Zahara KhanProgram Lead, SEDP| Silver Jubilee Development AgencyKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
PMI’s Code of Ethics notes that conflicts of interest are a serious issue for practitioners. How do you distinguish your duties owed to your profession, client or organization (called your primary interests) from self-interest? Can you share any examples that help clarify? Saving Changes...
This is a tough one to answer, one way I knew was my gut told me. Years ago, when I was in a regular weekly client meeting, they divulged information that I knew could be beneficial to my organization. I immediately knew this (we were a contractor) and I said to myself that I was not going to say anything to ensure there would be no impropriety. Unfortunately, the sales person heard the information from another channel and my client found out, and I think assumed I had divulged it. It wasn't the end of the world (thankfully), but it taught me a lesson that I needed to go one step further to ensure my client always knew that I was protecting them and keeping my mouth closed when appropriate. Saving Changes...
Numan ArshadAmana Pipeline Construction L.L.C.Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Conflict of interest might jeopardize, project successful delivery under constraints. Self interest can become conflict of interest, if it does the same. Saving Changes...
Pier Luigi CalabriaProject Manager| INFORM Institut für Operations Research und Management GmbH, Aachen, GermanyAachen, Germany
Every time you are going to take a decision, analyze to the bottom of your heart if this is done for the project, for the Company, for yourself or for someone else (i.e. a supplier). And of course if this decision will bring to that person a positive or negative effect.
According to the response, you can easily check if it's any conflict of interest. Just a small advice: the more you need to think to find an answer, may tell you that there is a conflict of interest already.....
Some Companies also give not only a business ethics guideline, but also someone to ask to, in case of doubt.
Good luck. Saving Changes...
Mohamed HassanProject Management Consultant, Author and Speaker| LIFELONGKuwait, Kuwait
Conflict of interest is one of the most important topics. Recently one of my friends who is outsourced from a company to work with a client as a consultant that his direct manager asked him to support their proposal when it has arrived the client.
My friend told me that he will not do that because this is a clear conflict of interest and I supported his decision because code ethics should be followed.
My friend SMS me yesterday to tell me that his manager respected his decision and he appreciated his approach even if the company will lose the deal but at least the Management are happy to have such honest person with them and this person will protect the company in case some others try to approach him in the future. Saving Changes...
Asim AliProjects Control Manager| Trust Cost Project Management Services Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What ever criteria we adopt to qualify a vendor, will not reflect enough information about vendors we don't have experience with them before. So it's more safe and accurate if we select a vendor we know from experience that he is qualified . On the other hand going with somebody you know might be classified as a conflict of interest . Saving Changes...
Not an easy distinction.
In both case the choice is not in the best interest of the project (in a project context).
I would say self interest, is you personally gain from it.
In a conflict of interest it might not be you directly who get the benefit. Saving Changes...
