Ethic Dilemmas in Planning Practice - Article Example

Ethic Dilemmas in Planning Practice Table of Contents Introduction 3 a)Discussion of the Ethical Dilemmas That Might Be Present in Making Judgments and the Ways to Resolve Such Dilemmas 4 b)Discussion of the Roles of Professional Codes of Conduct in Making Judgments 8 Conclusion 10 References 12 Introduction Proper planning is one of the prominent success factors in any domain. Planning primarily refers to an act of deciding what is to be done and how things need to be performed within a specific time period. In order to ensure effective planning in any domain, it is quite important to follow a predetermined framework, which can ensure systematic formation of plans and their execution. It is evident that there is no use of a vision, if it has no plans. Again, any plan without a vision can be regarded as of no effect. Thus, it is crucial that a vision must be accompanied with clear set plans. In this regard, it can be stated that a planning practice is an approach, which is being executed taking into concern the diverse perspectives along with the potential or probable impacts of the plans while accomplishing the desired goals. It is worth mentioning that good planning practice in any sector can ensure making wider progress, while inappropriate planning may lead to several disputes (Litman, 2013). Ensuring proper or fruitful planning is quite a challenging task, as the results ascertained from the same can shape a better future or impose negative implications in any sector. Hillier & Healey (2010) in this context argued that one of the core functions of planning process is to determine the competency of planners to make practical judgements irrespective of any internal or external influence. With this concern, in order to have a better comprehension of the aforesaid argument, this particular essay intends to discuss about the ethical dilemmas that might be present in making practical judgments in the context of planning practice and the role play by professional codes of conduct in making such judgments. a) Discussion of the Ethical Dilemmas That Might Be Present in Making Judgments and the Ways to Resolve Such Dilemmas Ethical dilemma is a particular characteristic, which is inherent in different individuals. This mainly arises at the time of any complex situation wherein people undergo with varied conflict situations and their moral behaviour along with factual understanding gets disrupted. Moreover, this sort of characteristic mainly emerges when an individual need to make a choice between several options all of which involves moral consideration (Pollock, 2011). This sort of characteristics is quite common amid the planners. According to the report published by Perkins & Crews (2013), planners of local governments often seem to be dealing with the situation of ethical dilemmas while making effective decisions. A case study of “ethical dilemmas of local government planners in Western Australia” can be taken into concern for identifying the ethical dilemmas that might be present in the planning practice of the government planners relating to the above case study and making suitable judgments to resolve such dilemmas. According to the case study, it can be ascertained that ethical dilemmas in making practical decisions often arise owing to the personal values of the planners. Most of the government planners, as observed in the case study, affirmed that honesty and integrity are certain vital parts of their job role and proper executing of the same will certainly ensure the deliverance of better plans for the region (Perkins &Crews, 2013). The study results of Perkins & Crews (2013) also depicted that relationship management is also another vital aspect, which gives rise to situation of ethical dilemma amid the planners. Since the planners need to manage and maintain relationship with the developers as well as other members within the community, ethical dilemmas are deemed to arise. Though the number of obligations is often recognised to remain quite large in the domain of governmental decision-making procedure, ethical dilemmas are found to be emerged enormously. An example in this regard concerning a case study of Western Australia depicts that government planners have to take stern decisions regarding the land use by the people in Perth. However, the residents were aware of the negative impacts that this aspect might impose on their community that further led towards their opposition. These scenarios eventually presented ethical challenges for the planners with regards to make practical decisions (Perkins & Crews, 2013). According to the study conducted by Susan (n.d.), ethical dilemma is also visible amid the planners in the adult education sector. The study depicted the rise of dilemmas for the teachers in the teaching sector. The personal values of the teachers tend to influence their planning on deciding their respective teaching approach for the students. Teachers need to make choice whether they should plan their teaching methods in accordance with the needs of the students or follow their personal instincts and values to make effective teaching decisions. For example, teachers who hold humanistic perceptions might see their job role as a facilitator and may further make student centric decisions. However, this approach of the teachers who act as educational planners might in turn hinder the intellectual growth of the students and make them dependent to an extent. Hence, these situations give rise to dilemmas for the teachers, wherein they find quite challenging to make consistent and practical teaching decisions (Susan, n.d.). Again, as per the study of Saarikoski (2002), in order to make justifiable decisions, planners need to learn from each other and frame widely acceptable policies. The study mainly discusses about the epistemological dilemmas that often face by the planners while performing their respective job roles along with responsibilities efficiently. The study depicted that the planners need to make decisions on the grounds of facts and practicality and not on personal value system. In this regard, partiality is seen as an element, which creates dilemmas amid the planners. However, the study depicts that lack of proper knowledge might be a reason for such dilemmas. These ethical dilemmas are deemed to arise at the time when the planners