Abstract
Collusion is a set of behaviours where competitors coordinate their market behaviour surreptitiously, which is contrary to the principles of free competition (Chotibhongs and Arditi 2012a, b; Zarkada-Fraser 2000). Collusion is also insidious and harmful to the management of construction projects because it may decrease the number of bidders and increase contract prices, thus resulting in a poor project outcome (Oladinrin and Ho 2014; Zarkada-Fraser and Skitmore 2000). Moreover, collusion has brought a ‘dirty’ image to the construction sector and degraded public trust on the sector (Zarkada-Fraser 2000).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alutu, O. (2007). Unethical practices in Nigerian construction industry: Prospective engineers’ viewpoint. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 133(2), 84–88.
Alutu, O., & Udhawuve, M. (2009). Unethical practices in Nigerian engineering industries: Complications for project management. Journal of Management in Engineering, 25(1), 40–43.
Ameh, O. J., & Odusami, K. T. (2010). Professionals’ ambivalence toward ethics in the Nigerian construction industry. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 136(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1052-3928(2010)136:1(9).
Ameyaw, E. E., Hu, Y., Shan, M., Chan, A. P. C., & Le, Y. (2016). Application of Delphi method in construction engineering and management research: A quantitative perspective. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 22(8), 991–1000. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2014.945953.
Ballesteros-Pérez, P., González-Cruz, M. C., Cañavate-Grimal, A., & Pellicer, E. (2013). Detecting abnormal and collusive bids in capped tendering. Automation in construction, 31, 215–229.
Ballesteros-Perez, P., Carmen Gonzalez-Cruz, M., Canavate-Grimal, A., & Pellicer, E. (2013). Detecting abnormal and collusive bids in capped tendering. Automation in Construction, 31, 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2012.11.036.
Bowen, P., Akintoye, A., Pearl, R., & Edwards, P. J. (2007a). Ethical behaviour in the South African construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 25(6), 631–648.
Bowen, P. A., Edwards, P. J., & Cattell, K. (2012). Corruption in the South African construction industry: A thematic analysis of verbatim comments from survey participants. Construction Management and Economics, 30(10), 885–901.
Bowen, P., Pearl, R., & Akintoye, A. (2007b). Professional ethics in the South African construction industry. Building Research and Information, 35(2), 189–205.
Chan, A. P. C., Ho, D. C. K., & Tam, C. M. (2001). Design and build project success factors: Multivariate analysis. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 127(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9364(2001)127:2(93).
Chotibhongs, R., & Arditi, D. (2012a). Analysis of collusive bidding behaviour. Construction Management and Economics, 30(3), 221–231.
Chotibhongs, R., & Arditi, D. (2012b). Detection of collusive behavior. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 138(11), 1251–1258.
De Jong, M., Henry, W. P., & Stansbury, N. (2009). Eliminating corruption in our engineering/construction industry. Leadership and Management in Engineering, 9(3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-6748(2009)9:3(105).
Deng, X., Pheng, L. S., & Zhao, X. (2014). Project system vulnerability to political risks in international construction projects: The case of Chinese contractors. Project Management Journal, 45(2), 20–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmj.21397.
Dorée, A. G. (2004). Collusion in the Dutch construction industry: An industrial organization perspective. Building Research & Information, 32(2), 146–156.
Hallowell, M. R., & Gambatese, J. A. (2010). Qualitative research: Application of the Delphi method to CEM research. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 136(1), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000137.
Hanna, A. S., Camlic, R., Peterson, P. A., & Nordheim, E. V. (2002). Quantitative definition of projects impacted by change orders. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 128(1), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9364(2002)128:1(57).
Hartley, R. (2009). Fighting corruption in the Australian construction industry: The national code of practice. Leadership and Management in Engineering, 9(3), 131–135.
He, Y., Li, J., & Lu, H. (2009). Analyses of impacts of designated subcontracting to the client. Construction and Architecture (15), 56–58.
Hon, C. K. H., Chan, A. P. C., & Yam, M. C. H. (2012). Empirical study to investigate the difficulties of implementing safety practices in the repair and maintenance sector in Hong Kong. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 138(7), 877–884. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000497.
Hon, C. K. H., Chan, A. P. C., & Yam, M. C. H. (2013). Determining safety climate factors in the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition sector of Hong Kong. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(5), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000588.
Hu, Y., Chan, A. P., Le, Y., & Jin, R.-Z. (2013). From construction megaproject management to complex project management: Bibliographic analysis. Journal of Management in Engineering, 31(4), 04014052.
Hwang, B.-G., Zhao, X., & Goh, K. J. (2014). Investigating the client-related rework in building projects: The case of Singapore. International Journal of Project Management, 32(4), 698–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.08.009.
