Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies for Extirpating Corrupt Practices in Infrastructure Project Procurement
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 26, Issue 2
Abstract
This study examined the efficacy of anticorruption measures for extirpating the prevalence of corrupt practices in infrastructure procurement in developing countries. The study employed the fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) technique to assess 62 responses from practitioners involved in the procurement and delivery of infrastructure projects. The probing measures were identified to be the highest-ranked construct, followed by the managerial measures. The remaining constructs with their variables were revealed to be moderately effective. The study has revealed the level of effectiveness of existing anticorruption measures that are widely applied to check, thwart, and extirpate corrupt practices in the procurement and delivery of infrastructure projects. This study theoretically contributes to the body of knowledge on corruption in infrastructure procurement by evaluating the effectiveness of anticorruption measures. Practically, this study provides useful information for project parties, policy makers, anticorruption institutions, and researchers toward the reinforcement of the existing measures for the expurgation of corrupt practices in infrastructure projects’ procurement, delivery, and management.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request, including data on descriptives and fuzzy mathematics.
Acknowledgments
This paper forms part of a research project entitled “Dynamic Evaluation of Corruption in Public Infrastructure Procurement: A Comparative Study of Emerging and Established Economies,” from which other deliverables have been produced with different objectives but sharing a common background, methodology, and research participants. We express our sincere gratitude to the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong and to Hong Kong Polytechnic University for funding this study. We are grateful to the industrial and academic experts involved in this study for the invaluable input, support, and motivations (for both the pilot study and the main survey).
References
Alutu, O. E. 2007. “Unethical practices in the Nigerian construction industry: Prospective engineers’ viewpoint.” J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 133 (2): 84–88. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2007)133:2(84).
Ameyaw, E. E., and A. P. Chan. 2015. “Evaluation and ranking of risk factors in public–private partnership water supply projects in developing countries using fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.” Expert Syst. Appl. 42 (12): 5102–5116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2015.02.041.
Ameyaw, E. E., A. P. Chan, D. G. Owusu-Manu, and E. Coleman. 2015. “A fuzzy model for evaluating risk impacts on variability between contract sum and final account in government-funded construction projects.” J. Facil. Manage. 13 (1): 45–69. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-11-2013-0055.
Ameyaw, E. E., E. Pärn, A. P. C. Chan, D.-G. Owusu-Manu, D. J. Edwards, and A. Darko. 2017. “Corrupt practices in the construction industry: Survey of Ghanaian experience.” J. Manage. Eng. 33 (6): 05017006. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000555.
Asiedu, K. F., and E. W. Deffor. 2017. “Fighting corruption by means of effective internal audit function: Evidence from the Ghanaian public sector.” Int. J. Auditing 21 (1): 82–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijau.12082.
Bowen, P., A. Akintoye, R. Pearl, and P. J. Edwards. 2007. “Ethical behaviour in the South African construction industry.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 25 (6): 631–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190701225707.
Bowen, P. A., P. J. Edwards, and K. Cattell. 2012. “Corruption in the South African construction industry: A thematic analysis of verbatim comments from survey participants.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 30 (10): 885–901. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2012.711909.
Boyd, J. M., and J. D. Padilla. 2009. “FIDIC and integrity: A status report.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 125–128. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(125).
Brown, J., and M. Loosemore. 2015. “Behavioral factors are influencing corrupt action in the Australian construction industry.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 22 (4): 372–389. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2015-0034.
Chan, A. P. C., and E. K. Owusu. 2017. “Corruption forms in the construction industry: Literature review.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (8): 04017057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001353.
Convertino, M., R. Muñoz-Carpena, M. L. Chu-Agor, G. A. Kiker, and I. Linkov. 2014. “Untangling drivers of species distributions: Global sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of MaxEnt.” Environ. Modell. Software 51: 296–309.
De Jong, M., W. P. Henry, and N. Stansbury. 2009. “Eliminating corruption in our engineering/construction industry.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(105).
Ferguson, G. 2017. “Global corruption: Law, theory & practice.” Accessed October 15, 2018. http://www.transparencycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Global-Corruption-Law-Theory-and-Practice.pdf.
Gunduz, M., and O. Önder. 2013. “Corruption and internal fraud in the Turkish construction industry.” Sci. Eng. Ethics 19 (2): 505–528.
Hartley, R. 2009. “Fighting corruption in the Australian construction industry: The National Code of Practice.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 131–135. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(131).
Hawkins, J., and B. McKittrick. 2012. “Construction sector transparency initiative: Making construction more accountable.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. 165 (2): 82–88. https://doi.org/10.1680/cien.2012.165.2.82.
Hoxley, M. 2008. “Questionnaire design and factor analysis.” In Advanced research methods in the built environment, edited by A. Knight and L. Ruddock. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Hsiao, S. W. 1998. “Fuzzy logic based decision model for product design.” Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 21 (2): 103–116.
ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption). 2018. “About ICAC: Mission and pledges (mission statement).” Accessed December 28, 2019. https://www.icac.org.hk/en/about/mission/index.html.
