Professional ethics assignment I and ii

Mekelle University
Ethiopian Institute of Technology-Mekelle
Department of Civil Engineering

Title: Assignment I and II

Postgraduate Program: Construction Technology & Management.

Course:-Professional Ethics and soft skills.

Submitted by:

1. SiltanWeldegebrael I.D EIT/PR/092/06

Submitted to: Ato Asmerom Tadesse

December 27, 2014

ASSINMENT I

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 Professional ethics assignment I and ii

1- Ethical lapses in its entire ramification are some of the greatest

challenges of the construction industry. Every phase in the
construction process is vulnerable to corruption and this adversely
affects the infrastructures and general wellbeing of the people.
Outline the most critical ethical issues faced by the construction
industry of Ethiopia.
Some of most critical ethical issues faced by the construction industry of
Ethiopia are:-
 Bribery
 Corruption
 Facilitation payments
These critical ethical issues emanate from:-
Low level of democratic culture and tradition
It is one of the main causes of corruption in Ethiopia.
Lack of Accountability
Accountability makes performance happen by ensuring that there is adequate
transparency to allow for objective assessment of performance against agreed-
on performance standards
 Transparency :- limited access to data on construction contract
 Role of civil society:- weak role of civil society
 Professional standards:-No independent professional body in sector

Lack of Capacity
Capacity makes performance possible by ensuring the availability of sufficient
resources, well-defined procedures for the management of those resources, and
adequate training to ensure that proficiency is achieved through practice.
 People :- vacant post in civil service, Skill shortage in private sector
 Procedures :- inconsistent, unclear or unenforced system ,contract and
procedure
 Practice :-lack of experience in managing and competing with in the
construction market

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 Professional ethics assignment I and ii

Lack of Trust
Trust makes performance efficient by giving contractors the confidence in the
market that allows them to invest in increasing their own capacity
 Communications :- reluctance to share information
 Contracts :- unequal contractual relationship
 Relationship :- reluctance to trust others, sense that some companies have
favored status

2- Ethics, social responsibility, and trust are critical issues for all
professions in the built environment including architecture,
engineering and construction. Being an Architect, an Engineer or a CM
professional, outline discipline specific issues that are important to
create codes of ethics and professional conduct pertaining to each of
built environment professions.
The outline of my discipline specific issues that are important to create
code of ethics and professional conduct is as listed below.
1. Fair and Honest Corporate Conduct
 Emphasizing the needs of society and clients
 Provide a safe and secure work place environment
 Prohibiting discrimination and unfair treatment
 Fair, Transparent and Free competition and Appropriate trade
 Healthy and Fair relation with contractor
 Observing the law and social norms
 Observing social norms
 Observing the law
 Protection of intellectual property, rights and assets
 Respect for rights and assets of others
 Protection of rights and assets of the groups
 Transparent relation with government

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 Professional ethics assignment I and ii

 Eradication of antisocial activity

 Maintaining adequate accounting
2. Harmony with society
 Building solid community relation
 Respect cultures and custom of all nations and peoples
 Timely and appropriate disclosures and communication of information
3. Responsibility to the environment
4. Implementation and amendment
5. Establishment of an effective internal monitoring
structure
6. Accountability and Preventive measures

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 Professional ethics assignment I and ii

ASSIGNMENT II
IS WHISTLE-BLOWING JUSTIFIED?
“Whistle-blowing” can be defined as the act of a man or woman who,
believing that the public interest overrides the interest of the organization
he/s serves, publicly “blows the whistle” if the organization is involved in
corrupt, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful activity.

Questions:
1) Outline examples of problems that might warrant whistle-blowing.
 Low level of democratic culture and tradition
 Lack of adequate citizen participation
 Lack of regulation and authorization
 Lack of confidence, experience, trust, transparent and
understanding
 Lack of willingness to share with others
 Ambivalent attitudes toward corruption
 Lack of better, more coordinate use of performance audits
 Carelessness and etc.

2) As a morally obligated engineer, what are the conditions that you must
fulfill prior to engaging in external whistle-blowing?
 To let people who are in condition to learn from their mistake
 To finish the projects smoothly
 The impacts may be more negative than whistle-blowing
 Rigid hierarchical approach
 Weak control and punishments system