Responsibility (Ethical Principle)
Responsibility is the PMI ethical principle requiring practitioners to take ownership of decisions, actions, and their consequences, and to act in the best interests of society, public safety, and the environment.
Explanation
Responsibility, as defined in the PMI Code of Ethics, means that project managers accept accountability for the decisions they make or fail to make, the actions they take or fail to take, and the resulting consequences. This value extends beyond the project itself to include the well-being of society and the environment.
Aspirational standards for responsibility include making decisions based on the best interests of society, public safety, and the environment, and accepting only assignments consistent with your qualifications. Mandatory standards require that you uphold laws, regulations, and organizational policies, report unethical or illegal conduct, and bring violations of the Code to the attention of appropriate bodies.
On the exam, responsibility questions often test whether a project manager owns problems rather than deflecting blame, reports issues transparently, and takes corrective action when something goes wrong rather than hiding behind process or hierarchy.
Key Points
- •Accountability for decisions, actions, and their consequences
- •Includes duty to society, public safety, and the environment
- •Accept only assignments consistent with your background and experience
- •Report unethical or illegal conduct through appropriate channels
Exam Tip
If an exam scenario asks what to do when you discover a problem, the responsible answer almost always involves acknowledging the issue, reporting it, and taking corrective action rather than ignoring it or blaming others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is a foundational document that establishes the ethical expectations and behavioral standards for all PMI members, volunteers, and certification holders.
Truthful Reporting
Truthful reporting is the ethical obligation to provide accurate, complete, and timely information about project status, performance, risks, and issues to all authorized stakeholders.
Whistleblowing in Project Management
Whistleblowing in project management is the act of reporting unethical, illegal, or harmful conduct observed during project work to the appropriate internal or external authorities when normal channels have failed to address the issue.
Ethical Decision-Making Framework
An ethical decision-making framework is a structured approach for evaluating and resolving ethical dilemmas by applying the core values of the PMI Code of Ethics: responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty.
Test your knowledge
Practice scenario-based questions on this topic with detailed explanations.