Ivana, K. 2014. “World’s most corrupt industries.” Accessed December 28, 2019. https://money.cnn.com/2014/12/02/news/bribery-foreign-corruption/index.html.
Jain, A. K. 2001. “Corruption: A review.” J. Econ. Surv. 15 (1): 71–121. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6419.00133.
Kenny, C. 2009. “Measuring corruption in infrastructure: Evidence from transition and developing countries.” J. Dev. Stud. 45 (3): 314–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380802265066.
Kenny, C. 2012. “Publishing construction contracts to improve efficiency and governance.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Civ. Eng. 165 (5): 18–22. https://doi.org/10.1680/cien.11.00007.
King, W. S., L. Duan, W. F. Chen, and C. L. Pan. 2008. “Education improvement in construction ethics.” J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 134 (1): 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2008)134:1(12).
Krishnan, C. 2009. “Combating corruption in the construction and engineering sector: The role of Transparency International.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 112–114. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(112).
Le, Y., M. Shan, A. P. C. Chan, and Y. Hu. 2014a. “Investigating the causal relationships between causes of and vulnerabilities to corruption in the Chinese public construction sector.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 140 (9): 05014007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000886.
Le, Y., M. Shan, A. P. C. Chan, and Y. Hu. 2014b. “Overview of corruption research in construction.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (4): 02514001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000300.
Lenssen, S. 2000. “Construction is most corrupt sector says report.” New Civil Engineer. Accessed December 28, 2019. https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/construction-is-most-corrupt-sector-says-report-27-01-2000/.
Ling, F. Y. Y., S. Y. Ong, Y. Ke, S. Wang, and P. Zou. 2014. “Drivers and barriers to adopting relational contracting practices in public projects: Comparative study of Beijing and Sydney.” Int. J. Project Manage. 32 (2): 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.04.008.
Lo, T. W. 1999. “Hong Kong: Minimizing crime and corruption.” Trends Organized Crime 4 (3): 60–80.
Locatelli, G., G. Mariani, T. Sainati, and M. Greco. 2017. “Corruption in public projects and megaprojects: There is an elephant in the room!” Int. J. Project Manage. 35 (3): 252–268.
Lüdtke, N., S. Panzeri, M. Brown, D. S. Broomhead, J. Knowles, M. A. Montemurro, and D. B. Kell. 2007. “Information-theoretic sensitivity analysis: A general method for credit assignment in complex networks.” J. Royal Soc. Interface 5 (19): 223–235.
Man-Wai, T. K. 2006. “Formulating an effective anti-corruption strategy: The experience of the Hong Kong ICAC.” Resour. Material Ser. 69: 196–201.
Matthews, P. 2016. “This is why construction is so corrupt.” World Economic Forum. Accessed December 28, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/why-is-the-construction-industry-so-corrupt-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/.
NACAP (National Anti-Corruption Action Plan). 2011. “National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) (2012–2021).” Accessed August 25, 2018. http://www.gaccgh.org/publications/National%20Anti-Corruption%20Action%20Plan%20.pdf.
Neupane, A., J. Soar, and K. Vaidya. 2014. “An empirical evaluation of the potential of public e-procurement to reduce corruption.” Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 18 (2): 21–44. https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v18i2.780.
OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). 2016. “Convention on combating bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions.” Accessed November 26, 2017. http://www.oecd.org/corruption/oecdantibriberyconvention.htm.
Osei-Kyei, R. and A. P. Chan. 2016. “Developing transport infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa through public–private partnerships: Policy practice and implications.” Transport Rev. 36 (2): 170–186.
Osei-Kyei, R. and A. P. Chan. 2017. “Developing a project success index for public–private partnership projects in developing countries.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 23 (4): 04017028. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000388.
Osei-Tutu, E., E. Badu, and D. Owusu-Manu. 2010. “Exploring corruption practices in public procurement of infrastructural projects in Ghana.” Int. J. Manage. Projects Bus. 3 (2): 236–256. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538371011036563.
Owusu, E. K., and A. P. Chan. 2019. “Barriers affecting effective application of anticorruption measures in infrastructure projects: Disparities between developed and developing countries.” J. Manage. Eng. 35 (1): 04018056. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000667.
Owusu, E. K., A. P. Chan, O. M. DeGraft, E. E. Ameyaw, and O. K. Robert. 2019a. “Contemporary review of anti-corruption measures in construction project management.” Project Manage. J. 50 (1): 40–56.
Owusu, E. K., A. P. Chan, and M. Shan. 2017. “Causal factors of corruption in construction project management: An overview.” Sci. Eng. Ethics 25 (1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-0002-4.
Owusu, E. K., A. P. Chan, M. Shan, and E. Pärn. 2019b. “An empirical study on construction process corruption susceptibility: A vignette of international expertise.” Sci. Eng. Ethics 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00083-6.
Porter, J. C. 1993. “Ethics in practice.” J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 119 (1): 46–50. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(1993)119:1(46).