Hwang, B. G., Zhao, X., & Ong, S. Y. (2015a). Value management in Singaporean building projects: Implementation status, critical success factors, and risk factors. Journal of Management in Engineering, 31(6). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000342.
Hwang, B. G., Zhao, X., See, Y. L., & Zhong, Y. (2015b). Addressing risks in green retrofit projects: The case of Singapore. Project Management Journal, 46(4), 76–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmj.21512.
Jamieson, S. (2004). Likert scales: How to (ab)use them. Medical Education, 38(12), 1217–1218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.02012.x.
Jiang, H., Chen, F., & Zhao, J. (2001). Project changes and its research present state abroad. Journal of Guilin Institute of Technology, 21(2), 136–139.
Ke, Y., Wang, S., Chan, A. P. C., & Cheung, E. (2011). Understanding the risks in China’s PPP projects: Ranking of their probability and consequence. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 18(5), 481–496. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981111165176.
Kenny, C. (2009). Transport construction, corruption and developing countries. Transport Reviews, 29(1), 21–41.
Le, Y., Liu, M., & Li, Y. (2012a). Owner’s tunneling and its supervision: A game theory approach. Tumu Gongcheng Xuebao/China Civil Engineering Journal, 45(Suppl. 2), 236–240.
Le, Y., Liu, M., & Li, Y. (2012b). “Tunneling” in government investment projects. Journal of Engineering Management, 26(3), 33–36.
Le, Y., & Shan, M. (2013). A literature review on collusion in construction industry. Journal of Industrial Technological Economics, 32(1), 145–151.
Le, Y., & Shan, M. (2014). Research trend of collusion in top construction journals. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate.
Le, Y., Shan, M., Chan, A. P. C., & Hu, Y. (2014a). Overview of corruption research in construction. Journal of Management in Engineering, 30(4), 02514001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000300.
Le, Y., Shan, M., Chan, A. P., & Hu, Y. (2014b). Investigating the causal relationships between causes of and vulnerabilities to corruption in the Chinese public construction sector. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 140(9), 05014007.
Lin, W., & Chen, K. (2004). Overview of supervising in the Chinese construction industry. Statistics and Decision (9), 117–118.
Liu, J., Zhao, X., & Yan, P. (2016). Risk paths in international construction projects: Case study from Chinese contractors. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 142(6). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0001116.
Lo, W., Krizek, R. J., & Hadavi, A. (1999). Effects of high prequalification requirements. Construction Management and Economics, 17(5), 603–612.
Mayo, R. E., & Liu, G. (1995). Reform agenda of Chinese construction industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 121(1), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1995)121:1(80).
Molenaar, K. R. (2005). Programmatic cost risk analysis for highway megaprojects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 131(3), 343–353. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:3(343).
National Bureau of Corruption Prevention of China, N. (2011). Analysis on typical corruption cases in the construction sector and instructions for corruption prevention. Beijing, China: Fangzheng Press of China.
National Bureau of Statistics, N. (2014). China statistical yearbook on construction. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
National Bureau of Statistics of China, N. (2015). China statistical yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press. Retrieved from http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2015/indexeh.htm.
Ning, Y., & Ling, F. Y. Y. (2013). Reducing hindrances to adoption of relational behaviors in public construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(11). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000745.
Oladinrin, T. O., & Ho, C. M.-F. (2014). Strategies for improving codes of ethics implementation in construction organizations. Project Management Journal, 45(5), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmj.21444.
Priemus, H. (2004). Dutch contracting fraud and governance issues. Building Research and Information, 32(4), 306–312. https://doi.org/10.1080/0961321042000221089.
Ray, R. S., Hornibrook, J., Skitmore, M., & Zarkada-Fraser, A. (1999). Ethics in tendering: A survey of Australian opinion and practice. Construction Management and Economics, 17(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/014461999371646.
Rojas, E. M. (2013). Identifying, recruiting, and retaining quality field supervisors and project managers in the electrical construction industry. Journal of Management in Engineering, 29(4), 424–434. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000172.
Russell, J. S., & Skibniewski, M. J. (1988). Decision criteria in contractor prequalification. Journal of Management in Engineering, 4(2), 148–164. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)9742-597X(1988)4:2(148).
Shan, M., Chan, A. P. C., Le, Y., Xia, B., & Hu, Y. (2015). Measuring corruption in public construction projects in China. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 141(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ei.1943-5541.0000241.
Shen, L. Y., Wu, G. W. C., & Ng, C. S. K. (2001). Risk assessment for construction joint ventures in China. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 127(1), 76–81. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2001)127:1(76).
Sichombo, B., Muya, M., Shakantu, W., & Kaliba, C. (2009). The need for technical auditing in the Zambian construction industry. International Journal of Project Management, 27(8), 821–832.
