MN601 Network Project Management: Ethical Decision-Making Case Study

This case study analyzes the ethical challenges faced by Jim Rains, a new project manager, in a network project management scenario. The case highlights a conflict with Bob, a senior superintendent, regarding resource allocation and time management during a period of inclement weather. Jim grapples with Bob's potentially unethical use of company resources for personal benefit, while also considering the implications of reporting Bob's actions. The analysis explores various ethical alternatives, including reporting the issue to higher management or waiting for the weather to improve, and applies the PMI Ethical Decision-Making Framework to determine the optimal course of action. The chosen solution involves informing the project manager to facilitate a revised project plan that addresses the time, cost, and resource management issues arising from the natural disaster, ensuring a beneficial outcome for both the firm and the project manager.

Running head: NETWORK PROJECT MANAGEMENT
NETWORK PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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1. PM Leadership
As a leader there a certain responsibilities to be able to clearly and succinctly explain to
employees everything from specific tasks to organizational goals [1]. Project manager
Jim Rains is a fresher also manage the employees such as manage carpenters activity to
finish the job under deadline. He is directly responsible for defining work times and
provide payments to all carpenters. While Bob is a senior Superintendent of the certain
firm, who is responsible for supervision of the whole project. His main responsibility is to
check whether the project is running smooth or facing any issue. So, Bob responsibility is
to overview the Jim activities for efficient and effective project completion.
2. PM Execution
The project is not going efficiently so far due to the natural disaster. In winter and spring,
month rain is often arising that is affecting the work process as the alteration of plans is
needed for this issue. Jim is sending the carpenters to home because they cannot work
while it’s raining. Bob is taking advantage of this dilemma without trying to find any
alteration process as he is utilizing those carpenters for his personal benefit. The only
solution bob provides as the raining season will be over soon. For every project to run
efficiently, time management is necessary [2]. They can continue 5-day workweek to
complete the project. This approach can create risk in term of time and cost management
while maintain the relationship between Jim and Bob.
3. PM Risk Analysis

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Risk analysis is the process of analyzing and defining the dangers utilized to align
technology-related objectives associate with the project [3]. The main risks of this project
is the time and resource management. For the rain, the schedule of time management is
altering and the resource allocation is also ineffective as the carpenters are getting paid
for almost doing nothing. For a simple task that could be done by four crew member in
two hours, employees are getting full 8-hours pay for the similar effort. To avoid such
casualties, Jim can stop the work for a certain amount of time and postpone the schedule
for better resource management. Jim could implement the overtime pay procedure for
efficient time management rather than paying them for less work [4].
4. Ethics Assessment
There are some ethical dilemma occurring in this case. The relationship between Jim and
Bob is at stack because of the different approaches they are following. Jim is unable to
implement an effective strategy to manage the resource and time. Bob takes advantage of
the inefficiency to fill his personal desire. Jim is new in the firm where Bob is associated
with them more than 25 years. Jim is concern about the bob’s activity as he is using the
firm’s resource for his personal work. According to bob viewpoint by sending the
carpenters to his house to use their skills, he was keeping his workers motivated and satisfied
instead of laying them off or having them do small, time-filling jobs. This is not ethical
neither follow the PMI Code of Ethics.
5. Ethics Alternatives
There are certain alternatives approach Jim can consider. First, he can report the whole
dilemma to the project manager or someone higher authorities [6]. This choice has some
pros and cons too. Pro part is Jim will not be responsible for project failure associated

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with lack of time and resource management. However, bob is a superintendent for this
farm from 25 years. Company can take this approach in a bad manner as a new employee
questioning the practice of a long-term company.
Jim can also wait for some time as the raining season is coming to an end. They
can continue 5-day workweek to complete the project. This approach can create risk in
term of time and cost management while maintain the relationship between Jim and Bob.
6. Ethics Analysis
This PMI Ethical Decision-Making Framework is used to guide an individual in the
project management process to make a decision when confronted with an ethical dilemma
[5]. The optimal decision is to discuss the whole scenario with the project manager. This
decision will keep Jim at a safe if project failure occurs.
7. Ethics Application
The chosen decision is an efficient approach as it will be beneficial for both project
manager and the firm [6]. By acquaint the project manager about the issue, certain
problems could be solved. It will be beneficial to all concerned as the time and cost
management plan will be reconsidered relay on the current dilemma.
8. Ethics Action
The optimum decision is to familiarize the project manager about the issuein order to
revise the project plan [7]. Jim is new in the firm, so he is not able to make changes in the

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project plan as higher authority’s permission is necessary. The previous plan of
completing the project cannot be maintained as natural disaster occurs. The time, cost and
employee management process are needs to be reconsider.

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9. References
[1]K. Barad and S. Patel, "Ethical Dilemma", SSRN Electronic Journal, 2012.
[2]J. Craft, "A Review of the Empirical Ethical Decision-Making Literature: 2004–
2011", Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 117, no. 2, pp. 221-259, 2012.
[3]J. Schrempf-Stirling, "The Shareholder Value Myth: How Putting Shareholders First
HarmsInvestors, Corporations, and the Public, by Lynn A. Stout (San Francisco: Berrett-
Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2012). Paperback, 120 pp., $16.95. ISBN: 978-1-6050-9813-
5", Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 03, pp. 486-489, 2013.
[4]B. Reilly and M. Kyj, "Ethical business and the ethical person", Business Horizons,
vol. 33, no. 6, pp. 23-27, 2015.
[5]N. Figure and B. Đorđević, "Managing an Ethical Dilemma", Economic Themes, vol.
54, no. 3, 2016.
[6]Lindsey, P. E. & Kramer, S. W. (2003). Ethical issues in project management: a case
study of a novice project manager. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2003—
EMEA, The Hague, South Holland, The Netherlands. Newtown Square, PA: Project
Management Institute.
[7]M. Monga, "An ethical dilemma", Monash Business Review, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 34-35,
2017.