Ethics, rules of conduct and professionalism Flashcards
What role do the five ethical standards play for RICS members?
they play a crucial role in maintaining trust and integrity.
What is the obligation of a RICS member concerning the RICS rules of conduct?
To adhere to them in all professional activities.
What annual training do you undergo as part of AECOM’s ethics and compliance program?
Anti-bribery, corruption, and ethics training.
What procedure are you acquainted with as part of AECOM’s ethics?
AECOM’s complaints handling procedure.
What is emphasized in recognizing the value of ongoing learning and development?
The benefits of participating in Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
What are the five ethical standards expected of RICS members?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why is it important to adhere to rules of conduct in the workplace ?
because it establishes a framework for ethical behavior, fosters a positive work environment, ensures fair treatment, and contributes to the overall integrity and reputation of individuals and the organization.
What is anti-bribery?
refers to the measures and actions taken to prevent, detect, and combat bribery in various forms, aiming to promote ethical business practices and maintain integrity by prohibiting the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of bribes.
What is corruption?
Corruption refers to the abuse of power, position, or resources for personal gain, often involving dishonest or unethical behavior, bribery, fraud, or other forms of misconduct.
What does it mean to act ethically ?
Acting ethically involves making decisions and taking actions that align with accepted principles of morality, honesty, and fairness, and that consider the impact on individuals, society, and the greater good.
What does CPD stand for ?
Continuous Professional Development
Why it is important to have Continuous Professional Development ?
CPD is important because it allows individuals to stay current in their field, acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changes in the industry, and enhance their professional competence, ensuring ongoing growth and effectiveness in their career.
What do i prioritize in decision making ?
Integrity, safeguarding confidential information, and avoiding biases or conflicts of interest.
How do i maintain a high standard of service?
I take accountability for my actions, work transparently in communicating costs and impacts of changes, enabling clients to make informed decisions.
Which quality assurance procedures do I follow?
I follow AECOM’s quality assurance procedures aligned with ISO 9001.
What is ISO 9001
FIND ANSWER
What do I refrain from accepting, based on RICS Guidance?
I refrain from accepting gifts, hospitality, or services that could imply improper obligations.
What do I do when conducting valuations and variations?
I visit the site to assess completed works and materials, ensuring a fair and accurate assessment to protect the client from risks related to contractor insolvency.
What is prioritized in my dealings with clients and contractors?
Honesty and integrity are prioritized, with a commitment to taking responsibility for oversights and providing explanations and strategies for avoiding them in the future.
What are RICS guidance notes on gifts and conflicts
FIND ANSWER
What is insolvency?
Insolvency refers to a financial state where an individual or an organization is unable to meet its financial obligations, such as paying debts or other financial liabilities, as they become due.
What is the risk to the client if a contractor goes into insolvency?
1.Project Delays
2.Financial Loss
3.Quality Concerns
4.Legal Complications
5.Reputation Damage
What should be put in place to manage the risk of contractors going insolvent ?
It’s crucial for clients to have contingency plans and risk management strategies in place to mitigate the impact of contractor insolvency on construction projects.
How do I approach work in terms of ethics and impartiality?
I always ensure that I work in an ethical and impartial manner, providing advice only within my qualified expertise.
Why is it important to only provide advise within my qualified expertise ?
Providing advice within your qualified expertise ensures accuracy, reliability, ethical responsibility, credibility, legal integrity, ongoing learning, and specialized insight while avoiding potential harm or misinformation.
Can you describe a situation involving legal advice during the preparation of contract documents?
While preparing the contract documents for 1 Triton Square, I was asked to draft wording for a clause in the client Schedule of Amendments. I clarified that I am not a legal advisor and recommended that this task should be handled by their legal team.
How did you handle a contractor’s inquiry during the tendering phase for 1 Triton Square?
A contractor inquiring about the project called me with questions, including a request for information on other participating contractors. I instructed them to submit their inquiries following the outlined process in the tender documents and made it clear that I couldn’t disclose the information they were seeking.
Why is it not ethical to share other contractors information on a competitive bid ?
Sharing other contractors’ information on a competitive bid is considered unethical because it breaches confidentiality, undermines fair competition, and violates the trust placed in contractors to keep sensitive business details confidential, compromising the integrity of the bidding process.
How do you ensure client understanding regarding the scope of services?
I conduct a thorough review of our scope of services, ensuring clients understand what is included.
Can you describe a situation involving scope expansion and transparent communication?
On a site visit for a parliamentary project, the client proposed capturing differences between as-builts and provided drawings. I transparently informed them that this was beyond our agreed scope and would incur additional fees if required. However, I offered to share my notes for AECOM’s internal due diligence, based on spot checks.
Why is it important that clients understand what is included in our scope of services?
A clear understanding of a scope of services is crucial for clients to manage expectations, budget effectively, ensure project quality, and establish a basis for a successful and transparent contractual agreement.
What is the Mission Statement of the RICS?
- To qualify and equip their members to offer the highest standards of professional service.
- To promote and enforce standards
- To lead solutions to the major challenges facing the built environment through professional expertise.
What is the meaning of the RICS Motto?
The motto is ‘Est Modus in Rebus’ which in Latin translates to ‘There is measure in all things’.
When was the RICS founded?
The RICS was founded in 1868 with the Royal Charter being granted by the Privy Council in1881.
What determines now the RICS is regulated
The Bye-Laws determine how the RICS is regulated.
What does it mean that the RICS is self-regulated and internally monitored?
That it is not regulated by the Government
or external parties.
