The Integration of Ethical Principles into Project Management

Project management is a highly relevant research field due to the significant influence projects have on contemporary society and national economies. However, predominant concerns primarily focus on aspects related to time, costs, and quality management, often overlooking ethical considerations, long-term impact, and the social implications of projects. The paper aims to identify ethical leadership strategies and characteristics that influence decision-making and project outcomes. The research literature extensively addresses various critical factors that bring project success, and as a result, the ethical dimension must be more represented. This research gap poses a significant challenge for project managers, limiting their ability to effectively apply ethical principles in their practice. Through the systematic identification, critical evaluation, and synthesis of existing studies and publications from public databases, this work contributes to the research field by providing a holistic perspective on ethical principles in project management, thereby opening new perspectives for its development. The research findings reveal that integrating ethical principles into project management leads to the success of implemented projects and ensures their sustainability. Furthermore, our results show that the ethical characteristics of the manager (such as fairness, honesty, responsibility, and integrity) contribute to gaining team support, a vital factor in achieving project sustainability and success.