IMPROVING THE ETHICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONSULTANT QUANTITY SURVEYORS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The Construction 21 report outlined the need for the construction industry’s professionalism. Ethics of all disciplines within the industry is hence key. Given the Quantity’s Surveyor role in the industry as a cost manager, the management of the profession’s ethical performance is essential as well. This study examines the ethical situation of the Quantity Surveying profession, and examines the management of its ethical performance and ethical issues through Ethical Principles, and Professional Qualities established from the review of literature. A methodological approach to the management of ethics was adopted, with a performance framework built on Ethical Principles and Professional Qualities at its core. Qualitative and Quantitative data was first collected through survey questionnaires and interviews to understand the ethical culture of the industry and prove the relationships between the established Principles and Qualities. The lack of a synchronised approach to the management of ethics was highlighted through the interviews, supporting the need for the performance framework. Application of the performance framework in the regulation of ethics was then illustrated through a comparative study, where weakness of current codes relevant to the Quantity Surveying codes were identified. Additionally, a performance measurement model that utilised the performance framework was proposed as a monitoring tool to be used together with current regulative codes, to allow for a more complete management approach to ethical performance.