Chapter 13. Understanding the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

In this chapter you will Explore the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Learn the structure of the Code Learn about the Code’s stance on fairness and honesty Adhere to the Code’s mandatory standards

In 1981, back when Jordache jeans and the song “Bette Davis Eyes” were all the rage, some folks at PMI (Project Management Institute) were more concerned with ethics than parachute pants. PMI created the Ethics, Standards, and Accreditation Group to create a code of ethics for the project management profession. Sounds like a bunch of fun, doesn’t it? By the end of the ‘80s, the group’s discussions and reports evolved into the “Ethics Standard for the Project Management Professional.” This document, in 1998, became the early version of a new “Code of Ethics.” The Code of Ethics was a code that all PMI members, certified as a project manager or not, agreed to abide by in their professional practices. Consequently, in January 1999, the Ethics, Standards, and Accreditation Group approved a process for ethics complaints to be filed, reviewed, and then acted on if the complaint proved valid.