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Ethical Principles in Project Management

Software project management involves techniques for developing computer systems and delivering software products. It includes technical issues like development models, scheduling, and resources as well as management issues like training and risk assessment. Project objectives and implications need to be agreed upon and considered. The project team should be well-briefed on all issues, including ethical ones. Effective project management is vital for success and requires following principles like honor, honesty, fairness, and considering social costs. The ten steps of structured project management include visualizing goals, assigning tasks, managing expectations, and realizing the project goal. For software to be developed ethically, an ethical perspective must be incorporated into the entire project management process.

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14 views11 pages

Ethical Principles in Project Management

Software project management involves techniques for developing computer systems and delivering software products. It includes technical issues like development models, scheduling, and resources as well as management issues like training and risk assessment. Project objectives and implications need to be agreed upon and considered. The project team should be well-briefed on all issues, including ethical ones. Effective project management is vital for success and requires following principles like honor, honesty, fairness, and considering social costs. The ten steps of structured project management include visualizing goals, assigning tasks, managing expectations, and realizing the project goal. For software to be developed ethically, an ethical perspective must be incorporated into the entire project management process.

Uploaded by

AdinaMilitaru
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Project Management

Adina Militaru

What is Project Management?

Software project management is the collection of techniques used to develop computer systems and deliver various types of software products. This developing discipline traditionally includes technical issues such as:
-

the choice of software development model, how to estimate project size and schedule, how to insure safety, what resources to reuse and which programming environment to use for the development.

The discipline also includes management issues such as: - when to train personal, - what are the risks to the project success, - and how to keep the project on schedule.

These choices are then embodied in a software project management plan.


None of the traditional software project management materials address the ethical issues that arise because of the choices made during software development.

Effective

software project management is a vital ingredient in achieving a successful outcome. The objectives for the project need to be agreed at the outset. In deciding the objectives their implications need to be considered, in terms of the actual outputs and the impact these outputs will have. There is also a need to consider the impact of the development process itself.

The project team

The project team should be well briefed on these issues and have the opportunity to debate them fully to establish its own conclusions. The team should consider all the implications of the plan, including ethical ones. It may need to call on additional resources from inside and outside the organisation. If the team members are unprepared, they will lack direction and perform poorly.

Eight Ethical Principles


Honour

- Is the action considered beyond reproach? Honesty - Will the action violate any explicit or implicit agreement or trust? Bias - Are there any external considerations that may bias the action to be taken? Professional adequacy - Is the action within the limits of capability?

Due

care - Is the action to be exposed to the best possible quality assurance standards? Fairness - Are all stakeholder's views considered with regard to the action? Consideration of social cost - Is the appropriate accountability and responsibility accepted with respect to this action? Effective and efficient action Is the action suitable, given the objectives set, and is it to be completed using the least expenditure of resources?

The Ten Steps of Structured Project Management

Step Description 1. Visualise what the goal is 2. Make a list of the jobs that need to be done 3. Ensure there is one leader 4. Assign people to jobs 5. Manage expectations, allow a margin of error and have a fallback position 6. Use an appropriate leadership style 7. Know what is going on 8. Tell people what is going on 9. Repeat Step 1 through 8 until Step 10 can be achieved 10. Realise the project goal

Conclusion

Just as producing software of high quality should be second nature to the software engineer so should producing software that is ethically sensitive. The project management process for software development must accommodate an ethical perspective. The major criticism of current practice is that any ethical consideration tends to be implicit rather than explicit which has a tendency to devalue the importance of the ethical dimension. By using ethical principles, identifying of ethical hotspots and using SoDIS it is possible to ensure that the key ethical issues are properly addressed as an integral part of the software development process. Quite simply, project management should be guided by a sense of justice, a sense of equal distributions of benefits and burdens and a sense of equal opportunity. In this way software development project management will become ethically aligned.

Common questions

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Ethical principles in software project management ensure that the development process is not only technically sound but also morally responsible. Principles such as honesty, fairness, and consideration of social cost guide decision-making and action. These principles should be explicit and integral to project management rather than implicit. This involves identifying ethical hotspots and utilizing structured methods like SoDIS to address key ethical issues, thus aligning project management with justice and equal distribution of benefits and burdens .

Project managers can ensure ethical alignment by integrating ethical evaluations into project planning and execution. This includes defining ethical objectives alongside technical ones, engaging with stakeholders to understand diverse perspectives, utilizing frameworks like SoDIS to identify ethical hotspots, and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability throughout the project .

Key management issues crucial for maintaining schedule and ethics include risk management, resource allocation, continuous stakeholder communication, and team training. Effective leadership and ethical foresight help address potential risks and resource constraints. Regular progress reviews ensure project alignment with ethical principles, preventing scope creep and ensuring responsible development .

It is crucial for a project team to debate and conclude on ethical issues to ensure all perspectives are considered, fostering a sense of accountability and fairness in decision-making. Engaging in discussions helps identify potential ethical hotspots and align project goals with comprehensive ethical standards, ensuring the project delivers value without societal detriment .

A project team can avoid ethical mishandlings by being well-prepared with clear ethical guidelines and continuous ethical education. Teams should have open forums for discussing potential ethical issues, seek external ethical expertise when necessary, and embed ethical checks into their project processes to ensure all actions align with agreed-upon ethical standards .

The choice of software development model influences ethical considerations by dictating workflow processes, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making authority. For example, models that prioritize rapid development might overlook stakeholder input, while those focusing on iterative feedback loops can enhance ethical responsiveness. The model sets the stage for how ethical issues are managed and resolved throughout the project lifecycle .

Effective software project management is crucial as it encompasses both technical and management issues critical to project success. This includes choosing the right software development model, estimating project size and schedule, and managing resources effectively. It also requires careful consideration of ethical principles, such as fairness and accountability, to ensure the project's objectives are met without compromising ethical standards. Moreover, a successful project requires clear and agreed-upon objectives, effective communication, and leadership .

Implicit consideration of ethical principles can result in their devaluation, as emphasis is often placed on technical aspects over ethical concerns. This may lead to overlooked ethical issues, biased outcomes, and insufficient accountability. Explicitly integrating ethics ensures they are prioritized, leading to socially responsible projects that distribute benefits and burdens equitably .

Structured project management improves efficiency by providing a clear framework that guides project execution. The steps include setting clear goals, assigning responsibilities, managing expectations, and maintaining communication. This structure helps streamline processes, reduce misunderstandings, and preemptively address potential issues, leading to more efficient use of resources and improved project outcomes .

Neglecting ethical implications can lead to project failures beyond technical setbacks. Potential risks include damage to stakeholder trust, biased decision-making, and unintended social costs. Ethical oversights can result in technology misuse, inequitable burden distribution, and compromised software quality. Addressing these risks requires integrating ethical principles throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring accountability and stakeholder engagement .

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