remain more dependent on their respective ideological functions rather than obtaining practical knowledge. Thus, it can be ascertained that cognitive behaviour of the planers has considerable role to play in arising ethical dilemmas (Saarikoski, 2002). The study of Campbell (2012) also presented the ethical dilemmas that the researchers or the planners face with regard to their decision making in any particular domain. The study depicted that more controversial is the topic of planning, more will be the ethical issues to be faced by the planners. The study presented that in planning domain, the aspect of professionalism is highly desired. Those with lack of professionalism will face more ethical dilemmas while making effective decisions. Again, in similar regard, the study of Campbell & Marshall (1998) presented a clearer and concise understanding about the ethical dilemmas involved in the domain of planning practice. The article argued that planners face ethical dilemmas mainly in the domain of deciding their actions or making an apparent choice. People who are more inclined towards moral judgements rather than believing on technicality or practically are expected to encounter more ethical dilemmas. Most planning practitioners are deemed to remain less inclined towards incorporating effective planning theory in their respective decision-making procedure, which further give rise to ethical dilemmas. In this similar context, truth is another vital element, which gives rise to ethical dilemmas amid the planners. At certain times, decisions are to be taken based on the knowledge of the planners rather than considering truth as the base. Moreover, individual planners who are more inclined towards making decisions based on every practice rather than the presented facts, situations of ethical dilemmas deemed to get rise (Campbell & Marshall, 1998). Resolving the Ethical Dilemmas It has been earlier mentioned that making proper planning is quite important to attain success in a particular domain. Planners are responsible to present the facts based on their knowledge, intellectuality and the facts depicted. However, there are certain ethical dilemmas that might arise for the planners while making their decisions. In order to assure effectiveness of the plans framed, it will be vital to reduce or eliminate the ethical dilemmas while making decisions regarding any subject matter. According to the report published by Kilinc & et. al. (2009), planners need to develop a proper definition of public interests while making their decisions taking into concern the personal ethical viewpoints of the governments or private agencies and also the planners himself or herself . This will certainly ensure that the decisions taken serve the best interests of the people at large. It is strongly believed that the actions of the planners should not be value free and thus they need to consider explicit as well as implicit aspects of planning morals. Planners often tend to neutralize their decisions with regard to minimise or eliminate scenarios of ethical dilemmas while making effective planning. Planners also seek to fulfil their commitment for the agencies they work rather than fulfilling their own moral value system. This also helps in dealing with ethical dilemmas to an extent. Plan modification is also seen as an important approach to deal with scenarios of ethical dilemmas. In this process, planners need to take into concern the results of past plans and frame or modify future plans accordingly with making decisions based on facts rather than involving in an ethical conflict (Kilinc & et. al., 2009). Proper use of the Code of Professional Conduct can also work towards eliminating or reducing ethical dilemmas that face by the planners. In this regard, the planners need to follow basic procedures wherein they frame their decisions based on predetermined framework. This framework can be the Code of Professional Conduct developed by any concerned authority for professional planners. The actions taken on the basis of code are deemed to be free from any criticism, which further ensure generating positive outcomes from the same (Campbell & Marshall, 1998). Again, the report of CCAB (2011) presents certain case studies that are relevant to ethical dilemmas face by the planners and the measures for resolving the same. For instance, the report presented that professional accountants remain under immense pressure to work ethically and legally. However, they often deemed to face ethical dilemmas in the situations wherein they are aware of the unethical conducts of their clients. In such case, accountants who also act as planners need to move in alignment with the Code of Ethics of international accounting norms. In order to eliminate ethical dilemmas while making effective decisions, accountants need to follow the basic rules of their profession wherein they need to ensure integrity, objectivity as well as confidentiality of the works deliver by them for their respective clients (CCAB, 2011). b) Discussion of the Roles of Professional Codes of Conduct in Making Judgments From the above analysis, it can be ascertained that ethical dilemmas hinder the planners to make practical decisions in any domain by a certain degree. In this regard, the potential roles of Professional Codes of Conduct in making judgments while resolving ethical dilemmas could not be ignored. Notably, these Codes are more or less present in every domain. The Codes associated with any particular profession including the planning practice depict the principles that one needs to follow while executing their respective job roles along with responsibilities (Murphy, 1997). Notably, in the profession of planning practice, there lay certain fundamental principles that instruct one to ensure integrity, confidentiality as well as professionalism in the works deliver for the agencies. These Codes also ensure that the decisions of the planners are based on the codes as well as the principles as framed within the industrial guidelines rather than adhering to their personal norms (CCAB, 2011). These principles developed by the concerned authorities make sure that planners should follow a set of ideals in their roles and responsibilities that will allow them to make independent and effective decisions based on the facts determined. This will not only reduce the situations of emerging ethical