The implementation of the ISO 37001:2025 Standard and its relationship with the level of compliance with the transparency principle in public works procurement of Ecuador's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
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Abstract
Introduction. Public works procurement is exposed to risks associated with corruption, information asymmetries, control weaknesses, and limitations in transparency. In this context, ISO 37001:2025 provides a framework for strengthening anti-bribery management through risk management, due diligence, operational controls, reporting mechanisms, and continuous improvement. Objective. To determine the relationship between the implementation of components aligned with ISO 37001:2025 and the level of compliance with the principle of transparency in public works procurement at Ecuador’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport during the 2025–2026 period, with the purpose of designing and theoretically validating an institutional improvement model. Methodology. A mixed-methods study was conducted using a concurrent or convergent parallel design, with a descriptive-correlational scope, a non-experimental design, and a cross-sectional approach. The human unit of analysis comprised 21 specialized public officials under a census criterion, while the documentary unit included two files purposively selected from a reference framework of 25 procurement processes. Semi-structured interviews and a documentary checklist were applied. Responses related to the hypotheses were coded into dichotomous categories and analyzed using the two-sided Fisher’s exact test, complemented by Yates’ chi-square test and the Phi coefficient. Results. Statistically significant associations were identified between risk management and traceability (p = .0092; φ = .61), anti-bribery controls and publicity-accountability (p = .0251; φ = .55), and the overall perceived level of development of components aligned with ISO 37001:2025 and transparency (p = .0022; φ = .71). The two documentary files reached compliance levels of 58% and 71%. The proposed institutional model obtained an average Aiken’s V coefficient of .93 in its theoretical validation. Conclusion. The findings showed a significant association between the perceived development of components aligned with ISO 37001:2025 and perceived compliance with the principle of transparency, without establishing causality. The proposed model showed favorable content-validity conditions for guiding progressive implementation; however, its effectiveness should subsequently be assessed through a pilot test. General Area of Study: Administrative Sciences. Specific Area of Study: Public Procurement and Anti-Bribery Management. Type of study: Original article.
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