Unethical Practices
TECHNICAL NOTES
Unethical Practices in Nigerian Engineering Industries: Complications for Project Management
O. E. Alutu1 and M. L. Udhawuve2
Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to establish the unethical practices in engineering industries and identify the various factors that could encourage unethical practices in the nation’s life with a view to highlighting the findings for corruption-free management of projects. A sample of 226 was randomly selected for the study from a population of 12,230 workers from selected companies in the manufacturing and construction industries in Lagos state. The data were analyzed using simple percentages and the chi-square statistics. The results revealed that organizations have a code of conduct that should generate in the workforce values such as accountability and integrity and that there are disciplinary and control measures to check malpractices, yet individuals still engage in unethical practices. Of all the 34 unethical practices studied, “people want to acquire wealth by all means to enhance public status” ranked highest, followed by “people are driven by their inherent greed for money.” The factor that contributed most to the unethical practices is economic pressures, followed by societal practices, vested interests of stakeholders in contracts, and last organization’s practice. The result also showed that there are vested interests in design, award, execution, and commissioning of projects by stakeholders of the projects and that unethical practices have serious negative impact on project management. DOI: 10.1061/ ASCE 0742-597X 2009 25:1 40 CE Database subject headings: Ethics; Construction management; Nigeria; Africa.
Introduction
Corruption is a dangerous societal disease, more dangerous than cancer or HIV/AIDS is to human beings Akintude 2001 . The level of corruption has gone so high in Nigeria that corrupt practices have been blamed for the instability of successive governments in Nigeria since the first
Unethical Practices in Nigerian Engineering Industries: Complications for Project Management
O. E. Alutu1 and M. L. Udhawuve2
Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to establish the unethical practices in engineering industries and identify the various factors that could encourage unethical practices in the nation’s life with a view to highlighting the findings for corruption-free management of projects. A sample of 226 was randomly selected for the study from a population of 12,230 workers from selected companies in the manufacturing and construction industries in Lagos state. The data were analyzed using simple percentages and the chi-square statistics. The results revealed that organizations have a code of conduct that should generate in the workforce values such as accountability and integrity and that there are disciplinary and control measures to check malpractices, yet individuals still engage in unethical practices. Of all the 34 unethical practices studied, “people want to acquire wealth by all means to enhance public status” ranked highest, followed by “people are driven by their inherent greed for money.” The factor that contributed most to the unethical practices is economic pressures, followed by societal practices, vested interests of stakeholders in contracts, and last organization’s practice. The result also showed that there are vested interests in design, award, execution, and commissioning of projects by stakeholders of the projects and that unethical practices have serious negative impact on project management. DOI: 10.1061/ ASCE 0742-597X 2009 25:1 40 CE Database subject headings: Ethics; Construction management; Nigeria; Africa.
Introduction
Corruption is a dangerous societal disease, more dangerous than cancer or HIV/AIDS is to human beings Akintude 2001 . The level of corruption has gone so high in Nigeria that corrupt practices have been blamed for the instability of successive governments in Nigeria since the first
References: Akintunde, I. 2001 . “Corruption in engineering projects—The way out.” Proc., Anti-Corruption Seminar of 19th June, 2001, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Abuja. Aliyu, O. A. 2000 . “Abandoned projects: Question of maintenance or planning?” Proc., Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association CCESSA Seminar, CCESSA Newsletter, Lagos. Alutu, O. E. 2002 . “Unethical practices in Nigerian construction industry: The prospective engineer’s viewpoint.” Civil Engineering Dept., Univ. of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Alutu, O. E. 2004 . “Keeping contract prize under control—The importance of a fairly accurate in-house estimate.” Civil Engineering Dept., Univ. of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors NIQS . 2003 . “High cost of construction projects in Nigeria: Causes and solutions.” NIQS Publication Service No. 2, Lagos, Nigeria. Obasanjo, O. 2000 . “Address on the occasion of formal signing into law of the Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Act 2000.” Times Press Ltd., Abuja, Nigeria. Obasanjo, O. 2001 . “Keynote address.” Proc., Seminar on Campaign against Corruption in Engineering Projects, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Abuja, Nigeria. JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING © ASCE / JANUARY 2009 / 43