PRM SEM 02 - 03. Professional Organisations Flashcards
Being a Registered Architect:
As discussed in the previous lecture Registration, once you become a registered architect
with the NZ Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) you will have to:
- maintain an Annual Certificate of Registration ($550)
- undertake professional development activities (CPD: Continuing Professional
Development), - demonstrate that you have maintained your competency for continued registration
(through amassing enough CPD points or a Competence Review) - adhere to the NZRAB Code of Minimum Standards of Ethical Conduct
- be accountable to the Board should a client or member of the public lay a complaint
about your performance.
Ethics
By ethics we mean business ethics, an applied branch of philosophy dealing with behaviour and morality in a business environment. We can all act in a way that mayincrease our personal benefit in the short term, but may well be harmful long term or to our colleagues, our profession. our clients or the public. Increasingly, ethical conduct is including social and environmental responsibility, for example the recent emphasis on sustainability.
Issues of ethical behaviour can arise very early in your career.
One example is cutting your fees, or doing competitions or work for free as you try to win your first job. But you might be undercutting firms who have worked hard to raise standards in the profession, who can’t cut fees because they have employees or families to support.
Incidentally architects, lawyers and other professionals sometimes work “pro bono”, for free, (shortened from pro bona publico, for the public good), but this is usually in different circumstances where you aren’t undercutting competitors or lowering professional standards and it is for the benefit of the wider public.
Most professional organisations have a code of ethics to govern their members’ behaviour, protect the reputation of their profession and organisation and to protect the public. The NZIA has Rules and a Complaint and Disciplinary Procedure system but Architect members must adhere to the NZ Registered Architects Board ethical code.
NZRAB’s Code of Minimum Standards of Ethical Conduct for Registered Architects
In summary:
Standards related to the public involve the need to Not misrepresent himself or herself and Uphold the law.
Standards related to the client involve the need to Exercise unprejudiced and unbiased judgment, Care and diligence, Terms of appointment, Remuneration and inducements, Confidentiality of client’s affairs, and Conflict of interest
Standards related to profession involve the need to Act with honesty and fairness
Standards related to other registered architects involve the need to Acknowledge colleagues’ contributions, Not maliciously or unfairly criticise another architect’s work, Conflicts of professional appointment, and Giving an opinion on the work of another registered architect.
Source: NZRAB website July 2016 www.nzrab.nz/Editable/Assets/Assessorslnformation/code_of_ethics.pdf
The NZ Institute of Architects (NZIA) relies on the NZRAB code. Other organisations have their own similar codes of ethics eg Architectural Designers NZ (ADNZ) are on their homepage: www.adnz.org.nz/about
NZ Institute of Architects (NZIA):
The NZIA “represents more than 90 percent of all registered architects in New Zealand”. It is a professional body supporting the needs of its members through a range of services, but it also has another role: “promoting and celebrating the role of architecture in enhancing the built environment”.
Source: NZIA website July 2016 www.nzia.co.nz
Formed in 1905, the Architects Act 1963 split off its regulatory functions to the Architects Education and Registration Board (AERB), later the NZRAB under the Registered Architects Act 2005.
Incidentally the words on the lnstitute’s seal (sacrifice, truth, power, beauty, life, memory, obedience) are John Ruskin’s principles of architecture from his book The Seven Lamps of Architecture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiffhe Seven Lamps of Architecture)
The Objects of the Institute:
- To promote excellence in architecture, the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge relating to architecture, ethical conduct in the practice of architecture and the interests of the profession of architecture in New Zealand and overseas.
- To advance the study and practice of architecture.
- To improve and elevate the technical and general knowledge of persons engaged in, or about to engage in the practice of architecture.
- To hold and promote competitions and to give prizes, certificates and other awards to promote excellence in architecture.
- To bring before government authorities, public and other bodies any matters affecting architecture and architects.
- To amalgamate, or combine, or confer, or act temporarily or otherwise in conjunction with any other professional body or bodies, institutes or institutions having objects similar to those of the Institute.
Source NZIA website July 2016 https://www.nzia.eo.nz/the-nzia/about-the-nzia.aspx
How does the NZIA achieve its objectives?
- Runs an awards programme.
- Runs Continuing Professional Development (mandatory for all Architect and NZIA
Practice members) - Runs a Graduate Development Programme to prepare graduates for registration.
