Professional And Social Responsibility- Ensuring Integrity In PMP

Millions of project management practitioners are choosing professional and social responsibility as the ideal basis for their decision making. These are essential aspects that guide the actions of Project Management Professionals (PMP) on a daily basis.

The four identified cornerstones of the worldwide project management community are responsibility, respect, fairness and honesty. We are sure that you want to know a little more about the other foundation stones of the Code of Ethics pertaining to PMP – right? Here, we intend to throw light upon what professional and social responsibility factors of project management is all about!

Integrity in PMP

Cleanly, these factors are an integral part of the arena that requires project managers, like you, to do the right things in completely ethical ways. While acting ethically, these professional and social responsibilities should mandate that you respect the copyright laws and bribery laws in force, and to the hilt. Also, your actions should reveal that you are inclined towards the following procedures and adhere to the laid down processes of project management, wholesomely and wholeheartedly.

How Code of Ethics Define Professional / Social Responsibility? 

The Code of Ethics of the Project Management Professional has skillfully defined the scope of professional and social responsibility for project managers. The essential thing is that only the project managers are aware of the facts related to any decisions. If they are right…all’s fine! But if they are wrong, they are required to admit what went wrong in front of key decision makers.

• Thus, it states that the project managers would take the responsibility and ownership of every decision that they need to take; irrespective of them being either right or wrong.
• This field is also inclusive of those decisions that project managers fail to take. 
• The Code of Ethics defines that project managers should take decisions and act on the basis of the best interests of the society, the environment, and public safety.

This indicates that the project managers should say “No” to all the decisions that do well only to the company, and ignore the benefits of the general public or the environment as a whole. 

Which Assignments should be taken up by Project Managers?

The code also defines that the project managers should consider doing only those project assignments that are consistent with their background, skills, and of course their esteemed qualifications. 

• This statement suggests that project managers should not take on any project assignments that are not compatible with their skills and experience.
• This would endanger the results, and consequently the career of the project managers, along with the fate of several other entities as well. 
• The project managers are required to fulfill the commitments that they undertake as per the decree of the Code of Ethics. This states that they should strive for everything that they promise to accomplish!   

The Code of Ethics also states that project managers are held responsible for protecting proprietary or confidential information that has been delegated to them. 

Certain Mandatory Regulations and Legal Requirements 

• The project managers are required to inform themselves and endorse the policies, laws, rules and regulations that govern their entire set of professional and volunteer activities.
• They are held responsible for reporting unethical or illegal behavior to the concerned and appropriate management.
• In worst case scenario, the project managers can even inform the affected groups of any illegal or unethical conduct.

Verdict! 

The second point mentioned above is an important one; this is because, from here, the answers to various PMP ethics questions can be derived. Most of the questions would bring up an emotional situation where you would find one of your close friends or colleague doing something illegal or unethical within your company. The situation would be such that only you would be aware of it, but reporting it would indicate losing the faith and friendship of your friend or the co-worker – deal tactfully!

Persons to whom the Code of Ethics Apply

The Code of Ethics, and professional conduct that defines professional and social responsibility, applies to all PMI (Project Management Institute) members. This Code also applies to those individuals who are not the members of PMI but fall under one or other criteria signified below: 

• Non-members holding a certificate of PMI,
• Non-members who are on the verge of acquiring a PMI certificate, or those who have applied to commence the process of PMI certification,
• Non-members who serve PMI in a volunteer faculty, etc.

Code of Ethics Complaint

The Violations of the Code of Ethics are brought to the attention of the appropriate body that would skillfully resolve the problem situation. For protecting the Code, only those ethics complaints are filed by the appropriate governing body which can be readily substantiated by facts. Disciplinary actions are pursued against an individual who retaliates against the person raising the ethics concern. 

Now that you are equipped to ensure integrity in PMP via professional and social responsibility – go right ahead!