fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Corruption is a scourge that unfortunately affects many human activities.
Do you think it could in any way interfere in the practice of project management?
If your answer is not please indicate why.
In the case you think that it could affect projects, please indicate which elements are, in your opinion, the most triggers.
many thanks in advance Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Jan 13, 2016 3:04 AM
Replying to Markus Kopko
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Hello,
i would echo the comments by Rami and Adil.
It is espacially difficult in an international company when more than one law may be affected and has to be aware of.
In our company every employee has to be done up to 3 seminars/webinars every year related to corruption, anti-trust and those issues.
As a PM i have to do 2 of these (the third one is related to employees in the cost controlling area) and just did it a few weeks ago, so it is quite actual for me.
Regards,
Markus
Many thanks Markus, I work in an international context too and we have the same policy (webinar etc.) and a yearly disclosure of conflict of interest. I agree with you that in an international context the matter is affected by different laws and, I add, by different ethical codes. If you are interested i posted other Question - called "Ethics, culture and education" - where this matter was considered. In that Question it was highlighted that it is necessary to find a common code, or better the common elements in every culture, instead to "impose" the code of head quarters. thanks in advance to express your opinion Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Jan 13, 2016 9:34 AM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Exactly, I used to do these online every year with my previous employer.
Hi Rami,
did you have a policy for it?
In the affirmative case, do you think it is fundamental for the success of Anti-corruption politics?
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 14, 2016 8:08 PM
Rami Kaibni
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I do have one but can't disclose it due too confidentiality.
IMHO, It will be fundamental if reinforced and monitored properly just like any other rules and regulations. At the end of the day, it is a ink on paper but reinforcing it and monitoring is what make it an efficient document.
Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Jan 13, 2016 1:11 PM
Replying to Khawaja Saif ur Rehman
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Absolutely apt responses from everyone.
One thing I'd like to add. The corruptions in contracts and procurement are quantifiable and thus tangible. The moral corruptions are; at times; difficult to detect.
One behaviour I consider as most inappropriate is of those project managers who do not act as entrepreneur on behalf of the company and are "just doing their job". These project managers not necessarily have bad or personal intentions yet their attitude towards handling the project makes it prone to many many disasters.
Many thanks for your contribution Khawaja, I agree with you that the matter is important but I think it is more related to Ethics area than to Corruption one.
At the same time I think that Ethics and Corruption are concepts closely related and, perhaps we can include Corruption in Ethics (better lack of Ethics)
What do you think?
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1 reply by Khawaja Saif ur Rehman
Jan 15, 2016 2:25 AM
Khawaja Saif ur Rehman
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Exactly. Moral corruption is because of lack of ethics.
People coming from different backgrounds come with different values and ethics. The "Code of Conduct" developed by companies is meant to dealt with this. Whenever I am to deal with company matters, I have a code to follow.
Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Jan 13, 2016 3:38 PM
Replying to Rahman Tiamiyu
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Sometimes, people tend to get away with corruption under the umbrella of ''nepotism'', which is wrong ethically, perhaps organisations need to constantly amend their code of conduct i.e make it explicitly clear that ''nepotism'' is indeed a corrupt practice, I think this falls under Honesty in the PMI Code of ethics.
Thanks Ola,
completely agree with you, on my point of view "nepotism" is related with conflict of interest concept. Perhaps it is important to focus the attention on the fact that the conflict of interest is a form of corruption, what do you think? Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Jan 13, 2016 8:54 PM
Replying to Mario Trentim
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I recently read a very interesting book: How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life (http://amzn.to/1Psy0vB). I strongly recommend it. I found good advice on human behaviour and ethics. A must read for sure.
Many thanks Mario,
I found and bought it Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 14, 2016 6:05 PM
Replying to fosco frongia
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I agree with you Rami, Contracts and Procurement are the areas with more "monetary" interest, for this reason the most important projects (from the budget point of view) are the most affected by corruption attempts.