Powell, S. 2006. “Corruption costs the construction industry billions: Legal and management.” Civ. Eng. Siviele Ingenieurswese 14 (9): 42.
Quah, J. S. T. 2013. “Different paths to curbing corruption: A comparative analysis.” Res. Public Policy Anal. Manage. 23: 219–255.
Rebeiz, K. S. 2011. “Public–private partnership risk factors in emerging countries: BOOT illustrative case study.” J. Manage. Eng. 28 (4): 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000079.
Rose-Ackerman, S. and B. J. Palifka. 2016. Corruption and government: Causes, consequences, and reform. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sadiq, R. and M. J. Rodriguez. 2004. “Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of disinfection by-products—A risk-based indexing system.” J. Environ. Manage. 73 (1): 1–13.
Saltelli, A., M. Ratto, T. Andres, F. Campolongo, J. Cariboni, D. Gatelli, M. Saisana, and S. Tarantola. 2004. Global sensitivity analysis: The primer. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Servadio, J. L. and M. Convertino. 2018. “Optimal information networks: Application for data-driven integrated health in populations.” Sci. Adv. 4 (2): e1701088.
Shakantu, W. 2006. “Corruption in the construction industry: Forms, susceptibility, and possible solutions: Industry issues.” Civ. Eng. Siviele Ingenieurswese 14 (7): 43–47.
Shan, M., A. P. C. Chan, Y. Le, B. Xia, and Y. Hu. 2015. “Measuring corruption in public construction projects in China.” J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 141 (4): 05015001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000241.
Sichombo, B., M. Muya, W. Shakantu, and C. Kaliba. 2009. “The need for technical auditing in the Zambian construction industry.” Int. J. Project Manage. 27 (8): 821–832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2009.02.001.
Sohail, M., and S. Cavill. 2006. “Ethics: Making it the heart of water supply.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Civ. Eng. 159 (5): 11–15. https://doi.org/10.1680/cien.2006.159.5.11.
Sohail, M., and S. Cavill. 2008. “Accountability to prevent corruption in construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 134 (9): 729–738. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2008)134:9(729).
Søreide, T. 2002. Corruption in public procurement: Causes, consequences and cures. Bergen, Norway: Michelsen Institute.
Stansbury, C. 2009a. “The Global Infrastructure Anticorruption Centre.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 119–122. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(119).
Stansbury, N. 2009b. “United Kingdom Anticorruption Forum.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 115–118. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(115).
Suen, H., S. O. Cheung, and R. Mondejar. 2007. “Managing ethical behavior in construction organizations in Asia: How do the teachings of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism and globalization influence ethics management.” Int. J. Project Manage. 25 (3): 257–265.
Tabish, S. Z. S., and K. N. Jha. 2011. “Analyses and evaluation of irregularities in public procurement in India.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 29 (3): 261–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2010.549138.
Tabish, S. Z. S., and K. N. Jha. 2012. “The impact of anti-corruption strategies on corruption free performance in public construction projects.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 30 (1): 21–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2011.654128.
Tanzi, V. 1998. “Corruption around the world: Causes, consequences, scope, and cures.” Staff Pap. 45 (4): 559–594. https://doi.org/10.2307/3867585.
Tashjian, L. 2009. “Partnering Against Corruption Initiative leads industry battle against corruption.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 9 (3): 123–124. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(123).
TI (Transparency International). 2011. Bribe Payers Index 2011. Accessed December 28, 2019. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/134888/Bribe%20Payers%20Index%202011_single%20pages.pdf.
TI (Transparency International). 2018. “Corruption Perceptions Index 2017.” The Full Data Set. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.transparency.org/cpi2018.
Worthy, B., P. John, and M. Vannoni. 2017. “Transparency at the parish pump: A field experiment to measure the effectiveness of freedom of information requests in England.” J. Public Administration Res. Theory 27 (3): 485–500. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muw063.
Xu, Y., J. F. Yeung, A. P. Chan, D. W. Chan, S. Q. Wang, and Y. Ke. 2010. “Developing a risk assessment model for PPP projects in China—A fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.” Autom. Constr. 19 (7): 929–943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2010.06.006.
Yeboah-Assiamah, E., and S. Alesu-Dordzi. 2016. “The calculus of corruption: A paradox of ‘strong’ corruption amidst ‘strong’ systems and institutions in developing administrative systems.” J. Public. Affairs 16 (2): 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1576.
Zhang, B., Y. Le, B. Xia, and M. Skitmore. 2016. “Causes of business-to-government corruption in the tendering process in China.” J. Manage. Eng. 33 (2): 05016022. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000479.
Zou, P. X. 2006. “Strategies for minimizing corruption in the construction industry in China.” J. Constr. Developing Countries 11 (2): 15–29.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 26 • Issue 2 • June 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 24, 2018
Accepted: Aug 26, 2019
Published online: Jan 28, 2020
Published in print: Jun 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jun 28, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.