A project manager withholds bad schedule news from the sponsor to “keep morale up” on a civic center build. What ethical problem does that create?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Hiding a slipping schedule to “protect morale” is still hiding the truth. Sponsors need the real status so they can decide—honesty beats sugarcoating every time.
Full Explanation
Honesty and transparency require communicating material project status, including bad news, to the sponsor. Withholding bad schedule news on a civic center build to “keep morale up” violates honesty by concealing material status from the person who authorizes funding and priority decisions. Claiming there is no problem because sponsors should only hear positive updates until closeout fails by concept: sponsors need accurate information to make funding and priority decisions. Claiming concealment is required fairness because bad news always harms the public fails because withholding facts from decision-makers increases public harm when problems grow unmanaged. Claiming schedule slips are confidential operations data only fails because schedule performance is core project reporting, not something to hide under an operations label. Exam caveat: CAPM ethics scenarios often romanticize protecting morale; PMI-aligned practice favors timely truthful reporting plus constructive recovery planning rather than silence. Operational check: brief the sponsor promptly with the slip, variance drivers, options, and recommended recovery path, and update the status report so governance records match reality.