I agree with other par of your comment, it is needed an Anti-corruption and Ethics Policy.
Considering my the relationship between corruption and "monetary interest" I think that these policies are strongly needed in these kind of projects.
In your experience are there essential elements which distinguish a "big" project respect a "little" one in these policies application?
Not really, whether it was a small project or a big project the policies are the same. What differs is the tendency for corruption and degree of reinforcement for these policies as in large projects, there are lots of room for corruption if things were not monitored properly while on small projects, it is limited, yet it can happen but usually detected shortly.
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1 reply by fosco frongia
Jan 16, 2016 9:02 AM
fosco frongia
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yes, I think your position it is the correct one. there are not different policies but perhaps attitudes. In fact I think people are more motivated to commit illicit acts in major projects for greater amount of budget and easier to hide the illicit
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 14, 2016 6:28 PM
Replying to fosco frongia
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Hi Rami,
did you have a policy for it?
In the affirmative case, do you think it is fundamental for the success of Anti-corruption politics?
I do have one but can't disclose it due too confidentiality.
IMHO, It will be fundamental if reinforced and monitored properly just like any other rules and regulations. At the end of the day, it is a ink on paper but reinforcing it and monitoring is what make it an efficient document.
Many thanks for your contribution Khawaja, I agree with you that the matter is important but I think it is more related to Ethics area than to Corruption one.
At the same time I think that Ethics and Corruption are concepts closely related and, perhaps we can include Corruption in Ethics (better lack of Ethics)
What do you think?
Exactly. Moral corruption is because of lack of ethics.
People coming from different backgrounds come with different values and ethics. The "Code of Conduct" developed by companies is meant to dealt with this. Whenever I am to deal with company matters, I have a code to follow.
Sometimes, people tend to get away with corruption under the umbrella of ''nepotism'', which is wrong ethically, perhaps organisations need to constantly amend their code of conduct i.e make it explicitly clear that ''nepotism'' is indeed a corrupt practice, I think this falls under Honesty in the PMI Code of ethics.
I totally agree with you fosco, it is like leading a procurement negotiation and across the table is your "in-law" and you play along as if you haven't seen him/her before.
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1 reply by fosco frongia
Jan 16, 2016 9:07 AM
fosco frongia
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thanks, this is tha normal approach for conflict of interest
Saving Changes...
James PorterSr. Project Planner| Hitachi Rail STS USAGlenshaw, Pa, United States
Regarding the question of what triggers these behaviors, the ones that come to mind are
- self-dealing: putting own interests ahead of the company. At another company I once saw a PM undermine a project by agreeing to every demand by a contractor without objection and at great cost to the project. The PM was terminated eventually, and I bet you can guess where he got a new job.
- company culture: some companies tolerate corruption as long as it helps them. For example, a PM may offer cash to a customer's inspector to overlook certain problems. Or it may be more subtle than a cash payoff.
- a belief that "everybody does it": a PM may accept "little gifts" as a project is executed, thinking that it's no big deal. Football tickets, use of a beachfront condo for a week's vacation, or other non-cash things. No money changes hands so the PM might think it's just how things get done.
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2 replies by Rami Kaibni and fosco frongia
Jan 15, 2016 11:46 AM
Rami Kaibni
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Great and Very True feedback James !
Jan 16, 2016 9:44 AM
fosco frongia
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thanks James, I totally agree with your comments:
- Self dealing: that PM was "lucky", in other cases I know these kind of people was not fired by the company due to they had the suspect that the PM attitude would be applied in the new job environment too
- company culture: it is true, in some cases is not only tolerate but encouraged too; in this case is encouraged the attitude to corrupt other people. I think this is not depending by the company (considered like an organization based on objectives and values) but it depends by the management,
- little gifts: it is needed a policy in this case too, it is necessary to define what the company considers little gift, some company establish it in a very clear manner
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