PMI PMP Project Manager Certification

Category - Professional Responsibility

Calvin Butterball is working as a Project Manager at the Half-Baked Ham Company. One day, he happens to realize that his last status report to the project’s stakeholders contains a serious mistake. According to the Code of Professional Conduct, what concept best represents the situation at hand, and what Calvin’s response ought to be?
  1. Mistakes happen: Unless the mistake is going to cause an explosion, Calvin should pretend he didn’t notice it
  2. Put the project’s needs before your own: Calvin should avoid bringing up the mistake because he doesn’t want any delays in the project as a result of his error
  3. Do what’s right: Calvin should explain away the error as best he can
  4. Tell the truth at all times: Bob should disclose the error to his stakeholders right away
  5. Violations of laws: Calvin must report the incident to the authorities.
Explanation
Answer: d - According to the Code of Professional Conduct, project managers should present the project truthfully and accurately to its stakeholders.

Answer: d - According to the Code of Professional Conduct, project managers should present the project truthfully and accurately to its stakeholders.

Mistakes do happen, but pretending they don’t happen is going against the Code of Professional Conduct (which specifies that Project Managers need to be truthful, even about errors).

Putting the project’s needs before your own is something project managers should practice; however, by Calvin not addressing the mistake, he is being dishonest about the project’s status.
Do what’s right would best be demonstrated by Calvin fessing up about the error in its totality.

Key Take Away: Project managers are obligated to fully disclose any errors affecting the project. Saving face should not take precedent. Everyone makes honest mistakes, and taking accountability is usually appreciated and treated with respect.
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