Sohail, M., & Cavill, S. (2008). Accountability to prevent corruption in construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 134(9), 729–738. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9364(2008)134:9(729).
Tabish, S., & Jha, K. N. (2011). Analyses and evaluation of irregularities in public procurement in India. Construction Management and Economics, 29(3), 261–274.
Tai, S., & Qiu, Y. (2011). Research on qualification letting in construction firm. Construction Economy (11), 21–23.
The National People’s Congress of People’s Republic of China, T. (1999). Bidding law of People’s Republic of China. Retrieved from http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/gongbao/2000-12/05/content_5004749.htm.
Thim, L. Y., & Zonggui, C. (2004). The development of the construction legal system in China. Construction Management and Economics, 22(4), 347–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144619032000122177.
Trochim, W. M. K. (2006). Nonprobability sampling. Retrieved from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampnon.php.
Turner, J. R., & Müller, R. (2003). On the nature of the project as a temporary organization. International Journal of Project Management, 21(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0263-7863(02)00020-0.
Vee, C., & Skitmore, C. (2003). Professional ethics in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 10(2), 117–127.
Wang, J., Liu, J., Liao, Z., & Tang, P. (2009). Identification of key liability risks of supervision engineers in China. Construction Management and Economics, 27(12), 1157–1173. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190903222395.
Wang, J., & Qin, X. (2011). Cause analysis of collusion action of main action body under different mechanisms in construction industry. Construction Economy (S1), 1–5.
Wu, H., Zhang, X., & Fei, X. (2009). Analyses and identification of collusive tendering behavior in construction projects. Construction Economy (8), 12–15.
Xia, B., & Chan, A. P. C. (2012a). Identification of selection criteria for operational variations of the design-build system: A Delphi study in China. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 18(2), 173–183. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2012.657417.
Xia, B., & Chan, A. P. C. (2012b). Measuring complexity for building projects: A Delphi study. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 19(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981211192544.
Xia, B., Chan, A. P. C., & Yeung, J. F. Y. (2009). Identification of key competences of design-builders in the construction market of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Construction Management and Economics, 27(11), 1141–1152. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190903280476.
Xia, B., & Ye, R. (2005). Prequalification: More theory and practice based investment are needed. Construction Economy (2), 49–51.
Xu, Y., Yeung, J. F. Y., Chan, A. P. C., Chan, D. W. M., Wang, S. Q., & Ke, Y. (2010). Developing a risk assessment model for PPP projects in China—A fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach. Automation in Construction, 19(7), 929–943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2010.06.006.
Yi, W., & Chan, A. P. C. (2014). Critical review of labor productivity research in construction journals. Journal of Management in Engineering, 30(2), 214–225. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000194.
Zarkada-Fraser, A. (2000). A classification of factors influencing participating in collusive tendering agreements. Journal of Business Ethics, 23(3), 269–282.
Zarkada-Fraser, A., & Skitmore, M. (2000). Decisions with moral content: Collusion. Construction Management & Economics, 18(1), 101–111.
Zhang, D., & Zhao, H. (2008). Prevention measures of construction project bidding collusion. Construction Economy, 6, 029.
Zhao, X., Hwang, B. G., & Low, S. P. (2013a). Critical success factors for enterprise risk management in Chinese construction companies. Construction Management and Economics, 31(12), 1199–1214. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2013.867521.
Zhao, X., Hwang, B.-G., & Low, S. P. (2013b). Developing fuzzy enterprise risk management maturity model for construction firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(9), 1179–1189. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000712.
Zhao, X., Hwang, B.-G., Low, S. P., & Wu, P. (2015). Reducing hindrances to enterprise risk management implementation in construction firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 141(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000945.
Zhao, X., Hwang, B. G., & Yu, G. S. (2013c). Identifying the critical risks in underground rail international construction joint ventures: Case study of Singapore. International Journal of Project Management, 31(4), 554–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.10.014.
Zhou, H., Ye, S., & Shen, K. (2007). Study on agent-construction management mode of government investment project and risk analysis. Construction Economy (5), 52–55.
Zou, P. X. W. (2006). Strategies for minimizing corruption in the construction industry in China. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 11(2), 15–29.
Zou, P. X. (2007). An overview of China’s construction project tendering. International Journal of Construction Management, 7(2), 23–39.
Zou, P. X. W., & Zhang, G. (2009). Comparative study on the perception of construction safety risks in China and Australia. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 135(7), 620–627. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000019.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shan, M., Le, Y., Chan, A.P.C., Hu, Y. (2020). Collusive Practices in Public Construction Projects: A Case of China. In: Corruption in the Public Construction Sector. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9550-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9550-5_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-9549-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9550-5
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)