OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Ethical Communities Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the four ethical communities
2. Apply the ethical communities to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The team is currently facing a challenge in reconciling our customer-oriented change

goals with the evolving business needs of a long-established international corporation.
The corporation, having honed its manufacturing and hardware engineering over 180
years, adheres to a traditional sequential, or waterfall project management approach.
However, the team believes we need to function as a start-up to accomplish our
objectives, entailing a faster, Agile method for product discovery, development, and
delivery. Despite our extensive experience in software development and delivery, the
team is finding it difficult to persuade the larger organization to accept this new process
while simultaneously meeting financial reporting responsibilities and addressing strategic
demands. My goal as a software product manager within the organization is to not only
help be the voice of the customer, but also to help drive innovation and the adoption of
modern project management frameworks.

2) Describe how the ethics of the organization influenced the situation.

The ethical underpinnings of Schneider Electric, especially its commitment to

sustainability, progress, and customer empowerment, are significant factors in the
situation. The ethical framework emphasizes the need for constant innovation and
customer-centric solutions, which aligns with the Agile approach that my team is
championing. Schneider's commitment to sustainability implies a commitment to
adaptability and forward-thinking, which aligns with the push toward Agile
methodologies. Agile, by its nature, emphasizes quick adaptation to change which is a
necessity in the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable technologies.

Schneider's emphasis on customer empowerment ties in directly with my role as a

software product manager. My focus on prioritizing customer needs and driving feature
additions that resonate with the market aligns with the company's ethical standards. The

1
 tension arises when these ethical commitments meet the ingrained structures and
processes of the wider organization. However, these ethics may also provide common
ground for dialogue and negotiation, creating opportunities to influence the organization
towards embracing a more Agile approach.

3) Recommend how you would apply one of the ethical communities for an alternative
course of action regarding your case.

Applying the 'excellence' ethical community, as described by Bolman and Deal (2021),
could provide a fresh perspective and a compelling course of action in my situation at
Schneider Electric. This ethical community is about striving for quality, achievement, and
superior standards. Given my organization's context, it connects seamlessly with our push
towards an Agile methodology, as agility inherently upholds values like responsiveness to
customer needs, flexibility, and innovation. To employ this ethical frame, I'd begin by
illustrating the harmony between the excellence ethic and Agile practices. I would focus
on presenting real-world examples of how agility has spurred excellence in product
development and customer satisfaction in other similar organizations. By providing
tangible evidence of success we can build a powerful narrative around the merits of Agile
adoption.

Next, I'd propose a pilot program adopting Agile methodologies within our team,
targeting demonstrable excellence in a specific project. Achieving success in this pilot
program can then serve as a testament to Agile's efficiency and the heightened quality it
can bring. But my aim goes beyond just executing change; I wish to inspire my
colleagues to see and share this vision of excellence. By framing agility as not just a
change in process, but a journey towards our shared commitment to excellence, we could
rally the larger organization around this new approach.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about ethics.

Considering what I've learned about ethics from Bolman and Deal's Reframing
Organizations (2021), I would put a strong emphasis on clearly articulating the ethical
considerations of our decisions and actions, especially when advocating for the adoption
of Agile methodologies. I've come to recognize that making the ethical underpinnings of
our approach explicit can strengthen the case for change by tying it to the core values of
the organization. This can create a powerful narrative that resonates with stakeholders
and can help to build broad support for our initiatives.

Though this transition might not inherently involve ethical dilemmas, I am aware that any
change can spark uncertainties or concerns. To address this, I feel it's important to discuss
potential ethical issues before they even arise, handling these matters with clear
transparency and integrity. Having an open conversation about potential ethical concerns

2
and how we would manage them would help build trust and advance our culture of open
communication. This way, our shift to Agile methodologies not only enhances our
processes but also stays in sync with our commitment to ethical conduct. This method
ensures our pursuit of excellence through agile isn't at the expense of maintaining and
bolstering our ethical commitments.

3
 References

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and
Leadership. Wiley.