Weber, J R (2023) Commercial construction ethical decision making: Authentic case studies. PhD thesis, Colorado State University, USA.
Abstract
This study was developed from 30 years of experiences in commercial construction. In addition to 20 case studies on ethical decision making, perspectives of instructors who taught at American Council of Construction Educators (ACCE) accredited Construction Management (CM) programs were included. These perspectives were considered to improve effectiveness. Literature found on the topic was minimal with most from government press releases. A Qualtrics survey was sent to 996 CM instructors with a potential sample size of 961 where 78 responded (8. 12%). Case study effectiveness, the role and techniques used, as well as themes in literature were analyzed. Quantitative and qualitative data contributed to the development and refinement of 20 authentic case studies. Over 95% of instructors perceived it their role to teach ethical decision making; strongly agreed (45. 59%), agreed (50. 00%), neutral (2. 94%), disagreed (1. 47%), and none strongly disagreed. Instructors perceived construction as having unique pressures varied; Yes (67. 65%), No (26. 47%), with 5. 88% did not know. When asked if ethical transgressions were systemic; Yes (38. 24%), No (45. 59%), and 14. 71% did not know. Did instructors perceive an “everybody does it” attitude; Yes (42. 65%), No (47. 06%), and 10. 29% did not know. When asked if authentic case studies were readily available; strongly agreed (4. 48%), agreed (23. 88%), neutral (28. 36%), disagreed (35. 82%), and strongly disagreed (7. 45%).
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Makela, C |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case studies; case study; decision making; government; sample size |
| Index terms: | instructor, commercial construction, case study, survey, effectiveness, sample size, program, decision-making |
| Subjects: | construction type, decision analysis, performance management, research design and methodology, practitioner, data collection methods, software systems |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Digital Applications, Construction Technology, Quality Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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