Case Study: MN601 Network Project Management - Ethics and Leadership

This case study delves into the complexities of network project management, focusing on leadership styles, ethical dilemmas, and risk analysis. It examines Bob Moore's blend of autocratic and transformational leadership versus Jim's situational approach, highlighting the ethical implications of using company-paid carpenters for personal tasks. The analysis extends to project execution failures due to weather-related risks and proposes alternative solutions, such as contractual agreements with carpenters and engaging them in internal company work during downtime. The case applies the PMI code of ethics to assess the situation, offering alternative ethical actions and analyzing their potential benefits. Ultimately, it advocates for a decision-making process that prioritizes the greatest good and benefits all stakeholders, ensuring resources are used ethically and effectively. Desklib offers more resources like this to aid students in their studies.

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

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Table of Contents
1. PM Leadership.................................................................................................................2
1.1. Bob’s Leadership Style.............................................................................................2
1.1. Jim’s Leadership Style..............................................................................................2
2. PM Execution..................................................................................................................2
3. PM Risk Analysis............................................................................................................2
4. Ethics Assessment...........................................................................................................3
5. Ethics Alternatives...........................................................................................................3
6. Ethics Analysis................................................................................................................4
7. Ethics Application...........................................................................................................4
8. Ethics Action...................................................................................................................4
References............................................................................................................................6

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1. PM Leadership
1.1. Bob’s Leadership Style
After analyzing the given scenario it is analyzed that Bob Moore who had been working
in the firm for 25 years has shown a mixture of autocratic and transformational leadership style
in the given situation [7]. The leadership style by Bob is explained as autocratic since he did not
consult his team members or even Jim about the issue. On the other hand, he tried to motivate the
carpenters, who are the part of his team, by providing them some work to do in order to ensure
that they are paid on a regular basis.
1.1. Jim’s Leadership Style
Jim is an in experienced assistant project manager and has shown a situational leadership
style [4]. At first he flashed a servant leadership style since Bob is an experienced project
manager. However, later he found it to be unethical and decided to confront Bib about the same.
2. PM Execution
The project execution is not going according to the plan as the project is deployed due to
rains and a part of the cost of the construction is wasted on the carpenters who are not working
for the company [8]. As an alternative to the current process, the wastage of the money could
have been stopped by engaging the carpenters in a contractual basis instead of daily payment
methods [5]. The project plan could have been more detailed as well.
3. PM Risk Analysis
It is very common that the winter and spring season will bring rains that can possibly
hamper the project work. This risk is very common and therefore, it was needed to be identified

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during the project initiation phase [2]. As a risk mitigation plan, the carpenters could have been
hired on a contractual basis. In this process the team of carpenters could have been paid on basis
of works completed and not on daily basis.
4. Ethics Assessment
The critical dilemma that is arising in this case is that whether it is ethically correct for
Bob to engage the carpenters for his personal works while being paid by the firm [3]. It surely
does not abide by the law as the construction cost from which the carpenters are paid was
allocated for the project.
The project management institute states that the ethics is the discipline of how to do
something in a best possible way and project management should be driven by proper decisions.
Engaging the carpenters is not ethical according to the PMI code of ethics.
The code of ethics and professional conduct states that project team members should be
honest and fair to their values in the project management profession. This code of ethics and
professional conduct describes the expectations that a team member has on the other member.
Bob although had no bad intention, he was not definitely fair to the firm. Furthermore, Bob did
not consult about this decision with the other members of the firm. The PMI code of ethics and
professional conduct states that project management profession helps an individual in becoming
a better practitioner. Bob surely in this case did not help Jim becoming one. Therefore the
situation does not abide by the code of ethics and professional conduct.
5. Ethics Alternatives

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The choice available to Bob was to either negotiate with the carpenters for accepting a
lower payment rate in rainy days as no work is possible in those days. Secondly he could have
engaged the carpenters in some internal works of firm if working in the current project be
completely not possible due to rains.
The advantage of first option is that the construction cost could have been saved, while
the disadvantage is that, it might led to employees unrest since the carpenters would have been
paid for actually doing nothing which could have not been accepted by the other employees.
The advantage is that the construction cost allocated by the firm would be used in the
firm only if not for the current project. The only disadvantage of this option is that the money
will be spent on something other than the actual project.
The choices available to Jim is either stopping Bob from engaging the employees for his
personal work or he could have reported the matter to the higher officials of the firm.
The advantage for this option is that, the construction cost could have been saved by a
huge amount [6]. The disadvantage is that, Bob being an experienced employee might feel bad
about the entire process. The carpenters can leave the project as well which is another major
disadvantage of this option.
6. Ethics Analysis
The correct decision that could have been taken is to engage the carpenters in some
internal work of the firm and not for personal work of Bob [1]. This decision is ethical according
to PMI ethical decision making that contains different steps such as assessment, alternative,
analysis, application and action. The PMI ethical decision making framework documents the

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different steps that can be used in guiding an individual in the project management profession.
The PMI ethical decision making framework is used as a guide for critical thinking that guides
the process of ethical decision making. It considers the pros and cons of each possible choice
along with the possible alternatives. Therefore, the key decision is to not engage the carpenters in
personal work of Bob.
7. Ethics Application
Yes the choice will be of greatest good and beneficial to all since the resources of the
firm will not be wasted and the carpenters would be working in a regular basis as well. By
following this option, Bob will not have to do any unethical work and the carpenters will remain
engaged as well. Since ethical principles look for greats good, this decision is justified.
8. Ethics Action
The choice that is made after analyzing the case scenario and the ethical dilemmas is that
that the carpenters will be engaged with the internal works of the organization during the rainy
days.

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References
[1]. Too, Eric G., and Patrick Weaver. "The management of project management: A conceptual
framework for project governance." International Journal of Project Management 32, no. 8
(2014): 1382-1394.
[2].JOSEPH. PHILLIPS, P. M. P., IIBA CBAP, and CompTIA PMP. PMP PROJECT
MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL STUDY GUIDE. McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.
[3].Boral, Sumanta. "PMI® Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct." In Ace the PMI-ACP®
exam, pp. 333-340. Apress, Berkeley, CA, 2016.
[5]. Turner, Rodney. Gower handbook of project management. Routledge, 2016.
[6].Bredillet, Christophe. "Ethics in project management: some Aristotelian
insights." International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 7, no. 4 (2014): 548-565.
[7].Avolio, Bruce J., and Francis J. Yammarino, eds. "Introduction to, and overview of,
transformational and charismatic leadership." In Transformational and Charismatic Leadership:
The Road Ahead 10th Anniversary Edition, pp. xxvii-xxxiii. Emerald Group Publishing Limited,
2013.
[8].Kerzner, Harold, and Harold R. Kerzner. Project management: a systems approach to
planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons, 2017.