Kuoribo, E; Yomoah, R; Owusu-Manu, D G; Acheampong, A; John Edwards, D and Debrah, C (2023) Assessing the interactive effects of the ethics of construction professionals on project performance in the Ghanaian construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(10), pp. 5233-5252. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The construction industry is beset with unethical behaviours. Although several studies have investigated the effects of unethical behaviours on project performance, research in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI) remains scant. Consequently, this research assesses the interactive effects of ethical and unethical behaviours of construction professionals on project performance in the GCI. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach was used to obtain primary data from 68 construction professionals, viz, quantity surveyors, architects, civil engineers, clerk of works and project managers, via a closed-ended questionnaire survey. Data collected were analysed using one-sample t-test and Kruskal–Wallis test statistics, after which two hypotheses were tested and validated using regression analysis. Findings: Reduction of project risks, avoidance of legal problems and maximisation project quality performance were critical effects of ethical behaviours observed on project performance, whereas the effects of unethical behaviours such as cost overrun, abandonment and time overrun were severe on project performance in the GCI. Ethical behaviour was seen to relate to project performance positively, and unethical behaviour was proved to have dire consequences on project performance. Practical implications: Construction project performance is greatly influenced by professionals' ethical and unethical behaviours. Emergent findings emanating from this research will assist emerging economies in developing and implementing counter policies and systems that mitigate the unethical behaviours of construction professionals. Social implications: The study highlights the effects of ethical and unethical behaviours on project performance to reorient individuals' perceptions that unethical behaviours are less critical in the construction industry. Supporting evidence encourages individuals to adhere to ethical behaviours in a project environment. Research limitations/implications: The inability to obtain data across the entire geographical spread of Ghana is acknowledged as a major limitation of the study and affects the generalisation of the results. Originality/value: This study constitutes a first attempt to establish the interactive effects of ethical and unethical behaviours of construction professionals on project performance within the GCI. A significant addition to the body of knowledge is that ethical and unethical behaviours impact project performance positively or negatively, respectively.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction professional; ethics; Ghanaian construction industry; project performance; unethical behaviour |
| Index terms: | architect, project performance, quality performance, construction professional, regression analysis, construction industry, statistics, project manager, quantitative research, time overrun, quantity surveying, emerging economy, Ghana, ethics, cost overrun, questionnaire, evidence, methodology, construction project, body of knowledge, ethical behaviour, clerk of works, survey, maximization, civil engineer, abandonment |
| Subjects: | profession, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, mathematical modelling, practitioner, ethical issues, knowledge management, data analysis and analytics, ethical practice, financial and cost management, project delivery, economic development, research methods, algorithms, Geography, production management, project management theory and practice, professional development, project controls, industry analysis, statistical analysis, completion |
| Topics: | Time Control, Digital Applications, International Construction, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Information Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here