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Last week………
1. Introduction to the course
2. Unit 1
• Brief overview to what is ‘procurement’
• Construction project participants
• Roles and responsibilities of project participants
• Types of clients
• The client as the driving force of industry change
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Unit 2: Professional Ethics D39PZ: Procurement and Contracts
Image: Athanasius on flickr. Some rights reserved.
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Lecture plan
1. What are ethics?
2. Documenting ethics
3. The construction professional
Making ethically-sound professional judgment
4. The ethical standards of professional bodies Expected standards
Disciplinary procedures
5. Summary
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What are ethics?
Ethics:
are the guiding principles/moral standards by which we live our lives;
personal and professional.
Unwritten rules
define what is acceptable to the majority.
define the standards by which we are judged by others.
underpin our rules and regulations
Ethics (and the behaviours that they influence) define our
society...
... and the professions within it
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What are ethics?
heart feather
of truth
The ancient Egyptian
“Book of the Dead” – (is the
modern name of an ancient Egyptian
funerary text)
• “I have not held back the water when
it should flow.”
• “I have not diverted the water in the
canal.”
• “I have not put out a fire when it
should burn.”
• “I have given bread to the hungry
man, and water to the thirsty man
and, clothes to the naked man.”
•The Egyptian “Book of the Dead,” 1240 B.C.
Chapter 125: The Judgement of the Dead.
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What are ethics?
The ancient Greeks (Aesop’s Fables):
The Fox and the Rooster
As a hungry Fox trotted into a clearing in the woods, he spotted a rooster perched on a high
tree branch. Thinking of a tasty meal, the Fox called to the bird and said “Hello friend Rooster
have you heard the good news?”
“No” said of the Rooster “What is it?”
“All the animals have made a peace treaty, and have promised never to hurt each other again.”
“What” said the Rooster, “That's great!”
“Why don't you come down and celebrate with me?” asked the Fox.
Just then the Fox noticed that the Rooster seemed to be looking intently off into the distance
and asked: “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing much,” answered the sly Rooster, “only a pack of hounds running this way very fast.”
“Oh no!” said the Fox suddenly, “I just remembered something important and I have to go!”
“Why in such a rush friend Fox” said the Rooster mockingly, “we'll tell them about the new
peace treaty, and you'll be safe, you'll see. “
But the Fox ran as fast as he could and never looked back.
D39PZ: Procurement and Contracts
Activity….
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What are ethics?
RICS suggests that professional ethics are framed by five
principles:
Professional ethics are a process
Human behaviour is caused
Actions have consequences
What is ethical depends on the individual’s point of
view
Good ethical business practice rests on mutual
vulnerability
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When are ethics relevant?
Always, but specifically:
When a decision must be made and there is no clear
choice
When a decision must be made that may cause one
party to gain and another to lose
When a decision must be made that could call an
individual’s integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, etc.
into account
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Documenting ethics
Ethics exist in many forms, from informal social “norms” to
the formal rules that create regulated behaviours.
Individuals are structured by their own standards
These are reflected in informal social behaviour patterns or
formalised rules.
Professions are structured by their codes of conduct
These define minimum standards of professional behaviour
Society is structured by formal rules, regulations and laws
These define permissible behaviours of the public at large
Incre
asin
gly
exp
licit &
fo
rma
lise
d
D39PZ: Procurement and Contracts 11
Ethics in business
“To be ethical is profitable; but to be ethical
because it is profitable is not ethical.” Dr. Peter Koestenbaum, Philosopher, Advanced Research
& Technology Institute, Indiana University
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The “professional”
Maintaining ethical standards is of critical importance to a
member of a profession
“Professionals” are considered to be “upright citizens”
They are expected to set the standards for others
They should act in a way that others aspire
Professionals must possess expertise,
but they must also exhibit integrity in its application.
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The construction professional
The construction professional will be required to apply its
knowledge and expertise to:
They may have to resolve conflict
They may be placed in morally ambiguous situations
They may have their integrity tested by others
They may have to put others’ interests ahead of their own
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The construction professional
The construction professional is expected to uphold their
own reputation and the reputation of their profession
The construction professional must satisfy several views
of “professionalism,” including those of:
the profession’s governing institutions;
the professional’s peers;
the professional’s clients;
the wider public; and
the professional’s own expectations
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Small activity…….with Socrative
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Influences on professional judgment
Ethical decision making must consider:
the action, behaviour or decision being
considered;
the standards against which actions may
be compared; and
a principle of business ethics which
provides guidance about what is important
The professional must be trusted
Professional bodies
Own expectations
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Influences on surveyors’ ethical decisions
Source: Poon, J. (2004). “Factors Influencing Ethical Decision Making for Surveyors.”
Cobra 2004, 7-8 September, Leeds: RICS.
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Professional institutions & ethics
To provide professional consultancy, you must be a
member of a relevant professional body
Professional institutions and bodies define ethical
standards to which their members must comply
There are severe consequences for those institution
members who do not meet these standards
If allowed to continue to fail, the reputation of the profession
itself would be lost
Clients would be unable to trust their project managers,
quantity surveyors, etc. to provide unbiased advice
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Expected standards
Professional institutions define the ethical standards
expected of their members
RIBA Code of Professional Conduct
PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
RICS’ “Professional and Ethical Standards”
CIOB “Rules and Regulations of Professional Competence
and Conduct”
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RICS “Professional and Ethical Standards”
1. Take responsibility
Be accountable for all your actions - don't blame others if
things go wrong, and if you suspect something isn't right, be
prepared to take action.
2. Treat others with respect
Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness and respect and
consider cultural sensitivities and business practices.
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RICS “Professional and Ethical Standards”
3. Always provide a high standard of service
Always ensure your client, or others to whom you have a
professional responsibility, receive the best possible advice,
support or performance of the terms of engagement you have
agreed to.
4. Act with integrity
Be honest and straightforward in all that you do.
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RICS “Professional and Ethical Standards”
5. Act in a way that promotes trust in the profession
Act in a manner, both in your professional life and private life, to
promote you, your firm or the organisation you work for in a
professional and positive way.
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Small activity…….using Socrative
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Disciplinary procedures
If a professional fails to act in accordance with the
required standards, then their governing professional body
can take action:
imposition of fines;
consent orders defining how the situation will be put right;
disciplinary penalties, up to expulsion from the institution.
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Disciplinary
procedures
A full report from a
RICS Disciplinary
Panel is presented
in the appendices
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Preparation for tutorial
• Divide the class based on the programme of study
(Construction Project Management, Architectural Engineering, Quantity Surveying)
• Identify your relevant professional body
• Look for the code of practice/ethics of your professional body
• Prepare a 7 minute presentation to summarise the code of
practice/ethics of your professional body
• Present it to the class at the tutorial session
• Identify volunteer presenters (as many as possible)
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Remember to read the full Unit notes and Appendices, and
complete your independent study
