Ming YeungAdjunct Professor & Acting COO/CPO/CRO (contract)| Blockchain Venture Capital Inc.Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I was recently invited to speak to students pursuing a certificate in project management at a local college. One student asked whether a project manager followed any ethical guidelines in the face of dilemmas in project management.
The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct immediately came to mind as the four values, namely responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty, were elaborated.
Still the question was profound and I would like to hear from you all on your thoughts on the explicit and implicit attributes an ethical project manager should exhibit. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Ming
this is pandora's box but worthwhile opening. Ethical dilemmas often occur in situations when 2 or more values collide and you have to decide somehow which value is more important or correct. Can you be respectful and honest all the time?
It depends on the circumstances and context how to decide dilemmas. And on our awareness of values and the situations, day be day. We often make decisions without knowing there is a dilemma and hurt others.
The 4 values from PMI's code of ethics are a good start and applicable to PMs. Yet there is a list of 8 values (including the PMI 4) that are felt by all humans, according to research by Rushworth-Kidder. These human values differ from beliefs, values can unite all humans (you feel disrespect, unfairness), beliefs divide humans, yet they are needed to form human communities with their cultures. Many nations think they are blessed by god (not the Germans after holocaust).
I'd suggest that each of the four PMI Code of Ethics values could be elaborated upon. For example, responsibility and respect will cover sustainability, especially from an environment perspective.
But, those four really do cover all the bases I think of when I consider what is needed from an ethics perspective by PMs.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Ramadoss CherugailResearch Analyst| Adventist Health SystemOviedo, Fl, United States
I agree with Kiron. All of them, if applicable. Saving Changes...
Ming YeungAdjunct Professor & Acting COO/CPO/CRO (contract)| Blockchain Venture Capital Inc.Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dear colleagues,
A shout-out for referring to the Code of Ethics.
An ethical dilemma often occurs in our personal and professional life and poses problems (often paradoxical in nature) in the decision-making process between two (or more) possible but unacceptable options from an ethical perspective.
In addition, PMI also publishes the Ethical Decision-Making Framework, which is a practical resource on ethical choices and accountability, to provide PMs (and others) with helpful guidance to stimulate critical thinking during an ethical dilemma.
Thank you for your collective feedback and comments. Saving Changes...
Thanks, Ming, for the topic. It's a contemporary topic at all times and will always be. Its value is also augmented in the face of new challenges related to technological advances (ethical AI?).
While the 4 values are a good starting point, a key point to consider is our values as human beings. How can we be good human beings, regardless of being a project manager or any title. We should introspect and use these base values to see where and how we stand with them.
An ethical project manager should first be an ethical human being. That will help him in his personal and professional endeavors. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Ming
The PMI Code of Ethics does cover it all. While there are only four values mentioned there, yet, under the umbrella of those values, you will find more sub-values so I suggest you elaborate on each of the four, then discuss what other values fall under those.
On the other hand, Deepa did touch a very important point which is "Our values as Human Beings" which I totally agree with.
RK Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I am in line with @Thomas post in general, mainly in the first part. Things that PMI Code of Ethics do not answer are: a PM that is managing projects related to create massive destruction weapons is acting according to ethics? Which is the position of the PMI, which are in USA, about all the USA DoD is doing on the matter? Please, I am not against PMs which are working in this type of initiatives. Things like that. Then, forget about the PMI´s Code of Ethics. Ethic is a topic that is beyond a code except you are working inside a company. In the case of the PMI, the code is not actionable then it has no sense more than you like to have a checklist. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
The problem is that people take the four values as being separate and independnatn from each other. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The reality is we have to navigate which values must be given predominance, given situational circumstances.
For example, I could be brutally honest at the cost of respect and, possibly, fairness.
Each value must be met to the highest degree that makes sense for the situation.
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1 reply by Thomas Walenta
Mar 10, 2023 4:14 AM
Thomas Walenta
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Agree, Stephane.
The judgement if a decision is good or bad ethically, is not based on one human value but on a combination of all. In addition to the 4 values in PMI's code, research has found 4 more values to be involved
- community,
- autonomy/freedom,
- humility and
- care.
If any of these values is fulfilled or breached, we as humans feel good or bad. But as you said, for any situation, the mix of values that are affected is relevant.
How to come a judgement that can be considered good or at least the lest evil?
Three methods can be used:
1. the decision results in the highest value for most involved (utilitarism)
2. follow established rules (deontology)
3. take an outsider position (virtue ethics, Aristotle)
Only if we involve ourselves in ethics, have our mental model about it we can expect to become a better human and increase the morale of the communities we are part of.
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