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In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, this new book provides thought provoking commentary on the nature of the relationship between society, the prevailing economic system and professionalism in the built environment. It is both an introduction to and an examination of professionalism and professional bodies in the sector, including a view of the future of professionalism and the organisations serving it. Simon Foxell outlines the history of professionalism in the sector, comparing and contrasting the development of the three major historic professions working in the construction industry: civil engineering, architecture and surveying. He examines how their systems have developed over time, where they are currently and some options for the future, whilst asking difficult questions about ethics, training, education, public trust and expectation from within and outside the industry. The book concludes with a six-point plan to help, if not ensure, that the professions remain an effective and essential part of both society and the economy; a part that allows the system to operate smoothly and easily, but also fairly and to the benefit of all. Essential reading for built environment professionals and students doing the professional studies elements of their training or in the process of applying for chartership or registration. The issues and lessons are applicable across all building professions-- Provided by publisher.

Although there is a general agreement on the role of ethics in the engineering profession, especially civil engineering, a model that can demonstrate how to enhance the professional ethics of civil engineers has not been reported and no clear theoretical explanation has been provided. This research has been conducted in the framework of a qualitative approach using grounded theory research method. Data were collected through semi-structured exploratory interviews. In order to gather information, we interviewed 25 civil engineers using purposeful sampling method from the viewpoint of a skilled person. Data were analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding. The content validity of the model was evaluated by both CVR and CVI indices and the reliability of the research findings was obtained through the stability of the process. The results show that 487 codes were extracted from the interviews as well as 42 concepts and 13 categories in the paradigm model including: professional ethics of civil engineers as core and causal, contextual factors (professional competencies), intervening conditions, strategies (human resource planning, organization structure, professional responsibility, professional commitment, disclosure, collaboration with different organizations with engineers), and background factors. The proposed model can be a practical guide for civil engineers. Also, by incorporating this model into the professional ethics course of engineering and teaching it, the adherence of ethical codes among civil engineering students can be increased.

PurposeThe 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/approachA 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.FindingsReduction 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 implicationsConstruction 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 implicationsThe 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/implicationsThe 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/valueThis 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.

Indications that corruption mitigation in infrastructure systems delivery can be effective are found in the literature. However, there is an untapped opportunity to further enhance the efficacy of existing corruption mitigation strategies by placing them explicitly within the larger context of engineering ethics, and relevant policy statements, guidelines, codes and manuals published by international organizations. An effective matching of these formal statements on ethics to infrastructure systems delivery facilitates the identification of potential corruption hotspots and thus help establish or strengthen institutional mechanisms that address corruption. This paper reviews professional codes of ethics, and relevant literature on corruption mitigation in the context of civil engineering infrastructure development, as a platform for building a structure that connects ethical tenets and the mitigation strategies. The paper assesses corruption mitigation strategies against the background of the fundamental canons of practice in civil engineering ethical codes. As such, the paper’s assessment is grounded in the civil engineer’s ethical responsibilities (to society, the profession, and peers) and principles (such as safety, health, welfare, respect, and honesty) that are common to professional codes of ethics in engineering practice. Addressing corruption in infrastructure development continues to be imperative for national economic and social development, and such exigency is underscored by the sheer scale of investments in infrastructure development in any country and the billions of dollars lost annually through corruption and fraud.

With the rapid development of engineering construction in China, especially the emergence of large-scale engineering projects and self-built residential houses, ethical issues in engineering have become increasingly prominent. Engineering ethics encompass the moral issues within engineering practice. Currently, engineering ethics in China is in its early stages, due to a lack of practical experience and a comprehensive set of ethical norms and operational systems. To effectively prevent and control safety issues in self-built housing projects, and to avoid accidents, this paper firstly focuses on the causes of the collapse of self-built houses in Changsha on 29 April 2022, from the perspective of engineering ethics. By utilizing the meanings and relevant theories of engineering ethics, this paper analyzes the three ethical dilemmas involved in the collapse of self-built houses: the ethical dilemma faced by engineers, the dilemma of government credibility, and the dilemma of engineering ethics education. Subsequently, recommendations are proposed to address these dilemmas, focusing on enhancing engineers’ ethical perspectives, improving government credibility, and strengthening engineering ethics education. Finally, an analysis and decision-making model is constructed based on the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China. The research findings of this paper have certain reference significance for ensuring the safety of residential buildings, which can effectively motivate governments, owners, designers, constructors, managers, and users to actively develop and promote high-quality sustainable buildings.

