Introduction
The definition of the term ‘professionalism’ can be generally disclosed though action performance on the superior level; the key characteristic of any professional model should be highlighted through individual’s specialized knowledge defining his qualifications. Conceptual and legal presentation of professionalism is based on the underline of the Code of Conduct role.
In any profession, code of conduct is aimed at promoting and enhancing professional behavior. Every profession must have a code of conduct from which all the decisions made are based. This paper shall discuss the professional and legal meaning of “professionalism” in planning based on an overview of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Code of Conduct. The paper will further discuss the interrelation between Code of Conduct and conceptual and legal ideas of professionalism. In the final part of the paper, I will discuss to what extend RTPI Code of Conduct encourages professional behavior.
The Conceptual and Legal meaning of “professionalism” in Planning
Considering the fact that a conceptual term, professionalism has for a long time eluded a precise definition, it can be regarded as is actions based on values and ideals during individual’s service in a given profession. In accordance with Hammer et al (2003), the conceptualizing of professionalism can be demonstrated through a bicycle wheel; the centre of the wheel is a set of core of values related to professionalism including altruism/service, caring, honor, integrity, and duty.
Behaviors, that are associated with these values, then radiate from the centre including accountability, respect, compassion, and empathy. The outer ring of the wheel represents the surface pf professionalism and includes such things as punctuality, courtesy, and professional dress.
Professionalism in planning is a dedication to the identification of client, and the duties that are owed to these clients involving an understanding of the conflict of interest. Moreover, professionalism also involves “a commitment of life long learning to maintain and expand professional competence” (RTPI, 2007, p.8). Professional ethics in planning would, therefore, entail the proper execution of ones duties, respect the clients and at all times avoiding situations of conflict of interest (Allmendinger et al 2003). Members are also expected to uphold integrity in their dealings, so as not to bring the profession into disrepute.
Legally, professional involves the national and local statutes and regulations that affect the industry. In modern society legal provisions, being apart from bringing disrepute to the profession, may result in legal claim against the member of the profession involved. This may include failure to fulfill contractual obligations, misappropriation of the clients’ money etc. Some of these may be provided in the RTPI Code of Conduct, but not exhaustively. That is the result of unethical business behavior within the organizations; legal professional breakage is considered to be a usual phenomenon hidden by current executives in order not to push the status of the company at stake. In most cases it results in destruction of moral and ethical; norms being closely connected with professional level of the staff.
The RTPI Code of Conduct
The basic purpose of the RTPI Code of Conduct is to ensure all members acting with honesty, competence, and integrity. It was created to encourage members to enhance their professional performance; the Code of Conduct was created to discourage discrimination, promote equal opportunity, and to ensure the fact that profession was not brought into disrepute (RTPI Code of Professional Conduct 2007). There are a number of rules to follow according to the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct.
“Members are obligated to take all reasonable steps to maintain their professional competence and encourage and support other members in their professional competence. Members shall not discriminate against others and will promote equal opportunity. Members shall not make reports or statements that are contrary to their true professional opinion. The RTPI Code of Conduct obligates members with ensuring their private, personal, financial, and political interests do not cause conflict of interest with their professional duties. In addition, members shall not disclose information acquired in confidence, or use it to their advantage.” (RTPI Code of Professional Conduct, 2007, p.5).
It should be stressed that any discounts, gifts or commissions received in the course of their duties must be reported to the member’s employers or clients. Terms of engagement must also be informed before commencing work. Members will ensure that their services are appropriate when accepting instructions from individuals, and members shall be insured against claims of breach of professional duty, pore the RTPI regulations, as town planners. Members will also follow RTPI regulations regarding informing the Institute of the details of their practice, employment and business (RTPI Code of Conduct, 2007).
According to the Code of Conduct, the RTPI Council may publish supplementary regulations associating to such matters as continuing professional development, planning aid, professional indemnity insurance, professional designations or direct professional access to the Bar and members agree to comply with any additions made. Members will work to ensure all town planning matters are conducted in accordance with the RTPI Code of Conduct, no matter who conducts the work. For members practicing outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland, the status and integrity of RTPI and the planning profession will still be upheld. Members agree to report a breach of the RTPI Code to the Institute, subject to legal restrictions and assist the Institute in any related investigation. Finally, the Council has the power to discipline members who are in breach of the code. Finally, this action will be undertaken only if the Council believes is personally responsible for the guilt (RTPI, 2007).
Does the Code of Conduct address Conceptual and Legal Meaning of Professionalism?
It is necessary to underline the fact that the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct addresses some of the conceptual meaning of professionalism; duty, honor and integrity are addressed in the clause in a variety of ways. This aspect covers such issues of business ethics as conflict of interest, the commitment to lifelong learning, reporting of gifts or commissions, ensuring members do not make statements contrary to their real opinions, and taking all steps possible to maintain professional competence to cover these to aspects quite well. However, caring and altruism are not fully addressed in Code of Conduct, because there is no aspect of selflessness encouraged in the Code of Conduct. Caring exists as not really sincere concern but only for duty. In fact, it would appear that the moral in RTPI Code of Conduct is pushed more towards protecting the image and reputation of the RTPI than anything else (Campbell, 2006).
It is not surprising that the conceptual professional behaviors, being encouraged in the RTPI Code of Conduct are accountability and respect. These are spokes from the centre of the professional concept radiating from duty, honor and integrity. However, the majority of humanistic concerns are not addressed including compassion and empathy. It means that neither does the legal definition of professionalism addressed in the RTPI Code of Conduct directly (Campbell, 2006).
Does the Code of Conduct Encourage Professional Behavior?
In some ways, RTPI Code of Conduct does encourage professional behavior. Some of the moralistic qualities of professionalism are addressed in the Code. Associating with conflicts of interest as well as ensuring maintenance of professional competence, both make important parts of professional behavior. For example, the Code encourages members to continue their education, throughout their career. However, there are aspects that are not addressed. Members could be rude to clients and often late for meetings, while theoretically they would be qualified for all requirements of the Code of Conduct. Most would agree, this could be considered as unprofessional behavior, but it would not be in violation of the RTPI Code of Conduct (RTPI Code of Professional Conduct 2007). So, legal interpretation of the professionalism on the basis of Code of Conduct is considered to be contradicting.
The concept of professionalism is somewhat unclear; thus, Hammer et al. (2003) describes professionalism as a bicycle wheel, with morals at the centre and has affection to the behaviors of members. The RTPI Code of Conduct addresses several of these aspects to ensure that members perform with honor, integrity and a sense of duty. Although the Code associates with some aspects of the conceptual meaning of professionalism, it does not address the legal aspects. Thus, there are some behaviors that the Code does encourage professional behavior but some of them have still been missing.
Conclusion
Professionalism analysis on the basis of conceptual and legal provisions of any sphere provided a guide for the operation and proper service delivery of the given profession. We managed to touch the aspects of business ethics being an integral part of professionalism identification; this paper has looked at the various concepts of planning as a profession, the standards and values being important to the day to day service of a person to his profession. Without this, the relationship between workers and their colleagues, and also workers and their job would be in problems as there would be no framework from which they could base their decisions. This is also important in the maintenance of the profession’s image to its clients and to the general public. Therefore every profession must have the codes of conduct which are very vital in their day to day activities. In case of its ignorance in business structure, there will be inefficiency and corruption leading to low quality of work performed and breakage of established standards and regulations.
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