Yap, J B H; Tan, K L and Skitmore, M (2026) Constructing ethics resilience: Unveiling preventive strategies for compliance in the Malaysian construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 44(1), pp. 41-60. ISSN 0144-6193
Abstract
Unethical practices in the construction industry pose a major challenge worldwide, demanding effective strategies for prevention. This study explores preventive measures and their key determinants to strengthen efforts against unethical behaviour. Through a literature review, 22 preventive strategies were identified to mitigate unethical practices. These were evaluated using a survey among Malaysian construction professionals, providing firsthand insights from industry experts. Factor analysis revealed five key constructs influencing their effectiveness: (1) managerial, (2) regulatory, (3) probing, (4) promotional, and (5) reactive. Leadership, communication, debarment and blacklisting, checks and balances, and rigorous supervision emerged as the most influential strategies. Synthesising these findings with theoretical perspectives, the study develops the Ethics Resilience Framework for Construction Governance—a holistic, multi-level model linking theory, empirical evidence, and policy. The research offers practical recommendations for professionals and policymakers in addressing unethical practices within Malaysia's construction sector. By tackling the challenges faced by developing countries, this study proposes actionable approaches for ethical enhancement. Ultimately, it contributes significantly to both research and practice in construction ethics.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; ethical strategies; factor analysis; unethical practices |
| Index terms: | construction sector, evidence, survey, strategy, literature review, compliance, developing country, unethical practices, supervision, determinant, prevention, construction industry, effectiveness, factor analysis, construction professional, ethics, governance, Malaysia |
| Subjects: | performance management, management, professional development, statistical analysis, industry analysis, business, risk assessment, data collection methods, control systems, data analysis and analytics, financial risk, development economics, health safety and environment, Geography, evaluation and assessment methods, ethical practice |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Risk Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, International Construction, Governance, Information Management, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy |
| 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