Page 33 - Surveyor 54.3 and 4

Investigation of Ethical Decision Making Towards Ethical Issues in the Construction Industry

Vol.54 No.3 & 4 2019

and Aragon, 2000). Ethical decision- found to be the most influencing companies and also on personal
making is not simply to make a factors for ethical issues in the safety. Pearl et al. (2005) stated
decision, it is the process by which construction industry. that ethics is merely not about
human values are put into action. acknowledging an objective good,

Professionals in the Malaysian Concepts of Ethics but also about thinking, language,
reasoning, processes and judgment
construction industry, namely that informs the choices made by
architects, engineers and quantity Ethics is the philosophical branch people in their daily lives that affect
surveyors, need to understand the that explores morality and the way their own and others’ well- being.
ethical concepts that define the of thinking that guides human
rules and practices of responsible behaviour. RICS (2000) define Professional Ethics
behaviour between individuals, ethics as science of moral; moral
industries and the public. Chan principles or codes; and Guttmann The concept of ethics linked to the
et al. (2002) stressed that (2006) explains ethics as the concept of professionalism which
the inclusion of ethics clearly science of duty. The drive of ethics operated in a highly fragmented
recognises that values and morality is to acquire mental powers that industry with many different skills
form part of a competence that enable one to overcome fleeting and professions. Royal Institution of
increases professional credibility. instincts and passions by favouring Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (2000)
Consequently, construction the good of the general over the stated that behaving ethically is
professionals should be solely bad; and to develop to a level at at the heart of what it means to
responsible for carrying out which the decision to be moral or be a professional; it distinguishes
their tasks with great care and ethical comes from the heart and professionals from others in the
diligence. Quantity surveyor as a the soul and must not be imposed marketplace. RICS professionals
construction professional has an by any external power Guttman demonstrate their commitment to
important role in ethical practices, (2006). Ethics is a set of moral ethical behaviour by adhering to
particularly in the situation of ethical values and principles that guide five global professional and ethical
dilemmas and consequently affect the code of conduct of individuals, standards. The five global and
construction quality based on their organisations and professions ethical standard such as 1) able
decision-making. As a quantity (The Malaysian Institute of Integrity- to demonstrate that they act with
surveyor, decision making must be IIM, 2004) and the concept of integrity, 2) always provide a high
perceived as consistent, persevering morality- one’s ability to choose standard of service, 3) act in a way
and well-judged. between right and wrong, good and that promotes trust in the profession,
bad, acceptable and unacceptable 4) treat others with respect, and
This article aims to investigate (Velasquez, 2009) and the code of
ethical decision making with morality that sets standards of good
regards to ethical issues in the or bad, or right or wrong behaviour
construction industry involving (Schemerhorn, 2008).
quantity surveyors. A questionnaire Ethics is the
survey was conducted within Ethical behaviour is accepted as
consultant’s firms in Federal good and right in the context of the philosophical
Territory, Kuala Lumpur. A total of governing moral code, rather than
144 quantity surveyors who work bad or wrong (Abuznaid, 2009). branch that
at the consultant’s firms responded Ethical action must be taken to explores morality
to the questionnaire. The data ensure that these practices and
from the survey was analysed rules are consistently applied in and the way of
using SPSS and reliability of data all daily business situations (Orme
and the significance difference and Ashton, 2003). Ethics is seen thinking that
between mean were tested by using as the thinking and behaviour of
Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (α).The “what is morally right or wrong” guides human
survey concludes that lack of quality and “what people should do” and behaviour.
of work, conflicts of interest, cover applied to daily personal and work
pricing, improper Bills of Quantities practices. Ethics have an absolute
practice, and also favouritism, impact both on the credibility
discrimination and harassment are and economic sustainability of

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