- Provides support to members through papers on topical practice issues (we will
look at these very useful Practice Notes and Guides). - Provides technical documents such as contracts (both client/contractor and
architect/client). - Provides political advocacy, links with architectural education bodies, conferences,
a chat list and regular newsletters. - Publishes Architecture New Zealand (through publisher AGM).
NZIA Complaints Process and Disciplinary Procedure
The NZIA also has a Complaints process and a Disciplinary Procedure. You can read about the Obiects and Rules at www.nzia.co.nz/the-nzia/rules.aspx
NZIA Membership:
There are various membership categories. The NZIA has about 3000 members only half of whom are registered architects working in NZ. The other 1500 are architects working overseas, students, graduates, academics, retired architects, provisional members and affiliates (not a registered architect but an employee of an “NZIA Practice”). Practices can be members if they conform to certain criteria. Fees vary but are thousands of dollars for registered architects.
See www.nzia.co.nz/the-nzia/nzia–membership.aspx for more information.
Continuing Professional Development:
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a major obligation when a member of any professional organization. CPD is mandatory to maintain your registration with the NZRAB.
You earn CPD points for attending talks, workshops, conferences, seminars etc. Practices in your local area also meet up and discuss issues, give talks, have drink wine …
The NZ Architects Co-operative Society (NZACS):
The NZ Architects Co-Operative Society (NZACS):
Set up in 1972 to represent and promote the interests of architects, and to facilitate loss prevention programmes. It is independent of the NZIA and NZRAB and is a cooperative run by and for architects under the Industrial and Provident Society Act 1908. The objects of the NZACS are:
* good business practice
* risk management
* loss prevention
* promote members’ interests in government, business and professional forums
Membership is open to architects and “allied professionals”. The NZACS supports risk management and loss prevention by:
- arranging Professional Indemnity (Pl) Insurance (more on this in later lectures)
- facilitating business, office, and private insurance cover
- providing access to a “Claims Committee” of architects for advice and support in potential or actual Pl claims
It provides Pl insurance for over of 90% of NZ architectural firms.
Costs are minimised “by using bulk purchase of group insurance cover, and by managing claims in a co-operative environment within the profession”.
Graduate members of the NZIA can join and get Pl insurance.
NZACS also supports members’ interests and good business practice by presenting CPD activities, publishing a newsletter, assisting NZIA in the preparation of Practice Notes, making representations to Parliament and inter-professional committees, cooperating with the NZIA and the NZRAB etc
See www.nzacs.co.nz for more information.
Other Related Professional Organisations:
Architectural Designers of NZ (ADNZ): www.adnz.org.nz
“ … a leading professional body for Architects and Architectural Designers. We are a community of design professionals who share a passion for design and connecting people with architecture. We offer support, guidance, training, promotion and networking events to our members who are located the length and breadth of the country. Most importantly we consider ourselves strong champions of New Zealand design and architecture” ..
Architecture+ Women NZ (A+W·NZ ) www.architecturewomen.org.nz
“The core aims of Architecture+Women*NZ are; visibility- to provide a support system which helps make visible the hard work of A+W·NZ members, and inclusiveness - to remove or reduce as many barriers as possible, (class, religion, culture, sexual orientation etc) from the strong platform of gender, for the benefit of all those who work in architecture”. They do this through networks, events, research and policy.
The Auckland Architecture Association (AAA) www.aaa.org.nz
“strives to provide a centre for architecture in Auckland. It is equally for students, academics and practitioners of architecture as well as those who have an interest in the role that architecture is able to play in our city”. Organises the Visionary Awards, open to students and graduates and provides site visits to architecture.
Student Architecture Network NZ (SANNZ) www.sannz.net.nz
“SANNZ was officially formed in 2008 in response to students wanting to connect more - between schools, between students and architects, between architecture students and the international creative community. Our goals are to promote the interests of NZ architecture students, students taking responsibility for and ownership of their architectural education, the abilities, work and vision of students of architecture and student community and the integration of student and professional cultures.” SAANZ organise the SuperStudio weekend intensive design event shared between the three NZ schools and Australia. They are also supported by the NZIA.
The Designers Institute of NZ {DINZ): www.dinz.org.nz
“ … formed in 1991 by the merger of the New Zealand Society of Industrial Designers (formed 1960), and the New Zealand Association of Interior Designers (formed 1968). Today the Designers Institute represents graphic design, interactive design, spatial design, product design, design in business, service design and design education”. DINZ run the BEST awards, open to students.
