The ethics behind conflicts of interest

Heya!

Well today's Monday so my working week has only just begun. But the final assignment for WIL1 is due this Wednesday so this will be my final post in relation to this assignment! I guess I might report back on what I worked on today and then wrap up with a reflection of the last couple of weeks.

I think perhaps it might be fitting if I post my final assignment on here (names, etc removed of course!) for you all to read, because I've had a number of emails about my blog and that a lot of people really enjoy reading it. Why anyone would want to read about work experience is confusing to me!

So today at work we had a staff meeting (I don't know why I haven't delved into this element of my work life earlier!). The meetings are supposed to be every Monday, but doesn't always happen due to some of the other planners being away, on business or at a meeting, etc. The meeting always starts with the bosses handing around a sheet of paper with details of all the current and new jobs and what's involved. Everyone is encouraged to disclose any conflicts of interest, which is a point I'll touch on in a second. Then, we go around the table and everyone talks about how much capacity they have to pick up new jobs or discuss any details which they need to discuss with the group. Often policy, legislation or unusual elements/codes/cases are brought up and discussed.

The conflict of interest part of staff meetings is interesting to me. When I first began work there, I always insisted that I disclose as much as possible, but that doesn't seem to be how the other planners work. A conflict of interest seems to be a hassle - something that gets in the way. I wonder though, how ethics and acting morally in your profession is something that can get in the way. With every conflict of interest (more particularly when it's a company conflict of interest, rather than a personal conflict) a job is lost and jobs are money. Money is company profit and company profit is how much money the bosses and each of us get to take home at the end of the day with the incentive scheme that operates. So it seems that there is a conflict of interest in not declaring conflicts of interest. Our interests are conflicted because money is involved and not declaring means more money. Funny how that works.

Anyway, most of the planners are usually pretty good. I mean, how am I to know if they don't declare something? And declaring is encouraged; it just seems as though every conflict is worked out in discussion around the table until everyone convinces themselves it's not a conflict and the jobs begins.

Some work was delegated to me at the meeting and each of us went on our merry ways. I started the morning photocopying a few applications and then bound them ready to send off to the client, the council and the associated architects and referral agencies.

I then read the newspapers which had arrived in the mail and found one article relevant to the client's request, scanned and sent them off to the boss to forward to the client.

I then continued work on a research project which was given to me by a boss. I was asked to research through legislation and the SEQ Regional Plan for how structure plans, for Major Development Areas under the regional plan, are implemented and if they can, in fact, change the level of assessment stipulated in the planning scheme. I found that, in fact they can, and in the Coomera Town Centre which is a major development area under the Regional Plan, particular development triggers an impact assessable application rather than code. It was interesting. My boss and I then had a discussion about the implications for the local government area, the public and the government. Very cool!

Then I started work a simple fee proposal for a house in a DCP in Brisbane. The site adjoins a heritage place (listed in both BCC and State Government heritage registers), is in the Character Residential Area and covered by a local plan. I reviewed the plans and didn't see any major conflicts with any of the Codes and thus a code assessable application is required. I compiled a fee proposal based on this information and saved in the boss' documents for review.

I left after handing this information over and that was my day over!

The Work Integrated Learning Unit has really helped me reflect on the way this profession works. This time last year I was working in a building company, organising Building Approvals, and knew nothing about and no one in the industry whatsoever! This year I've learnt so much and can probably list quite a few of the things:

1. Planning in Queensland and Australia
2. About the Planning Institute of Australia
3. About working with people in a profession
4. Office etiquette
5. Time management as I juggle study and working 3 days per week
6. Research skills
7. Knowledge about the Australian Bureau of Statistics and demographics
8. How the Planning & Environment Court works
9. About how planning can effect sale prices
10. About design and using software packages for maps and plans
11. About professional writing and my need for more attention to detail
12. About professional relationships and networking
13. About current affairs and the need and importance of sustainability and caring for our environment
14. Government agencies and their role in the planning system
15. Heritage and its importance to a sense of place
16. Urban design, master planning and structure planning
18. Stormwater management and how large an issue it is!
19. Conflict resolution skills

Some of the other fun things I've done in my time as a student town planner, include:

1. I've been to a number of events including a bowls day, pool competition night, golf night, etc
2. I've had the privelege of attending a number of conferences and seminars (the Sea Change Taskforce one was my favourite!)
3. I've learnt about myself
4. I made a pavlova, cookies & cream cheesecake, and loads of other stuff for cake days
5. Friday afternoon beers after work rock
6. Comradery and friendship at work is important
7. I've had a fair few development approvals which always puts a smile on my face when I'm at work
8. I'm funnier, confidant, a better employee and happier than I thought I was

Well, there you have it in a nutshell.

I'm sure I'll be back soon and no doubt in the next couple of days I'll have more to add!

Sanguine

..I want to be a town planner

I am starting this new blog as a way to discuss my experiences in the Work Integrated Learning unit which I'm studying at QUT as part of my studies in the Bachelor of Urban Development (Urban and Regional Planning) degree.

I hope, over the next couple of weeks, to write frequently about my time and experiences at work.

I have set myself a few ground rules, including:

1. I will not disclose my name or any personal details
2. The name of the company with which I am working will be kept confidential
3. All work I undertake will remain confidential, and in some cases, the names of clients and addresses will be changed to maintain this confidentiality.

My main objective of the reflective piece of assessment which I am required to undertake is to:

Effectively and efficiently select, record and reflect on events and activities undertaken in practice at the same time developing associated activities of critical inquiry, time management and professional writing.

My personal objectives in reflecting on my work experience is to record and reflect on my time working in the town planning industry and about the knowledge, skills and activities which I have learnt.

I guess this is a little bit of an informal way to talk (to myself and others if they choose to read) about the things that happen over the next few weeks and the things that I'm learning. I want to really utilise a lot of the questions and detail from the QUT E-Portfolio site also to encourage new topics and discussion points.

Anyhow, that's me for now! I'll be back soon with my first post about work experience!