The implication of ethics in project management

Created by Vinay Kumar Meena

Abstract

Project management is an important discipline that plays a crucial role in the success of organizations. However, ethical considerations are often overlooked in the pursuit of achieving project objectives. This abstract explores the concept of ethics in project management and provides an overview of the ethical practices that are currently going on in the industry. The Project Management Institute (PMI) emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct in project management and provides guidelines for ethical behavior. The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct outlines four key values that should be upheld by project managers: responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty. The code also provides specific guidance on issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and stakeholder engagement. Despite these guidelines, ethical dilemmas are common in project management. For example, project managers may face pressure to cut corners or meet unrealistic deadlines, which can lead to ethical compromises. Other ethical dilemmas may arise when dealing with stakeholders who have conflicting interests or when making decisions that have potential negative impacts on the environment or society. To address these challenges, project managers must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify and address ethical issues. This may involve creating a culture of ethics within the project team, engaging in ongoing ethical training, and seeking out guidance from relevant experts. This article will provide a holistic view of ethics in Project management, common ethical dilemmas in project management (proposed by PMI), and a decision-making framework to overcome these dilemmas.

Introduction

What is ethics

Ethics is not a newly developed concept, it has evolved over time. Ethics guides us in the way of “how to do it best.” (PMI Code of Ethics). Some definitions of ethics to understand the essence of the word 'Ethics'.

“Ethics refers to a systematic study of the norms and values that guide how humans should live their lives.”- by Joseph Desjardins(1)

“Ethics is the activity of understanding moral values, resolving moral issues, and justifying moral judgments. It is also the discipline or area of study resulting from the activity.”- by Roland Schinzinger and Mike W. Martin (2)

“Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with values that related to the nature of human conduct and values associated with that conduct.”-by David P. Twoney and Marianne M. Jennings (3)