Project Ethics: Acknowledging Blindness

Home
[ Login/Subscribe ] 
Features Departments Opinion Tools Executive Report Resources About Us

Home  >  Opinion  >  Opinion
Project Ethics: Acknowledging Blindness
David Schmaltz   (October 30, 2008)




What constitutes the ethical responsibilities of project work? Our series continues with a look at three principles that have served the author well: like Socrates, “know that you don’t know” … for every assignment, seek a way to pursue it with “personal purpose” … and always “extend trust” (but count the cards).

<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.gantthead.com/clickCount.cfm?ID=244099"><IMG SRC="/flash/PMI_Risk_PAW_336x280_backup.gif" BORDER=0></A>
Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” No one knows which direction you should head when you reach the forks in your road. But Yogi’s advice is still sage: At least be awake enough to take the forks you encounter —otherwise, you forfeit all influence.
 
The most powerful points of leverage in every project are the choices individuals make without even thinking about asking for permission to make them. Which is okay, because no one can decide these for anyone else, anyway. But poorly informed choice carries the most powerfully insidious influence upon every project. It’s capable of undermining everything. Success balances upon the choices we make when we might not think we’re making any choice at all.
 
This series outlines the seven ethical responsibilities of project work. The first installment made the distinction between morals (You Shall!) and ethics (I Will!), defining ethics as personal choices made when acknowledging the cost of choosing otherwise.



Please login/register to read the entire article.





Sponsored Announcements and Special Offers
Training Solutions for the Project Management Professional. Get world-class PM training from University of California, Irvine Extension--a PMI-Registered Education Provider. Master the PM Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide; earn PDUs; prepare for PMP certification; earn transfer credit toward a master's degree at our partner university. Learn More.

The Project Management Institute is accepting online applications for the new PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)SM credential. Candidates who take the examination during the incentive period of 29 August – 31 October 2008 will receive 50% off the price of the examination, as well as be entered into one of four regional drawings for $1,000 (USD).




@task
ESI International
Global Knowledge
HP
Management Concepts
New England College
New PMI Standards
PMI Risk Management
ProjectWorld
RMC Project Mgmt
Stanford University

VIEW NEW WHITE PAPERS

January 2009:

How important is the PMBOK to your project work?

<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.gantthead.com/clickCount.cfm?ID=244098"><IMG SRC="/flash/PMI_Risk_PAW_150x600_backup1.gif" BORDER=0></A>


Copyright © 2009 projects@work  All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy    Contact Us    User Agreement