Project Management and Ethics in IT Sector

Project management and Information technology go hand in hand. However, in the era of technology the overall expectations of clients, executives and customers have increased multifold. In the context of IT, implies reduction in project cost, human resources and time requirements.

In my opinion, the project managers are at the receiving end because they have to perform and deliver within the pre-allocated resources and often rushed deadlines. Frequently managers or other team members have to cut edges to deliver on time and within the approved budget. Or managers expect their team members to work overtime and withdraw vacation time. All this leads to low staff morale, poor product quality, cost overrun or project failure.

In developing countries the situation is even worse. The other day I called my newlywed sister and brother in law both IT professionals in India working for reputed firms. They are working 12-14 hours daily with barely one day off in a week. It is a known fact that in IT sector the final stages of software development are crucial, long working hours are a common scenario especially during the implementation phase.

What struck me most was not their long working hours but their inability to change the circumstances. Project managers will tell them bluntly that everybody else is doing extra hours. They do not have any provision for overtime or flexibility to say no for extra working hours. One has to go with the flow to survive the unorganized private sector in India, primarily catering North American companies. The employees do not have a voice because skilled human resources are in surplus; at least ten people are ready to take over any IT professional, regular working hours do not pay a decent salary and some people take it as an opportunity to shine within an organization.

No doubt this outsourcing business has provided bread and butter to many homes in the developing countries. But we have to be careful as Barbara Ehrenreich once said “Personally, I have nothing against work, particularly when performed, quietly and unobtrusively, by someone else. I just don't happen to think it's an appropriate subject for an "ethic."

The citizens from developed countries need to focus on the ethical issues arising in the developing world because of their IT projects or requirements. The employees should be empowered to receive bare minimum human rights. The onus should be shared including the HR costs by the business owners in developed and the developing countries.

References: Legal working hours and real working hours are different by Nita a renowned blogger.