A professional code of ethics is crucial in the urban planning profession while engaged in a national, state, or local governmental planning organization. A professional code of ethics lays out the rules for behavior and provides the groundwork for a preemptive warning (Tas¸an-Kok & Oranje, 2018). Also, a professional code of ethics clarifies an organization’s mission, values, and principles, and links them with standards of professional conduct (Allmendinger, 2009). The behaviors of most planners are largely consistent with rule-based ethical frameworks, many of which are embedded in the professional code of ethics, specifically that of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. In fact, Lauria and Long (2019) published an article in the Journal of the American Planning Association where they portrayed the results of their study which was aimed at understanding the ethical practices of contemporary practicing planners in the United States. Lauria and Long (2019) attempted to seek deeper insights into what motivates their decisions and how they personally determine what is ethical is ethical behavior in the more real-world situations they faced in practice. Interestingly, the researchers confirmed their assumption that most practicing planners regularly face ethical dilemmas in their professional practice (Lauria & Long, 2019). They also found that the planners in their study have internalized much of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and that it has influenced their decision-making in ethically challenging situations. It is for this reason that a professional code of ethics is necessary for the urban planning profession while engaged in a national, state, or local governmental planning organization. All in all, a professional code of ethics is crucial for planners because they are influential and useful.
An example of a code of ethics violation on planning ethics can be found in the article published by Hoerkveld and Needham (2013). The authors conducted interviews on urban planners regarding their careers, ethical dilemmas, and their respective kind of decision-making ethics they follow. One case example mentioned by one of their participants is that the individual had a urban planner position working for a local governmental planning organization and decided to not take a particular job because his professional position conflicts with their professional codes of ethics due to legality concerns surrounding the job (Hoerkveld & Needham, 2013). This is a direct code of ethics violation, specifically that “we shall not accept an assignment from an employer when the services to be performed involve conduct that we know to be illegal or in violation of these rules” (Hoerkveld & Needham, 2013). This planning dilemma relates greatly to the biblical verse of Proverbs 10:9 which states “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out”. This goes to show the importance of integrity and honesty in our work as urban planners and as statesmen in general.
References:
Allmendinger, P. (2009). Planning theory. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
Hoekveld, G., & Needham, B. (2013). Planning practice between ethics and the power game: Making and applying an ethical code for planning agency. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 37(5), 1638–1653. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2427.2012.01146.x
Lauria, M. & Long, M. (2019). Ethical Dilemmas in Professional Planning Practice in the United States, Journal of the American Planning Association, 85:4, 393-404, DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2019.1627238
Tas¸an-Kok, T., & Oranje, M. (Eds.). (2018). From student to urban planner: Young practitioners’ reflections on contemporary ethical challenges. New York, NY: Routledge
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