Code of Ethics and Social Responsibility for Project Management, Essay Example

The need for Code of Ethics in project management

The implication of Code of Ethics is the set of relevant responsibilities, behaviors and actions that are anticipated from professionals in organizations. An established Code of Ethics is an important tool that passes the organization values the employees, the customers, the shareholders and the general community (Fine & Teram, 2009).  The Code of Ethics is sometimes required to extend to the socially responsible concerns thus offering the needed guidance to the organization employees concerning the best course of action in situations that appear unusual.

The Code of Ethics must be approached with a notion of long-term strategy to ensure that the goals and expectations of a project in an organization are effectively communicated to all stakeholders (Fisher, 2003). Development of Code of Ethics requires that application of cross-functional teams so that all concerned individuals are given a chance to voice their ideas. The tools of benchmarking and brainstorming must be adequately implicated in the course of developing a Code of Ethics. All members must be made to understand the expectations, tasks as well as objectives that are anticipated from the Code of Ethics in project management.

The code of Ethics is an important tool for managers in project management as they try to strike a balance between the competing needs that are associated with the clients, the stakeholders, available resources as well as the government ((Fine & Teram, 2009). It is the duty of project managers to cuddle ethical practices as they transact business and integrate the practices in the course of planning as well as execution of their mandate in project management. The Code of Ethics also empowers project managers in enhancing the outcomes associated with their projects as well as creation of a positive atmosphere that persuade participation among all stakeholders and elevate the level of morale among them (Fisher, 2003).

The need for Social Responsibility in project management

Project managers with forward thinking attitudes have realized the need for attending to responsible practices of business in gaining strategic advantage. Business in most organization is efficiently executed through project management and therefore it is the responsibility of managers to acknowledge their mandate in social responsibility as it relates to project management (Bowie, 2001). Social responsibility plays a vital role in integration of sustainability in the practices of project management. It is also a good guide towards the socially responsible and acceptable behavior. The managers in this respect needs inclusion of sustainability in their daily practices of business considering social, environmental as well as financial levels.

It is recommended that, project managers acquire the relevant knowledge concerning the polices allied to social responsibility so that they can align the goals and the objectives of the project with the policies. The managers must also align the social responsibility policies to international law, the social customs, standards as well as other laws that exist in the host country where the project is being undertaken (Sims, 2003). Investigation of potential conflict between the policies of social responsibility and the interests of the stakeholders in the host country is also an important consideration for the project managers. With the use of goals and objectives of the project and a clear understanding of social responsibility policies, the project manager is better placed in identification of potential risks that are associated with the project.

References

Bowie, N., (2001). “The Role of Business Ethics”, Business Ethics a European   Review, 10(4).

Fine, M., & Teram, E. (2009). “Believers and Skeptics: Where Social Worker Situate Themselves Regarding the Code of Ethics”. Ethics & Behavior, 19(1), 60-78.

Fisher, C. B., (2003). Decoding the Ethics Code: a Practical Guide for Psychologists. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Sims, R., (2003). Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility: Why Giants Fall. N Y: Praeger Publishers.