rev=44578e34774241568ce0034489794fe4&sc_lang_temp=en PMI’s blog on Ethics, “Ethics Bistro”: https://www.projectmanagement.com/blogs/365304/ethics-bistro
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Back to office? A challenge or breeze?
| Mary sat sipping coffee in the bistro chatting with her colleagues. One of them was describing her challenges around returning to the office and the others were listening intently. “I don’t think I can go back to office to work. I am searching for a new job that suits my requirements. I see challenges managing my home and work front. Besides, I am not sure why are we being called to the office? Our team has been excelling in the work even as we work from home” - a colleague “Yes, me too. The work-life balance has been redesigned to suit this new reality; I am enjoying my motherhood as well as being a professional at work. I think the culture of the organization matters. It’s important to discover if it’s a command-and-control type or it is de-centralised and manages more by outcomes. It also depends on your rapport with your manager and how flexible he/she is to your requests” - another colleague quipped “I think the pandemic accelerated the adoption of an adaptive model of work leveraging the benefits of using technology. Companies took advantage of it to diversify its workforce, acquire new businesses, learn new technologies, and gain agility for moving their specific business units across the globe. Isn’t that cool?” – the discussion was getting interesting “Yes, of course! There is a lot that we all have gained. For me, personally, reduction in travel made a lot sense. I am not a travel enthusiast but had always felt a lot of travel was unnecessary and detrimental to the environment in the long run. But, on a flip side, when some units just cannot have a work from home (eg healthcare workforce), I also see issues such as disparity in compensation, career progression, preference of careers etc. This can cause a dissatisfaction. Technology to monitor employee behavior may seem like micromanagement causing employee dissatisfaction. And last but not the least, I think I will miss the team bonding that happened over coffee and in corridors”. “Oh yes, there are numerous challenges that will hound us. But I think the benefits of a new hybrid model of work will prevail over the disadvantages” Mary was silently listening to her colleagues as they battled over these contemporary topics. “I agree with you all. In all this maze of benefits and challenges, what I think is important is being ethical in your work. Ethical values are key to sustainability and success and in the long term, where businesses and organizations will thrive in the new model of work, it’s only the ethical principles that will help drive positive outcomes. Didn’t we experience this the last couple of years? While we saw our near and dear ones grappling with unprecedented situations, organizations across the globe, their own ways, supported them to the best of their abilities. The empathy was evident from their support. The organizations, no doubt had multiple challenges and I found PMI Ethics resources are a good reference. When faced with ethical challenges at work, I would refer to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to support in decision making. Hey, at the end of the day, it’s happiness that matters; isn’t it?- Mary concluded The group fell silent as Mary’s comments on ethical values were echoing in their minds. Do they resonate with you too? Would like to hear from you. References |
