Ethical Practice
Ethical practice involves delving into issues of equity, diversity and inclusion, social value, wellbeing and integrity.
It is invaluable in itself. But 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.
The RIBA Ethical Practice Guide
The RIBA Ethical Practice Guide, written by Alasdair Ben Dixon and Carys Rowlands, is one of a series of Practice Guides that aims to help architects to uphold the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct, and then go beyond the Code into the realms of best practice. It is part of a wider initiative by the authors and the RIBA to bring discussions around Ethical Practice to the forefront of professional practice.
The 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.
You can purchase the book at the RIBA Bookshop.
“There can be few, if any, people in my industry demonstrating as much ESG leadership as Alasdair Ben Dixon.” Michael Pawlyn, Architect, Director of Exploration Architecture
What does it cover?
What does it cover?
Each chapter introduces an ethical duty, setting out the relevant legal, regulatory and professional context before exploring the detailed subject matter and key principles.
These duties provide a broad framework through with architects, and other professionals, can better understand, consider and shape their ethical responsibilities and actions. And so the guide explores the duty towards:
- the wider world – to respect natural resources and biodiversity
- society (and end users) – to ensure that your buildings are safe and healthy, accessible and inclusive
- those commissioning services, your clients – to be honest, competent, communicative and reliable.
- those in the workplace – to show respect, prioritise equity, diversity and inclusion,
- the profession – to uphold standards, to uphold the reputation of the profession and to give back to the profession through sharing knowledge, sharing data, teaching, mentoring
- oneself – have integrity, practice self-care and maintain competence
For each duty, it includes an ethical dilemma, with options for actions to take, together with key considerations. While giving no obviously correct answer, rather they encourage reflection on different interests, consequences and considerations, in order to reach a considered and balanced position.
Book a CPD
Alasdair and Carys offer CPDs for education and practice. These can take the form of a one hour presentation or workshop on the challenges and opportunities of tackling issues of Ethics and ESG faced by architects.
If you’d like to hear more about Ethical Practice through a workshop or understand how an ethical approach will benefit your project just drop us a message.
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how we can help you realise it.
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