Mohamed HassanProject Management Consultant, Author and Speaker| LIFELONGKuwait, Kuwait
In many situations, an action might be legal but not ethical. For example, in many countries, women are paid less than men for the same job. The legislation allows this pay difference but it is not ethical. Have you encountered situations in which an option was legal but not ethical? How did you handle it? What decision making framework or approach did you use? Saving Changes...
Antonio LouroDirector Africa| Insight InternationalLuanda, Luanda, Angola
Great Topic no doubt with a lot of valuable contributions!
But we need also to keep in mind that societies (ethics) change faster (a lot faster these days) then Laws- So it is fair to say that there is a gap between law and society perception of what is good or bad!
From a PM point a view I believe that the Code of Ethics will give you (us) a very solid and fair baseline. Saving Changes...
Valerie Denney Associate Professor| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- WorldwideCleveland, Sc, United States
Thank you for posting Mohamed,
Each person has his or her own view of what is ethical. An organzational structure also has its view of what is ethical and it is manafested through the organizational culture. If the individual view conflicts with the organizational view, there is conflict.
Often, as a professor and member of the EMAG, I am asked whether something is ethical or not. I most often decline to answer directly and instead refer individuals to the PMI Ethical Decision Making Framework (EDMF) to answer their question. I prefer to guide the individual to think through the alternatives and determine the course of action. After all, giving my input would be just that, input and an opinion.
I refer back to something I heard while doing my doctoral reserach. I asked whether the participants in the study believed that a specific situation was ethical or not. The answer was priceless. One of the participants snapped back with "does it really matter what it is called ethical or not? It still is wrong." That response sticks with me. Saving Changes...
Ivan RiveraProject Manager, Teacher| ITESM Campus Ciudad de MéxicoDf, Df, Mexico
I agree that not everything that is legal is ethical. I could not say it better.
Now. When the PM faces a situation of doubt, I consider that the most convenient action is to scale the issue: with the immediate boss, or the legal department. Saving Changes...
Ruth Marina Lopez PerezResponsable TI| INSTITUTO DE PREVISION SOCIAL MILITAR - NICARAGUAMasaya, Los Madrigales, Nindirí, Nicaragua
Oh¡ really is a difficult situation. Every year I participate in processes of audits of organizations outside my organization. In aspects that are legal but not ethical, I scale the situation with another experimented chief and of high level . In this way, I transfer the risk because for me, the laws are changing, but the principles are eternal. Saving Changes...
Zahara KhanProgram Lead, SEDP| Silver Jubilee Development AgencyKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
@Mohamed: Interesting question. As a female professional in a developing country, I continue to see differential treatment when it comes to financial remunerations. Some organizations offer options such as flexi-timing, childcare facilities stating these compensate the women which is not a fair statement as they are required to fulfill multiple roles in our circumstances. It may not be against the law but still goes against the value of 'fairness'.
As for legal being ethical, slavery was legal at one time but was it ethical? Laws (like code of conduct/standard) are made by human beings and open for review and debate with possibility of changes. Saving Changes...
Respecting the local customs and cultures of the country that you may find yourself in while managing a project is an important aspect of any Project Manager. With that Projects are by their nature a temporary situation that will eventually reach a conclusion. Your will either return to your native country or another country so if something is legal but unethical in one country this may not be the case in another country. In order to prevent any unforeseen issues down the road in your Project Management career I would allow Professional ethics guide my decision making process and uphold the values of the PMBOK methodology. Saving Changes...
