Unethical conduct among professionals in the construction industry

Abstract

Construction industry is a very challenging and complex sector. The ability to control and communicate with various stages, process and parties to meet the project objectives are not an easy job and these responsibilities are on the professionals shoulders. Besides that, the professionals are also facing their own crisis and dilemma as an ethical professional. This study is focusing on three group of professionals; engineers, architects and quantity surveyors. The objectives of this study are: to identify the elements of unethical conducts; the characteristics and responsibilities needed to avoid unethical conducts; and also trying to identify ways to reduce these problems. 100 sets of questionnaire surveys were distributed to the professionals in Johor and Selangor. From this study, the political and social behavior elements is identified as the most common element of unethical conducts with 90% agreement by the professionals. A total of six characteristics that are listed as important to the professionals which include integrity; accountability; trust; being responsible; self-discipline; communications skills and certain personality traits. For the responsibilities needed, including: to protect the interests and welfare of the client; to be loyal and not to engage in conflicts; and the professional as advisor to a client were the highest agreement between the professionals. A successful code of ethics is when the professionals perceive that it was created to guide the behavior of the professionals besides reinforce a company’s shared value. The professionals agreed that this method is the best solution to the ethic’s problems. The finding of the study can also be used by the industry to increase the level of ethics among the professional in Malaysia.