dilemmas but will also result in making more practical decisions (Certified Financial Planner Board, 2014). To have a better comprehension of the aforementioned aspect, the professional standards of the United Kingdom would be vital to consider as an example. In this regard, the standards or the Codes are meant to ensure providing maximum benefits to the public. Identifiably, The Royal Town Planning Institute is responsible for framing the Professional Codes of Conduct in the nation. As per the Codes, all professional planners in any domain need to act in the best interest of his/her competency towards ensuring honesty and integrity in their job roles. The professional planners are also instructed to act fearlessly as well as impartially while making their judgements through exercising their own skills, abilities and intelligence. The Codes also make it mandatory for the professional planners to discharge each and every duty to their employers or the clients. Notably, the Codes also include the aspect of discrimination, as one of the imperative aspects in professional planning. It can be apparently observed in various cases that planners often get impacted from external influences and thus frame their decisions accordingly. The Codes instruct the planners to make decisions that are universally accepted and do not discriminate any public based on sex, caste, religion or nationality. This aspect further ensures that equal opportunity can be provided to every people living within a particular society (RTPI, 2012). It is worth mentioning that the above discussed utility of the Codes restricts the planners to make effective decisions in the domain of planning practice. Owing to the professional codes, planners gain full liberty to take their decisions entirely based on the facts and their intellectuality without being involved in any ethical dilemma. This certainly enables the planners to emerge with more practical judgements that will enhance the overall effectiveness of planning practices. It has also been instructed as per the professional standards of the United Kingdom that the planners working in the UK must ensure that they are not involved in any conduct wherein they are not authorised based on their experiences and academic credentials. This will certainly eliminate vague planning to an extent. Again the professional codes with regards to planning also intend to control the judgements of the planners who are in their beginner stage. New members in the planning profession are instructed to develop plans of professional development for continuously enhancing their ability of delivering professional judgements (RTPI, 2012). All these legality aspects of the Codes generally tend to enhance the level of expertise of the planners and assure that they can make more practical judgements that are widely acceptable. Conclusion From the above analysis and discussion, it can be comprehended that the job role of professional planners involves several key challenges especially in the domain of ethics that impacts their overall practical decision making. It is often seen that planners need to make stiff decisions that have unfavourable implications. In such situations, planners face strong conflict with regards to their professional commitment and personal values. Practical decision making often involve such aspects that could not keep intact with the personal interests of the professionals but that of the clients or the agencies they work for. Contextually, these situations often lead towards unfavourable decision making that has less resemblance with practicality. In order to deal with these issues, professionals need to be more fact centric in their approached while making decisions. Moreover, they should make a common definition of public benefit wherein the interests of the agencies as well as individuals values are taken into concern. Furthermore, the Codes that are presented by varied concerned authorities may be duly considered as positive attempts to ensure practical judgements from the end of the professional planners. Hence, it can be concluded that the core expertise in professional planning is to make practical judgements that are free from ethical dilemmas and criticisms. References Campbell, H. & Marshall, R., 1998. Acting on Principle: Dilemmas in Planning Practice. Planning Practice & Research, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 117- 128. Certified Financial Planner Board, 2014. Code of Ethics & Professional Responsibility. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.cfp.net/for-cfp-professionals/professional-standards-enforcement/standards-of-professional-conduct/code-of-ethics-professional-responsibility [Accessed August 24, 2014]. CCAB, 2011. Ethical Dilemmas Case Studies. Professional Accountants in Public Practice. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.icaew.com/~/media/Files/Technical/Ethics/ethical-case-studies/ccabeg-case-studies-accountants-public-practice.pdf [Accessed August 24, 2014]. Campbell, H., 2012. Planning Ethics and Rediscovering the Idea of Planning. Planning Theory, Vol. 11, No. 379, pp. 379-399. Hillier, J. & Healey, P., 2010. The Ashgate Research Companion to Planning Theory: Conceptual Challenges for Spatial Planning. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Kilinc, G. & et. al., 2009. Planning Ethics at Local Level. Academic Research Report, pp. 1-108. Litman, T., 2013. Planning Principles and Practices. Victoria Transport Policy Institute, pp. 1-35. Murphy, K. E., 1997. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas. National Association of Social Workers. [Online] Available at: http://www.naswma.org/?114 [Accessed August 24, 2014]. Pollock, J., 2011. Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Cengage Learning. Perkins, T. & Crews, J., 2013. The Ethical Dilemmas of Local Government Planners in Western Australia. State of Australian Cities, pp. 1-10. RTPI, 2012. Code of Professional Conduct. Media. [Online] Available at: http://www.naswma.org/?114 [Accessed August 24, 2014]. Saarikoski, H., 2002. Naturalized Epistemology and Dilemmas of Planning Practice. Journal of Planning Education and Research, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 3-13. Susan, I., No Date. Ethical Practice in Adult Education. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-5/adult.htm [Accessed August 24, 2014]. Read More