Managerial Implications for Mismanagement and Corruption in a Tunnelling Project in Bangladesh

Abstract

This is a research paper focused on assessing the level of corruption and its impacts on a new tunnelling construction project in Bangladesh. An interpretive perspective was utilised as this provided more effective engagement in the messy reality of managing project spaces. The scope for this research was the off-site management team. The population for this study was made up of a number of individuals (13) managers/engineers located at one main office-site. The outcomes consisted of six (6) main themes, namely: Administration, Compliance, Obstruction Measures, Financial, Management Standards, and International Governance. The paper addresses some of the implications for continuing project construction site developments in Bangladesh and the paper also suggests that projects of this kind may benefit from a greater use of targeted processes to alleviate corruption possibilities in the late design stage/construction phase of a tunnelling project. Very little research has been conducted in this area and the paper exposes the debilitating aspects of weak oversight by an International JV - both in-country and externally by corporate managers - and continuing project management in Bangladesh relating to unexplored corruption practices in a tunnel project construction environment.