The previous article authored by the SAICE Ethics committee, published in the September 2023 issue of Civil Engineering (Vol.31, No.8), shared the insights from gained from the ethics webinar held in June titled “How can SAICE members support the co-creation of an ethical culture in our construction and civil engineering industry?” During this webinar, panellists shared their views and perspectives, incorporating valuable insights from attending participants.

This study explores the extent to which civil engineers and architects in Spain perceive sustainable leadership practices in their organizations. The main aim is to understand how leadership approaches in the built environment sector can be aligned with long-term, ethical, and stakeholder-focused principles. A total of 200 middle and senior managers participated in a survey that used a Likert-scale questionnaire that was designed to assess key elements of sustainable leadership; the various responses were analyzed in order to determine the prevalence of Honeybee-type (sustainable) versus Locust-type (short-term, exploitative) leadership traits. The findings showed that while participants generally endorse sustainable leadership values, especially regarding environmental responsibility and employee well-being, many organizations still exhibit practices associated with short-term priorities, fragmented communication, and resistance to innovation. A hybrid leadership approach seems to be quite common, considering that it combines sustainable intentions with structural or cultural barriers that limit full implementation. This study contributes to the sustainable leadership literature by providing sector-specific insights from civil engineering and architecture; it also suggests the need for organizational strategies that might strengthen internal communication, prioritize workforce development and facilitate a cultural shift toward sustainability. All the findings have serious practical implications for leadership development and for human resource practices in high-pressure technical fields.

Gallup, a world-renowned American research company focused on global performance management, conducted a telephonic survey of 1 028 American professionals on ethics in selected professions. Data from 2011 to 2014 indicated that engineers were second in terms of professional and ethical standing, with nurses gaining the top position over the last 14 years.1

Engineers maintaining high level of ethical standards is important to society and to the respective profession. We serve as the technical experts on behalf of society and with that role comes significant responsibilities. There are many causes for engineers to make unethical decisions, i.e., placing profit above protection of the public. Such reasons, for example, overbooked schedules, the unethical conduct of business associates, doing the “right thing” would cause a lot of trouble, and the pursuit of fame and fortune above all, etc. There are some common ethical dilemmas that new professionals may face: the acceptance of gifts from vendors or contractors, the billing of labor hours to unrelated project, and the inadequate reviewing of design work. New professions may lack the experience and abilities to successfully handle ethical dilemmas early in their careers. Mentoring new professionals, related to ethical standards may have a long-lasting effect on individuals who are new in the engineering profession. Experienced engineers bring vast knowledge in discussions on how to resolve ethical dilemmas. A key aspect to being a successful mentor is to thoroughly understand the Code of Ethics. If an engineer’s decision are highly supported by the Code of Ethics then it is much more likely that his(her) conduct will be more appropriate and acceptable.

The UAE’s thriving real estate market has resulted in a highly diversified built environment, attracting architects from around the world. However, this has also led to a misconception within the architectural practice and its regularization, particularly concerning acceptable professional qualifications. Therefore, this study aims to address these issues and provide a blueprint for policymakers and stakeholders. This study provided a comprehensive overview of architectural practice in the UAE by identifying the services offered by professionals in the built environment and categorizing them based on their qualifications and professional titles. The study adopts a classical research method, which includes a literature review, unstructured interviews, a statistical survey, and analysis. The study identifies 13 building designs and allied services commonly provided by professionals in the built environment in the UAE. The professionals providing these services are categorized based on their qualifications and professional titles, which include registered architects, architect engineers, architectural consultants, engineering consultants, and project managers. Furthermore, the study clarifies the definition of an acceptable qualification for a principal architect, which can be used as a reference by young professionals to understand the trends in architectural qualification and practice. The results of the study can also be used by policymakers and stakeholders to address the issues in professional practice and improve the quality of architectural services in the UAE.