Professional Ethics in Construction and Engineering

4 Ethical Dilemmas for Construction Practitioners

There is never a right way to do the wrong thing.

Parson (2005)

4.1 Introduction

The above quotation really typifies what ethics are all about. Notwithstanding measures to improve ethics in professional construction management, time and time again we have seen cases of unethical practices arise. These have taken the form of reverse actions and bid shopping, and according to Parson (2005), the construction industry is tainted by unethical behaviour. Accordingly, this chapter addresses the many dilemmas that can arise for construction professionals and offers practical guides and recommendations for maintaining ethical principles and practices under different scenarios.

In the last chapter the different roles, responsibilities and ethical considerations relating to construction professionals were discussed. Such differentiation in the nature of their roles and duties can from time to time create ethical dilemmas for these individuals, and these will be discussed. This chapter will also discuss how professional ethics are not always aligned to business ethics and the dilemmas that this can create, especially where commercial benefits are at stake. On this theme it will explain how such dilemmas can lead to non-adherence of codes of conduct and breaches of rules and regulatory standards. The importance and significance of ethical principles will be articulated alongside the benefits of upholding cultural values when procuring ...