Back to Stewardship

Ethical Decision-Making

5 minutes 5 Questions

Ethical decision-making is a critical concept related to stewardship in project management. It involves making decisions that are guided by moral principles and values, such as honesty, integrity, and respect for others. Project managers who practice stewardship through ethical decision-making prioritize doing what is right, even when it may be difficult or unpopular. They consider the potential impacts of their decisions on all stakeholders, including the project team, the organization, and the wider community. Ethical decision-making also involves being transparent about the decision-making process, communicating the reasons behind decisions, and taking responsibility for the outcomes. By practicing ethical decision-making, project managers can build trust with stakeholders, mitigate risks, and ensure that the project is delivered in a way that aligns with the organization's values and mission.

Ethical Decision-Making in PMBOK 7th Edition

Ethical Decision-Making is a crucial concept outlined in the PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition, emphasizing the importance of making decisions that are not only effective but ethical and responsible.

Why is it important? Ethical Decision-Making ensures that projects are conducted in a manner that is fair, transparent, and responsible. It upholds the integrity of the project management profession and builds trust among stakeholders, team members, and the community at large.

What is it? It refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a manner consistent with ethical principles. In doing so, it involves considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders, society, and the environment.

How it works: Ethical Decision-Making in the context of project management involves adhering to the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which includes responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty. It entails evaluating decisions based on these principles, considering the overall impact, and choosing actions that align with ethical norms and values.

How to answer questions regarding Ethical Decision-Making in an exam:
- Understand the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
- Analyze case studies or questions based on these ethical principles.
- Consider all stakeholders and potential impacts of decisions.
- Choose answers that reflect integrity, respect, and fairness.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Ethical Decision-Making
- Read questions carefully and identify the ethical dilemma.
- Recall the PMI ethical principles: responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty.
- Consider the best possible outcome for all involved.
- Select the answer that best aligns with ethical project management practices.

Test mode:
Start practice test
PMP - Stewardship Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Question 1

As an HR manager, you receive an anonymous report that a high-performing employee might be leaking confidential company strategies to a competitor. How should you ethically handle this situation?

Correct Answer: Conduct a thorough investigation following company policies to verify the allegations.

The best approach is to conduct a thorough investigation following company policies to verify the allegations. This ensures that the situation is handled ethically, respects the rights of the employee, and maintains the integrity of the organization. Confronting the employee directly without evidence can lead to unwarranted accusations and potential legal issues. Notifying the competitor is unethical and can breach confidentiality agreements, while ignoring the report neglects the responsibility to protect company interests and may allow harmful behavior to continue.

Question 2

You are a project manager for a construction project and discover that one of your team members has been using substandard materials to save costs without informing stakeholders. What is the most ethical course of action?

Correct Answer: Document the issue, report it to senior management, and recommend steps to rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences.

The most ethical course of action is to document the issue, report it to senior management, and recommend steps to rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences. As a project manager, you have a responsibility to ensure the project is completed to the required standards and that all stakeholders are kept informed of any significant issues. Using substandard materials without informing stakeholders is a serious breach of trust and ethics. Simply discussing the issue with the team member and giving them a warning fails to address the broader implications and risks associated with the use of substandard materials. It also does not involve informing stakeholders, which they have a right to know. Replacing the materials and continuing without informing anyone is also unethical, as it involves concealing the issue from stakeholders. They need to be made aware of what has happened. Immediately terminating the team member, while it may seem like a strong response, does not necessarily address the full scope of the issue. The priority should be on rectifying the situation, informing stakeholders, and putting preventative measures in place. Therefore, documenting the issue, escalating it appropriately, recommending solutions, and keeping stakeholders informed is the most ethical and professionally responsible approach for a project manager in this situation.

Question 3

During a software development project, you discover that a team member has been consistently working overtime and on weekends to meet deadlines, but not reporting the extra hours. When you approach them about it, they confide that they feel pressured to put in the extra time to avoid falling behind. What is the most ethical course of action as the project manager?

Correct Answer: Work with the team member to identify the root causes of the workload issues and develop a plan to address them, ensuring that all hours worked are properly reported and compensated.

The most ethical course of action is to work with the team member to identify the root causes of the workload issues and develop a plan to address them, ensuring that all hours worked are properly reported and compensated. As a project manager, it is important to foster a healthy work environment and ensure that team members are not overworking themselves or feeling pressured to work unreported overtime. Addressing the underlying issues causing the excessive workload and properly compensating the team member for their time is the most responsible approach. Commending the team member for their dedication but advising them to continue not reporting the extra hours is unethical, as it encourages dishonest practices and could lead to burnout. Encouraging the team member to continue putting in extra effort with the promise of informal compensation later is also problematic, as it does not address the root issues and may not fully compensate the team member for their time. While prioritizing work-life balance is important, suggesting that the team member potentially miss deadlines without first attempting to address the workload issues is not a responsible solution from a project management perspective.

Go Premium

Project Management Professional Preparation Package (2024)

  • Earn 35 PDUs needed for your PMP certification
  • 9524 Superior-grade Project Management Professional practice questions.
  • Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
  • Unlock Effortless PMP preparation: 5 full exams.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund with no questions if unsatisfied.
  • Bonus: If you upgrade now you get upgraded access to all courses
  • Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!
More Ethical Decision-Making questions
34 questions (total)
Start 34 question test