Ethics & Professionalism

Question 1

What is project leadership?

Answer 1

It is a set of habits, behaviours, and attitudes that make the most difference in the project environment. And it is a set of traits that is accessible to everyone.
Practised regularly, project leadership gives you the ability to influence others to deliver results

Question 2

Why are ethics and professionalism important for engineers?

Answer 2

Because engineers shape society and must act with integrity to promote safety, trust, and public good.
Engineering projects have a profound impact on people’s lives, the environment, and the economy.

Work guided by strong moral compass promotes public safety, fosters trust and upholds the integrity of the profession.

Question 3

True or False: You can have formal authority (your position) but a loose moral authority (how you behave and conduct yourself).

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the classical view of social responsibility?

Answer 4

Maximise profit.

Operate business in best interest of stakeholder.

Resources used to “do good” just lowers profit.

Question 5

What is the socioeconomic view of social responsibility?

Answer 5

Goes beyond making profits.

Includes protecting and improving societal welfare.

“to do the right thing” = moral responsibility.

Question 6

What are the “Four Faces of Social Responsibility”?

Answer 6

Legal/Responsible, Legal/Irresponsible, Illegal/Responsible, Illegal/Irresponsible.

Question 7

List two arguments in favour of social responsibility.

Answer 7

Public expectations, long-run profits.

Question 8

List two arguments against social responsibility.

Answer 8

Cost concerns, dilution of corporate purpose.

Question 9

What are the four types of societal responsibility?

Answer 9

Economic, Legal, Ethical, and Philanthropic.

Question 10

What is social obligation?

Answer 10

Fulfilling only economic and legal responsibilities.

Question 11

What is social responsiveness?

Answer 11

Taking action in response to social needs.

Question 12

What is social responsibility (as a concept)?

Answer 12

Acting beyond legal/economic duties to do what’s right for society.

Question 13

Does social responsibility benefit business performance?

Answer 13

Yes, studies suggest it may improve long-term performance.

Question 14

What is values-based management?

Answer 14

Managing by reinforcing shared values in decisions and actions.

Question 15

What are the purposes of shared values?

Answer 15

Guide decisions, shape behaviour, influence marketing, build team spirit.

Question 16

What four values form the foundation of global project management ethics?

Answer 16

Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, Honesty.

Question 17

Define ethics.

Answer 17

Principles and beliefs that define right and wrong behaviour.

Question 18

What is ethical behaviour?

Answer 18

Morally accepted actions that are good or right.

Question 19

List examples of unethical behaviour.

Answer 19

Bribery, poor labour conditions, environmental neglect, embezzlement.

Question 20

What is an ethical dilemma?

Answer 20

Situation where you have to decide whether to do something beneficial to yourself / organisation, but may be considered unethical / illegal.

Question 21

What are Kohlberg’s stages of moral development?

Answer 21

PRINCIPLED: 6. Following self-
chosen ethical
principles even
if they violate
the law.
5. Valuing rights
of others and
upholding
absolute
values and
rights
regardless of
the majority’s
opinion.

CONVENTIONAL: 4. Maintaining
conventional order by
fulfilling obligations to
which you have
agreed.
3. Living up to what is
expected by people
close to you.

PRECONVENTIONAL: 2. Following
rules only when doing so
is in your immediate
interest.
1. Sticking to rules to avoid
physical punishment.

Question 22

What are traits of ethical leadership?

Answer 22

Honesty, transparency, accountability, and role-model behaviour.

Question 23

How should managers encourage ethical behaviour?

Answer 23

Through training, codes of conduct, leading by example, and support systems.

Question 24

Why protect whistle-blowers?

Answer 24

To encourage ethical reporting and safeguard against retaliation.

Question 25

Name three ways managers can improve ethics in an organization.

Answer 25

Hire ethical people, provide ethics training, lead by example.

Question 26

What is an independent social audit?

Answer 26

An external review of a company’s ethical and social performance.

Question 27

Name four common issues addressed in codes of ethics.

Answer 27

Bribery, confidentiality, discrimination, environmental responsibility.

Question 28

What is nepotism?

Answer 28

Favouring relatives in hiring or promotion—often discouraged in ethics codes.

Question 29

What is the harm test?

Answer 29

Do the benefits outweigh the harms, short- and long-term?

Question 30

What is the reversibility test?

Answer 30

Would this decision feel right if I were on the receiving end?

Question 31

What is the legality test?

Answer 31

Does this choice violate laws or company policies?

Question 32

What is the publicity test?

Answer 32

Would I be okay with this decision being made public?

Question 33

What is the common practice test?

Answer 33

What if everyone did this—would it still be acceptable?

Question 34

What is the wise relative test?

Answer 34

What would a wise person I admire say or do?

Question 35

Name three acts in SA relevant to engineering ethics.

Answer 35

Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act, Protected Disclosure Act, FICA.

Question 36

What is ECSA’s role?

Answer 36

Sets rules of conduct for engineering professionals in South Africa.

Question 37

What ethical domains does ECSA’s code address?

Answer 37

Competency, Integrity, Public Interest, Environment, Dignity of the Profession.

Question 38

What’s the difference between aspirational and mandatory standards in the PMI Code?

Answer 38

Aspirational = what we strive for; Mandatory = what we are required to do and are held accountable for.

Question 39

What does PMI say about taking responsibility for errors?

Answer 39

Practitioners must own their mistakes, correct them promptly, and accept consequences.

Question 40

What must be done in case of a conflict of interest?

Answer 40

Disclose it fully and withdraw from decisions unless stakeholders approve a mitigation plan.

Question 41

Define abusive manner.

Answer 41

Conduct that results in physical harm or creates intense feelings of fear, humiliation, manipulation, or exploitation in another person.

Question 42

Define conflict of interest.

Answer 42

A situation that arises when a practitioner of project management is faced with making a decision or doing some act that will benefit the practitioner or another person or organization to which the practitioner owes a duty of loyalty and at the same time will harm another person or organization to which the practitioner owes a similar duty of loyalty. The only way practitioners can resolve conflicting duties is to disclose the conflict to those affected and allow them to make the decision about how the practitioner should proceed.

Question 43

Define duty of loyalty.

Answer 43

A person’s responsibility, legal or moral, to promote the best interest of an organization or other person with whom they are affiliated.

Question 44

Define project management institute (PMI).

Answer 44

The totality of the Project Management Institute, including its committees, groups, and chartered components such as chapters, colleges, and specific interest groups.

Question 45

Define a PMI member.

Answer 45

A person who has joined the Project Management Institute as a member

Question 46

Define PMI-sponsored activities.

Answer 46

Activities that include, but are not limited to, participation on a PMI Member Advisory Group, PMI standard development team, or another PMI working group or committee. This also includes activities engaged in under the auspices of a chartered PMI component organization—whether it is in a leadership role in the component or another type of component educational activity or event.

Question 47

Define a practitioner.

Answer 47

A person engaged in an activity that contributes to the management of a project, portfolio, or program, as part of the project management profession.

Question 48

Define a PMI volunteer.

Answer 48

A person who participates in PMI-sponsored activities, whether a member of the Project Management Institute or not.