Code of Ethics for Project Management Professionals

The importance of ethical and professional conduct cannot be overemphasized. This is particularly true for the field of project management. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI) (2016), project management professionals have a responsibility to make “the best possible decisions concerning people, resources and the environment.” Ethical decisions reduce risk, ensure positive outcomes, build trust, and influence long term success. Based on this premise, procurement practitioners, who comprise crucial players in the project management field, must constantly act ethically. This paper briefly explains the development of a code of ethics for project procurement professionals. Attention is specifically paid to best practices from other industries and key decisions made during the development of the code. The developed code is attached in the appendix.
The code was developed by referring to the PMI (2016) code of ethics for project management professionals as well as codes of ethics for procurement professionals in various industries. Intended for PMI members as well as non-PMI members with PMI certification, certification applicants, and PMI volunteers, the PMI code of ethics for project management professionals identifies four major values that should drive the conduct of project management practitioners: responsibility, respect, honesty, and fairness. Though these guidelines are aimed at project management professionals in general, they are useful for practitioners specifically in the area of procurement.
Various industries also provide ethical and professional guidelines for procurement professionals. The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) (2017), for instance, encourages procurement professionals to demonstrate integrity, accountability, professionalism, proficiency, and legal compliance in every decision they make. The Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) (2016) also provides ethical guidelines for procurement professionals. SCMA’s code of conduct recognizes the significance of procurement professionals depicting ethical conduct, especially given their integral role in the supply chain. The code emphasizes, among other aspects, avoidance of conflict interest, protection of sensitive information, social and environmental responsibility, and professional competency. In the education sector, codes of ethics for procurement professionals encourage consideration of the organization’s policies, rejection of personal gifts, honesty in sales representation, stewardship, good faith, unity, cooperation, equity, and mutuality.
A code of ethics should identify not only relevant ethical values, but also the purpose and vision of the code as well as the target audience. The purpose of the attached code of ethics is to promote the integrity of the procurement profession. Procurement management is one of the most important knowledge areas of project management. Accordingly, procurement activities must be carried out in an ethical manner to guarantee success in not only procurement processes, but also the overall project. Targeted at PMI members and non-members with recognizable procurement certifications, the code will help procurement professionals become practitioners at both the individual and collective level.
On the whole, a robust code of ethics for procurement practitioners is imperative. The attached code of ethics provides ethical guidelines for the conduct of procurement professionals. As elements of the broader field of project management, procurement professionals play an integral role in ensuring project success. The critical nature of their role warrants ethical conduct. From procurement planning and contractor selection to contract administration and closure, procurement practitioners must demonstrate ethical conduct. They must act with professionalism, integrity, and accountability as their decisions affect not only internal stakeholders, but also a string of stakeholders outside the project organization.


References
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. (2017). CIPS Code of Conduct. Retrieved from https://www.cips.org/en/aboutcips/cips-code-of-conduct/
Project Management Institute. (2016). Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct. Retrieved from http://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/ethics/pmi-code-of- ethics.pdf?sc_lang_temp=en
Supply Chain Management Association. (2016). SCMA Code of Ethics for Professionals in the Field of Supply Chain Management. Retrieved from http://scma.com/en/about- scma/join-scma/code-of-ethics


Appendix: Code of Ethics for Procurement Professionals
Purpose
· Promote the integrity of the procurement profession
· Articulate the ideals that govern the procurement profession
· Describe the expectations procurement professionals have of themselves and their peers
Target Audience
· Procurement professionals
Values and Principles
1. Responsibility and Accountability: Procurement professionals must take responsibility for every decision they make. More specifically, procurement professionals:
· Must consider societal, public safety and environmental interests in procurement decisions.
· Must only undertake tasks that match their background, skills, and experience.
· Have an obligation to safeguard confidential information entrusted to them.
· Have a responsibility to comply with relevant laws, regulations, policies, and professional guidelines.
· Have a responsibility to report violation of procurement rules, laws, and policies.
· Must put the interests of the organization first and ensure value for money in every procurement process.
2. Transparency and Integrity: Procurement professionals must depict honesty and truthfulness. This includes:
· Declining inducements, personal gifts, or offers of hospitality that may influence decision making.
· Rejecting reasonably improper business practices.
· Avoiding the use of authority for personal gain.
· Providing accurate and reliable information.
· Fostering fair and transparent competition.
· Providing truthful information about one’s background, skills, knowledge, and experience.
· Avoiding conflict of interest.
3. Professional Development: Procurement professionals must continually hone their knowledge and skills. This encompasses:
· Continual development of personal and professional skills.
· Remaining abreast with procurement rules, regulations, and policies.