INNOVATION July-August 2013

JULY/AUGUST 2013

Volume 17 Number 4

v iewpoint

Given that this column is titled “Viewpoint,” I would like to express my opinion on some desirable features of our collective view- points—both within professional practice and beyond. When I meet new members at our induction ceremonies, one snippet of advice I sometimes provide is: “don’t be a rubber stamp.” What does this mean with respect to professional practice? In fact, this feature relates to a portion of our Code of Ethics, that includes a call on members and licensees to: “conduct themselves with fair- ness, courtesy and good faith towards clients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is due and accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional comment.” Let me elaborate. A key aspect of sound professional practice relates to the roles of checkers and reviewers. When asked to pro- vide a review, it is all too easy to do this in a cursory manner and simply endorse the content being reviewed; however, it is critical that such reviews are carried out independently and thoroughly, even to the point of providing contrary, independent viewpoints. And, this relates both to specific technical calculations as well as to identifying unexpected issues that may otherwise have been over- looked. That is, the statements “don’t be a rubber stamp” and “give honest and fair professional comment” are intended to urge thor- ough, fair and independent reviews and commentary of the work of others. It is noteworthy that such aspects also feature prominently in APEGBC’s Organizational Quality Management Program, which highlights procedures relating to checks of professional work and to independent reviews. This thinking applies beyond professional practice. In my involve- ment with many organizations, boards and committees, I have often observed that the most beneficial and critical advances are sometimes made through minority opinions on committees, dissenting views, sober second thought, and even “squeaky wheels.” Indeed, these pro- vide a natural way of assuring a system of checks and balances as organizations and committees advance their agendas. That is, it is perfectly in order to hold diverse and independent viewpoints—pro- vided of course that all discourse is fair and respectful. At the same time, a complementary and desirable feature of one’s viewpoints is that they are adaptable—so that one keeps an open mind and does not maintain a rigid outlook. This certainly applies to professional practice (“accept… honest and fair professional com- ment”), where technical advances are often made through healthy, respectful discussion of differing viewpoints so as to strive towards consensus on a way forward. And again, this applies to an organizational environment, where free and respectful debate with open minds—rather than the imposi- tion of a particular pre-held viewpoint—is the best approach to con- sensus building. One aspect of this relates to consultation processes, which again need to be conducted with an open mind, such that the input of those being consulted is fully and seriously taken into account in reaching a position (which may or may not differ from the opinions expressed), rather than having adopted a predetermined position. Overall, I believe that we are all well served, both within profes- sional practice and beyond, by holding viewpoints that are indepen- dent and yet adaptable.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 E-mail: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: www.apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

2012/2013 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident M.D. Isaacson, P.Eng., PhD, FEC V ice P resident M.B. Bapty, P.Eng., FEC P ast P resident J.H. Holm, P.Eng., FEC

Independent and Adaptable Viewpoints

Councillors A.E. Badke, P.Eng.; S.M. Carlson, P.Eng.; J.J. Clague, P.Geo., PhD; A Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; H. Hawson, P.Eng., FEC; D.M. Howes, P.Eng.; H.G. Kell,y P.Eng.; G.D. Kirkham, P.Geo.; J. Martignago; A.J. Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; K.E. Savage, P.Eng., FEC; M. Waberski, BCLS; M.C. Wrinch, P.Eng., PhD, FEC; S. Wynn, PhD

ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. C hong, P.Eng. C hief R egulatory O fficer and D eputy R egistrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer M.L. Archibald D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement J. Cho, CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration D. Gamble D irector , I nformation S ervices A. Lim A/ D irector , M ember S ervices P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment D. Olychick D irector , M ember S ervices G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D irector , R egistration G.A. Thiele, LLB D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance R.M. F ilipiak, P .Eng. A ssociate D irector , A dmissions V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration J.J.G. Larocque, P.Eng., LLB A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice

Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC President

Melinda Lau M anaging E ditor

EDITORIAL BOARD S. Chiu, P.Eng.; R. Gupta, P.Eng., P h D; C.L. Hall, P.Geo.; S.K. Hayes, P.Eng.; K.S. Hirji, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng.; I. Kokan, P.Eng.; M.E. Leslie, P.Eng.; B. Thomson, P.Geo., FEC (Hon)

president@ apeg.bc.ca

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