Page 41 - Surveyor 54.3 and 4

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

Vol.54 No.3 & 4 2019

Adverse tendencies, such as the Conclusions be a breeding ground for ethical
frequent temptation of quantity breaches. Improper Bill of Quantities
surveyors to provide trade This research was to investigate practices was considered as one of
secret in exchange for dishonest ethical decision making with regards the ethical issues as it is obligated
inductions, compromise the to ethical issues in the construction to the quantity surveyor to prepare
provision of professional service industry. Based on the data gathered, and provide. The Bill of Quantities
with a very despicable low degree there were 20 ethical issues in the was a contractually one of the
of trustworthiness, especially when construction industry affecting important documents that specify
faced with challenges that can be the ethical decision making of the quantity and quality aspects of
traced to negligence and stern denial quantity surveyor. The ethical issues every essential part of construction
of fault. have been ranked based on the project. The inappropriateness
respondent’s agreement towards the of Bill of Quantities may lead to
Other than that, the failure to ethical issues in the construction greater variability, increase risk and
practice whistleblowing was industry that commonly become the consequence more disputes in a
considered in view of the personal reason of ethical decision making. project. Other than that, it can be
conflict of whistleblowing, where it Ethical issues were those which frustrating to work for someone
will act as unethically according to related to the grey areas between who plays favourites as favouritism
RICS core principles by not reporting what was accepted as right and and when the someone makes a
other unethical behaviour. It can be wrong. Based on the data analysed, job decision based on the protected
said that it involved other people and the top rank of ethical issues in characteristics of others will then
against the principle’s statute. the construction industry has been become discrimination. Thus, there

With regard to conflicts of interest demonstrated to be the main issues was a need to address the increasing
concern of ethical issues in the
with the client, the quantity surveyor of ethics. For instance, the issue industry. The ethical issues should
must promptly disclose the relevant of quality has undoubtedly taken be seen as something of interest and
facts and refuse to continue the on a new sense of urgency and thus help to dismiss the impression
commission unless requested. If importance within occurrence of that issues such as these are less
these were in conflict of mishandle activities happening in the industry in important or disconnected from the
information, then neither party will Malaysia. The quality of the products construction sector.
be comfortable with the other and was adversely affected if the parties
profits will suffer as a result of the to the contract such as quantity
project. surveyor do not carry out their References
duties properly especially in decision
It can be determined that most of the making. The lack of quality control Abdul Rahman, H., Saimon, M. A., and
ethical issues as shown in the mean also reflected the unethical conducts Ali, A. S. (2009). Professional ethics
index were categorised as agreed, which have an adverse effect on the in the construction industry of an
ranged 3.01 ≤ a <4.00. This indicates quality of the works. Islamic country: clients’ perspective.
that the respondents agreed that Construction in the Muslim World
the ethical issues happened in the Other than that, ethical issues of Conference, October 21-23, 2009, Kuala
construction industry may impact conflict of interest in the industry Lumpur, Malaysia.
the ethical decision making for the may occur to any profession in
quantity surveyor. any type of organisation in the Abdul-Rahman, H., Wang, C., and Yap,
industry such as consultants using X. W. (2010). How professional ethics
The top five shows that the ethical their position for financial gain impact construction quality: Perception
issues became the main reason or clients awarding contracts to and evidence in a fast developing
on ethical decision making to the companies. Conflict of interest economy. Scientific Research and
quantity surveyor. While the lowest becomes unavoidable issue in the Essays, 5(23), 3742-3749.
five shows that the ethical issues construction industry. Practice of
made less contribution to the ethical cover pricing takes place when Abuznaid, S. A. (2009). Business ethics
decision making. This is revealed bidders submit a price that was not in Islam: The glaring gap in practice.
from the results of the statements intended to win the contract they International Journal of Islamic
in the questionnaire which indicate are bidding for. This price was a and Middle Eastern Finance and
that they were aware of the presence price that would have been agreed Management 2(4), 278-288.
of ethical issues in the Malaysian upon between bidders who wishes
construction industry. to win the contract. Thus, it could

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