Constructing ethics resilience: unveiling preventive strategies for compliance in the Malaysian construction industry

Unethical practices in the construction industry pose a major challenge worldwide, demanding effective strategies for prevention. This study explores preventive measures and their key determinants to strengthen efforts against unethical behaviour. Through a literature review, 22 preventive strategies were identified to mitigate unethical practices. These were evaluated using a survey among Malaysian construction professionals, providing firsthand insights from industry experts. Factor analysis revealed five key constructs influencing their effectiveness: (1) managerial, (2) regulatory, (3) probing, (4) promotional, and (5) reactive. Leadership, communication, debarment and blacklisting, checks and balances, and rigorous supervision emerged as the most influential strategies. Synthesising these findings with theoretical perspectives, the study develops the Ethics Resilience Framework for Construction Governance—a holistic, multi-level model linking theory, empirical evidence, and policy. The research offers practical recommendations for professionals and policymakers in addressing unethical practices within Malaysia’s construction sector. By tackling the challenges faced by developing countries, this study proposes actionable approaches for ethical enhancement. Ultimately, it contributes significantly to both research and practice in construction ethics.