Paul PelletierProject management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Regional culture can affect ethical decision-making in projects. Have you experienced the impact of cultural norms and perspectives on ethics in your projects? What was the outcome?
Jaycee KrügerDirector | Mhlegahlatini (Pty) LtdHeidelberg, Gauteng, South Africa
While it is reality that ethical norms vary greatly between regions, countries, companies and people, it is an untenable situation and probably the basic cause for so many social problems the world over. It has to change!
As a member of PMI we all signed the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which should hence forth govern our ethical behaviour. Unfortunately that will place many people before a major choice between PMI membership and sub-standard ethical standards. To pay lip service without commitment to this code is unethical in itself!
Arguments that the PMI code it a Euro-centric or Ameri-centric does not fly - anyone who has a conscious will have to agree it is "the right thing to do" no matter what "centric" you support. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Regional culture and ethical decision-making in projects are not related. That is a misunderstanding that most of the people have. Ethic is the same thing no matter culture, region, country. The discussion about what is ethical or not does not depends on culture, region, country. That is because most of the organizations (like the PMI) created their own code of ethic because the generalized misunderstanding. But this is not new. It is an ancient discussion in the field of philosophy. Saving Changes...
Paul PelletierProject management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thank you both for the excellent observations. This is is exactly the debate the discussion was meant to open up. As a member of the Ethics Member Advisory Group, we often hear that "culture impacts ethics". I totally agree with your perspectives yet, many PM professionals express that cultural values have influence on ethical decision-making.
If that were true, PMI's global code of ethics wouldn't work. On the contrary, it works because there is a thread of commonality the ethics weaves through all of us, regardless of location, circumstance and perspective.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
As in other types of things all people are not prepare to discuss this type of things. I have a background in philosophy among other things and this is an ancient discussion started a lot of centuries ago. The same thing with others more "terrestrial" things like agile discipline or innovation. A lot of people talk about that without take a time to really understand about that. I fully encourage to talk about anything but with some kind of basement. Saving Changes...
Paul PelletierProject management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sergio - your foundation is rare and wonderful for this topic. Thank you for your comments. They help all of us step back and return to fundamental principals. Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
I experienced no-ethical behavior in various countries and I agree totally with the comments expressed by all of you. Anyway, to answer to the original question, it is important to understand what influences the ethical behavior or, in other word, what affect ethical decision. If will be not the culture what is the element that influence it?
As formerly commented, basing on my personal experiences I consider that the root of ethical behavior is not based on cultural issues but on other aspects. Personally I think “normal” people don’t decide to act ethically or not, which is the classic choice between the right and the wrong, but they base the choice between what is correct and what is easy.
I consider this behavior is basically a consequence of two aspects:
• In this manner the moral dimension is not considered and the no-ethical behavior can be justified in a more “polite” manner – they are the external circumstances which force our decision making.
• The poor analysis of consequences (both determined by a short time perspective adopted and lack of “risk analysis”)
I had the opportunity to work for solving ethical problems in several circumstances and countries, this analysis was very helpful for me because helped me to focus the strategy adopted in the second aspect - enlarge the perspective - which at least resulted more effective.
Saving Changes...
Paul PelletierProject management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
That is a terrific assessment of the heart of the matter Fosco. I like your approach and my experience aligns with yours. It's not really about right or wrong - it's about easy and short term vs. a carefully considered long term approach with conscious risk analysis. Thank you for the comment! Saving Changes...