What are the RICS’ 5 principles of better regulation?
- Proportionality.
- Accountability.
- Consistency.
- Targeting.
- Transparency.
Who manages and agrees the strategy for the RICS?
The Governing council
What is the difference between RICS ethics and rules
Ethics are a set of moral values.
Rules of conduct are a framework that we work to.
When did the Rules of Conduct change?
2nd February 2022.
How many Global Professional and Ethical standards are there?
From the 2nd February 2022 onwards the Global Professional & Ethical Standards have been
consolidated within the New Rules of Conduct 2022.
What is the new rules of conduct rule 1 ?
Rule 1. Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS.
What is the new rules of conduct rule 2 ?
Rule 2. Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise.
What is the new rules of conduct rule 3 ?
Rule 3. Members and firms must provide good-quality and diligent service.
What is the new rules of conduct rule 4 ?
Rule 4. Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion.
What is the new rules of conduct rule 5 ?
Rule 5. Members and firms must act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions and act to
prevent harm and maintain public confidence in the profession.
Why did the previous Rules of Conduct change?
Following research and consultation with RICS Members, Firms and Members of the public, the majority voted in favour of replacing the existing Rules of Conduct and separate Global Professional
and Ethical Standards.
This was to provide a single document to enable greater clarity for RICS members and firms.
How long had the previous rules of conduct been in place?
Since 2007
What greater focus on is there in the new rules of conduct?
A greater focus on clearer example behaviors, understanding evolving technology and tackling climate change.
What separate documents will the rules of conduct October 2021 overhaul?
o Rules of conduct for Members.
o Rules of Conduct for Firms.
o Global Professional and Ethical Standards.
How many professional obligations of firms are there?
7
what does Appendix A of the new rules of conduct now contain ?
Now contains the professional obligations of Members and
Firms.
What are the 3 professional obligations of members?
- Members must comply with the CPD requirements set by the RICS which requires 20 hours of
CPD for each calendar year, 10 hours of which must be formal CPD. - Members must cooperate with RICS.
- Members must promptly provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and
Regulation Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.
What is Nr 1 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must publish a complaints-handling procedure, which includes an alternative dispute resolution provider approved by RICS, and maintain a complaints log.
What is Nr 2 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must ensure that all previous and current professional work is covered by adequate and appropriate professional indemnity cover that meets the standards approved by RICS.
What is Nr 3 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms with a sole principal must make appropriate arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event of their incapacity, death, absence from or inability to work.
What is Nr 4 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must cooperate with RICS.
What is Nr 5 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must promptly provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulation Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.
What is Nr 6 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must display on their business literature, in accordance with RICS’ published policy on designations, a designation to denote that they are regulated by RICS.
Why does the RICS have Rules of Conduct?
To provide a framework that we can all work to and so the client knows he is getting a set level of service, also a useful
professional guide for individual institution members.
What is Nr 6 of the professional obligations of firms?
Firms must report to RICS any matter that they are required to report under the Rules for the Registration of Firms.
Your brother-in-law is a chartered surveyor. You find out that he is
working outside the RICS Rules of Conduct. What do you do?
I verify the facts and confront him reminding him of his duties as a member of the RICS.
I inform the RICS specifying my relationship to the person and any corrective action which I believe my brother-in-law is committed to put in place.
In the case of a breach of a rule of conduct what is the procedure?
- Not every shortcoming will necessarily give rise to proceedings.
- A formal investigation by the Head of Regulation of the RICS is the first step in the process
- The RICS can request information and/or visit and inspect to investigate compliance.
- Members must cooperate fully with all enquiries.
How can a disciplinary proceeding be triggered?
- Someone complaining to the RICS.
- An allegation by a client or third party.
- Information received or established by the RICS.
What three actions can be imposed after the end of the investigation
stage?
Fixed penalty.
Consent order.
Disciplinary panel.
What are fixed penalties?
A fine by the RICS.
When is a disciplinary panel applicable?
- They are used for more serious breaches of conduct.
- The panel will usually be held in public.
- The burden of proof is on the RICS.
- A balance of probabilities approach will be adopted.
What can consent orders require?
It can require the member to take certain corrective actions, or restrain them from taking certain actions for a specified period of time and may require them to pay a fine or costs.
What are consent orders?
It is a written agreement between the RICS and a member or firm concerning a disciplinary issue on a breach of the RICS rules.
What sort of breaches would expulsion be suitable for?
- Gross, persistent or willful failure to comply with an RICS rule of conduct.
- Fraud, dishonesty, conviction of a serious criminal offence, gross incompetence, deliberate discrimination, misappropriation of a client’s money.
What procedures must you follow if you are starting up a new
practice?
- Contact the RICS for guidance and obtain a company start up pack.
- Inform the RICS and register for regulation.
- Appoint a contact officer for all RICS communication.
- Prepare a complaints handling procedure.
- Obtain Professional indemnity insurance cover.
- Abide by the Rules of Conduct for Firms.
- Use the designation ‘Regulated by RICS’ on all practice material.
Would you advertise your new company in the press?
- Yes as long as it is in a trustful and responsible manner in line with the Rules of Conduct for Firms.
What insurances would you need if you were starting up your own
firm?
- Professional Indemnity Insurance.
- Employer’s Liability.
- Public Liability.
- Building’s insurance of an office premises.
What sort of information do registered firms have to send to the RICS annually?
- It is called annual return and carried out on-line.
what happens if registered firms do not send information to the RICS annually?
- Failure to do so leads to a fixed penalty.