Two Ethical Dilemmas That Project Managers May Face
There are several ethical dilemmas that project managers may face. I will identify two
examples of ethical dilemmas project managers may be faced with. I will start with an
example that includes the construction of a home since it the project we are working on in
class. The project manager has hired contractors to build the house. One of the contractors
was supposed to seal and waterproof the basement before the concrete was poured.
However, the project manager noticed that it was not yet completed on the day the
concrete was supposed to be poured. He had contacted the contractor who was supposed to
waterproof the basement and he apologized and stated that he was running behind. He also
said he would be over soon to complete the job. The project manager decided to take a
lunch and when he returned he saw that they were already pouring concrete without the
waterproofing completed. The project manager is now faced with an ethical decision of
what to do next as it could really affect the outcome of the home.
The second example of an ethical decision includes a project manager who has to make
decisions regarding his employee. There have been several complaints from the women at
work about one of the men sexual harassing them. They explained how the man is always
using inappropriate comments that are directed towards them. The project manager has
never witnessed anything before and the man that is being accused is their best worker.
The company has had employee conduct meetings which included the discussion of sexual
harassment in the workplace. They have each received a booklet which explains the
workplace code of conduct and were to sign an agreement stated that they follow all of the
rules. It also stated that if an employee does not follow the rules that there could be
termination. The code of conduct indicates that there is a no tolerance for sexual
harassment. The project manager has a discussion with the employee and he denies
everything. The project manager is faced with a difficult decision of what to do next.
Why The Examples Are Considered Ethical Dilemmas
The examples I have chosen are ethical dilemmas and in the following I will share the
reasoning behind it. The example of the project manager who is building a house and is
dealing with the concrete being poured before it was properly waterproofed which is a
