Ethics and values are a tricky thing. We often accept projects without really thinking about whether or not projects, stakeholders, or an end product/service go against our values. Does it even matter? Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Mr. SV-
We are hired to produce a Deliverable. Unless our Professional Ethics are compromised in some unanticipated way, it is our mandate as Professional Project Managers to deliver the Project as "on time" and "on budget" as humanly possible.
On a personal level, I was the Director of a base expansion in Afghanistan for the Afghan National Army. I pushed this Project as hard as possible towards completion due to the poor living conditions of my staff, the dangerous location, and the constant threats to my Ethics-corruption within the Afghan military is rampant.
This was the only Project during my career where I had no confidence that the facility would be maintained for any duration of time beyond handover. However, I performed my job to the best of my ability......
From the trenches!
M
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3 replies by Drew Craig, Rami Kaibni, and Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 2:57 AM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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I totally agree with you Mark. I have performed some projects that I knew the end result was providing a product/service that I would not partake in.
Jan 17, 2018 6:00 AM
Drew Craig
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Wow, that is amazing. I'd be interested in reading more about that. Not necessarily the details of the project, but how you were able to overcome the challenges.
Jan 17, 2018 2:26 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Mark, you nailed that. Great feedback and I totally agree.
If it matters to you on a personal level, that should not affect your project or job as you should not take it personal unless it breaches the code of ethics. If you can't do it because it is totally against your values then all you can do is walkaway and it happens in many cases.
Mr. SV-
We are hired to produce a Deliverable. Unless our Professional Ethics are compromised in some unanticipated way, it is our mandate as Professional Project Managers to deliver the Project as "on time" and "on budget" as humanly possible.
On a personal level, I was the Director of a base expansion in Afghanistan for the Afghan National Army. I pushed this Project as hard as possible towards completion due to the poor living conditions of my staff, the dangerous location, and the constant threats to my Ethics-corruption within the Afghan military is rampant.
This was the only Project during my career where I had no confidence that the facility would be maintained for any duration of time beyond handover. However, I performed my job to the best of my ability......
From the trenches!
M
I totally agree with you Mark. I have performed some projects that I knew the end result was providing a product/service that I would not partake in. Saving Changes...
Yes Mark you are right. Many time we receive the project without much to say about the values it pertains. Most of the projects goals are to increase the company profit, i.e. more revenue, through new products/services or better efficiency, doing more with less resources. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Jan 17, 2018 2:49 AM
Replying to MARK A ANNUNZIATA, Sr
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Mr. SV-
We are hired to produce a Deliverable. Unless our Professional Ethics are compromised in some unanticipated way, it is our mandate as Professional Project Managers to deliver the Project as "on time" and "on budget" as humanly possible.
On a personal level, I was the Director of a base expansion in Afghanistan for the Afghan National Army. I pushed this Project as hard as possible towards completion due to the poor living conditions of my staff, the dangerous location, and the constant threats to my Ethics-corruption within the Afghan military is rampant.
This was the only Project during my career where I had no confidence that the facility would be maintained for any duration of time beyond handover. However, I performed my job to the best of my ability......
From the trenches!
M
Wow, that is amazing. I'd be interested in reading more about that. Not necessarily the details of the project, but how you were able to overcome the challenges. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Interesting question. Being a FTE, and vetting the organizations prior to showing interest, I don't find myself in these predicaments. I suppose it depends. I assume this would come up though more often as a contractor?
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:14 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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It may not just be the project outcome, but people on the project, or even the company that initiates the project. Through in contracting work, yes Andrew this can pop up a lot.
Saving Changes...
Alankar KarpeProject and program management, Speaker and mentor | WiproBangalore, India
This question evokes a serious conflict between money and heart. I always believe that money earned through non-ethical ways does not last and hence I will go with a project which is not against my set of values. One can always get other company, other projects but not the other set of values.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:19 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Thanks Alankar, the dilemma of money and responsibility.
I've walked away from jobs and gigs which I felt were compromising my values. Having said that, I recognize that I've been fortunate to be able to land on my feet which is not always possible for folks in similar predicaments who might not be able to weather some lean times while looking for better gigs.
To echo Andrew & quote Mr. Miyagi again, I would say "Best way to avoid punch, no be there". If you thoroughly research an organization before joining it, you should be able to confirm whether there is alignment between your values and the company's values. That way, you don't find yourself in this situation...
Or as another wise man said "When you get what you want in your struggle for self, And the world makes you king for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say."
Kiron
Kiron
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:18 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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It's good to be able to walk away if that is possible. In some cases, we don't even know the end product/service would be against our values, this happened to me a couple of times.
Fortunately in my project management career I have not faced any such situation where I had to compromise my ethics and values.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:20 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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You are lucky Najam :-)
Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
It does matter. I have never been in this situation, but I would like to think that I would be strong enough to say no.
Think of all of the people who have become caught up in illegal activity who were "just doing their job". Think about some of the atrocities in history where people were just following orders.
It may seem like a small thing to compromise your values once, but that can be the beginning of a slippery slope.
Now some people's "values" may not fall in line with other people's. In this situation it is best just to remove yourself .
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:20 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Good point Dinah.
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
As PMI members or certificate holders, we commit to PMI's code of ethics and professional conduct, which holds firm to the values of respect, responsibility, honesty and fairness. We are lucky if we can follow these human values at the organizations we work for, in what we create with projects and how we do that.
In many cases, also in my personal experience, doubts arise, values seem to conflict, and we have to make decisions in an ethical manner. If we do that in an informed and conscious manner, we will mature and get better in finding out what is right and wrong in a certain situation. We will become better leaders, role models, show integrity and enable trust.
Practice in ethical decision making leads to higher levels of leadership. It starts with being aware of ethical conflicts.
Yes, it matters, at least for yourself.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 17, 2018 5:28 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Thanks Thomas, the PMI code of ethics is a good baseline to follow when the waters get rough.
