Ho, C M F (2011) Ethics management for the construction industry: A review of ethical decision-making literature. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 18(5), pp. 516-537. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - Managing ethics has come to be considered a management discipline, especially since the birth of business ethics and social responsibility movements in the 1960s. However, there seems to be no comprehensive review and synthesis of ethics management literature in construction. This research aims to address the theory-practice gap by providing a critical review of the ethics decision-making literature. Design/methodology/approach - The study examines critically the ethics decision-making literature from the 1980s to 2008. Findings - Three research focuses, relating to the construction industry in ethical decision making, are identified: empirical studies on examining the associations between variables (individuals, situational/organisational, moral intensity) and employees' ethical behaviour in construction organisational contexts; continuous application of behavioural science theories to develop an appropriate ethical decision-making model for the industry; and research on group and/or organisational level behaviour ethics. Research limitations/implications - The study identifies, draws together, and integrates existing theories and research, with a particular emphasis on ethical decision-making models, to present the key contributions in the realm of ethics decision making. Practical implications - The paper highlights the role of management (both as an academic discipline and from a practitioner perspective) in bridging this gap. Originality/value - The research adds value to the literature on ethics management, where limited knowledge exists in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | business ethics; construction industry; ethical decision-making; ethics management |
| Index terms: | construction industry, empirical study, ethics, social responsibility, ethical behaviour, decision-making, methodology, practitioner, science, business ethics, movement |
| Subjects: | decision analysis, industry analysis, research methods, health safety and environment, ethical issues, professional practice, ethical practice, practitioner, health behaviours and lifestyles, specialized education |
| Topics: | Ethics, Education, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Risk Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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