Albert AgbemenuManaging Director| Seag Focus Ghana LtdAccra, Ghana
Unethical practices in public procurement heavily drain state budgets, especially in developing countries, leading to shoddy public infrastructure, compromised healthcare systems, and diminished public trust. Public procurement accounts for a massive percentage of GDP in emerging economies, making it a prime target for systemic corruption. These unethical actions occur across all stages of the procurement cycle, from planning to contract delivery.
With the emergence of modern technology tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), how can the Project Manager overcome this ethical dilemma with the use of AI tools to mitigate this canker, thereby aligning procurement process with the Project Management Institute’s Code of Ethics?
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Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
AI can help strengthen transparency, traceability and anomaly detection in public procurement processes, but I do not think technology alone solves the ethical dilemma.
In many cases, corruption and unethical procurement behavior are not failures of information availability. They are failures of governance, accountability, oversight and decision integrity.
That said, AI can still become a very important support layer for Project Managers and procurement governance teams.
For example, AI can help:
• Detect unusual bidding patterns, • Identify pricing anomalies, • Compare supplier behaviors across contracts, • Flag conflicts of interest, • Monitor contract deviations, • Improve audit traceability, • Analyze procurement documentation at scale, • Increase visibility across fragmented procurement ecosystems.
AI can also reduce some of the operational opacity that often enables manipulation, especially in large and document-intensive procurement environments.
However, one important risk is assuming that automation automatically creates ethics.
It does not.
If governance structures, accountability mechanisms and ethical culture remain weak, AI can also amplify bias, conceal poor decisions behind algorithmic outputs or create a false perception of objectivity.
That is why I believe the PMI Code of Ethics remains fundamentally human-centered.
But integrity, responsibility, fairness and ethical judgment still require accountable human decision-making.
In that sense, the real challenge is not only “using AI in procurement.”
It is designing procurement systems where technology strengthens ethical governance instead of merely accelerating existing dysfunctions. Saving Changes...
Ming YeungAdjunct Professor| Various academic institutesToronto, Ontario, Canada
Albert's thread raises a critical point: unethical procurement practices erode public value, weaken institutions, and undermine trust while Luis' reply rightly expands the discussion by noting that while AI can enhance transparency, detect anomalies, and strengthen oversight, technology alone cannot replace ethical governance. Their messages are powerful: AI supports integrity, but it cannot create it. As practitioners, our responsibility is to uphold the PMI values of honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect, ensuring that every tool we use reinforces, not replaces, ethical judgment. AI becomes meaningful only when guided by principled professionals committed to doing what is right even when no one is watching. Let us remain vigilant, challenge questionable behaviors, and champion ethical procurement practices that protect the public good. Thank you, Albert and Luis, for sharing your thoughts and fostering deliberations on this impactful topic. Saving Changes...
Shenila ShahabuddinPrincipal Consultant| Optimizia INCKarachi, Sind, Pakistan
An excellent perspective on a critical issue in public procurement. AI can help Project Managers promote transparency and accountability by detecting unusual bidding patterns, identifying potential risks, and supporting compliance throughout the procurement process.
However, technology must be supported by strong governance and ethical leadership. When combined with PMI's values of Responsibility, Fairness, Honesty, and Respect, AI can be a powerful tool for reducing corruption, protecting public resources, and strengthening public trust. Saving Changes...
