RIBA Ethical Practice Guide

Description

Ethical practice distinguishes an RIBA chartered architect from other design professionals. The RIBA Code of Professional Conduct requires practitioners to uphold high standards, while encouraging and empowering them to reflect critically and to continually strive to improve. The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a significant reminder of the ethical responsibilities of the architect, and the importance of ethical decision-making. By making ethical practice one of its mandatory competences, the RIBA has made it a requirement that students and professionals develop a fundamental level of awareness and understanding of ethics. This guide is designed to improve industry’s grasp of ethical decision-making as it relates to the wider world, society, clients, the workplace, the profession, and the individual. Each chapter introduces an ethical duty, setting out the relevant legal, regulatory and professional context before exploring the detailed subject matter and key principles. It includes an ethical dilemma for each duty and views and experiences from inside the profession. Delving into issues of equity, diversity and inclusion, social value, wellbeing and integrity, it does not seek our ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. Rather it encourages reflection on different interests, consequences and considerations, in order to reach a considered and balanced position. While ethical practice is invaluable in itself, it is also vital for establishing trust with clients, improving transparency, enhancing reputation, attracting and retaining high-quality staff, avoiding disputes and for a high-level of accountability that benefits the entire industry, and society more broadly. Cover Title Table of Contents About the Authors Dedication Acknowledgements Foreword Introduction History and definitions Approaches to ethics Ethical decision-making Professional ethics The six ethical duties The public interest The context Looking ahead 1 Duty to the Wider World Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes Going further Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – decision tree Views from others 2 Duty to Society and the End User Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes Social responsibility Stakeholder identification and engagement Social value Regeneration Equity, diversity and inclusion Wellbeing Rights of future generations Evidence-informed design: post-occupancy evaluation Specification Health and safety Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – social housing Views from others 3 Duty to those Commissioning Services Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes The client relationship Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – community interest Views from others 4 Duty to those in the Workplace Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes Workplace structure and culture Practice management Other workplaces and workers Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – homeworking Views from others 5 Duty to the Profession Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes Reputation and value Knowledge and development Equity, diversity and inclusion Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – sharing data and knowledge Views from others 6 Duty to Oneself Introduction Law, regulation and professional codes Competence Continuing professional development Health and wellbeing Support networks Key principles Conclusion Dilemma – working pro bono Views from others Conclusion – Resolving Ethical Issues Recognising ethical issues Tools, techniques and resources Ethical decision-making Why now? Further reading References Index Image credits Copyright