Project managers often face ethical dilemmas in their professional life. At such times, they need help from people or resources to help them solve the dilemma.
I had a case of a project manager from the healthcare/pharmaceutical domain who faced a dilemma dealing with a resource from his team. He turned to PMI's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to serve as a guide. As he was studying and analyzing the Code to help him, his organizations called him and wanted him to review and comply with their organization's internal code of ethics. This was a separate document that he then had to go through.
The project manager realized there was a Code of Ethics given by a preeminent healthcare/pharma council, the highest body at a national level, and wanted to check that one too. As a student and practitioner in the domain, the council's Code had been an important document at all times.
While all three codes talked about similar values such as responsibility, respect, honesty, integrity, fairness, etc., the process to be followed for each was different.
The project manager needed help understanding how he should move forward. I would love to know your thoughts... Saving Changes...
Unfortunately, this is the same as dealing with multi-level regulations in that rarely has someone done the hard work of distilling requirements across all levels for practitioners.
In the case of written (vs. personal) ethics, it comes down to the PM ensuring they are meeting all three - PMI's, the organization's and the councils. Hopefully there are no direct conflicts between the individual code of ethics, and hopefully the PM's own set of ethics aligns with the union of the external ones!
I had joked about having a Political Correctness Officer on projects in a recent article so maybe in such multi-level contexts we need a Project Ethics Officer to keep everyone safe?
Kiron
Kiran, thank you for the excellent response. Lissa and Albert from Ethics team have given a very interesting webinar (link as follows) that addresses your point and I think its very valid. I think we agree with most of these values but when the PM faces this dilemma and the work stops or is delayed, something needs to be done to get the project on track and that's where the processes come in..
Lissa and Albert - https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/8...my-organization
Thanks and please do check this webinar. Saving Changes...
Thank you for the thought-provoking scenario.
I would echo the comments of fellow PMs to strive to adhere to all three sets of codes in a balanced, fair, equitable, and ethical manner.
I would suggest that the decision on the priorities of the (possibly) competing codes depends on the nature of the dilemma. My tendency would be to give primacy to the organization's code, since that is where the PM and team member work and where any reputational or financial impact from an ethical lapse would be felt. However, if there was a potential adverse health-related outcome from actions taken (or not taken) by a team member, then perhaps the healthcare council's code should govern. Finally, if the dilemma related to the care with which a team member was following PM best practices but that there was only minimal risk of damage to the organization or of adverse health consequences to patients, then the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct should have the primary role (sorry PMI g!).
I want to add that I agree with the position stated by others that, one hopes, there is little if any conflict across the three standards, at least with respect to how one should act. However, it is very possible that there will be differences related to reporting unethical or inappropriate behavior -- this might be required by some or all of the standards. That is a separate question and, again, in my opinion, depends on the type of dilemma the PM has encountered.
Thanks Bryan for your excellent comments. I agree with you. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Apr 05, 2023 11:24 PM
Replying to Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Thanks so much Sergo. While I agree its a personal choice, will all those who matter agree and allow us to follow that? Just a thought.
Thanks again
You are welcome. We are "immerse" in a system and it is up to us. Saving Changes...
Juan Posada ToroCustomer Success Manager| Rockwell AutomationEnvigado, Antioquia, Colombia
Thanks Deepa for bringing this discussion to the table.
The codes are not there to compete but to complement each other. However, I would lean towards the organization code in the first instance and the others could support the decision I would take. Saving Changes...
Hi, I agree with Rami that for practical purposes and for company internal discussions I would orient myself on the organization's Code. But that does not mean that you shouldn't also comply with the PMI Code at the same time.... - As an employee of your organization you must follow their code, but as a PMP you must also comply with the PMI Code at all times. Note: in theory if these codes directly contradict each other you might have to make a decision which to follow but personally I have never experienced such a situation. Saving Changes...
Latha Thamma reddiSr Product and Portfolio Management (Automation Innovation)| DXC TechnologyMckinney, Tx, United States
