FIG Commission 1
- Professional Standards and Practice
Title
Professional Practice and Standards
Mr. Klaus Rürup, Chairperson of Commission 1.
Commission 1 is dedicated to all fields of professional activities and
therefore has a commitment to raising issues of general interest that apply
across the activities of all commissions. There are many areas of overlap of
interest and this supports cooperative involvement in other commissions
activities. The title 'professional practice' is a clear indication of the wide
breadth of aspects to be handled.
Terms of reference
Professional practice, legal aspects and organisational structures
Standards and certification
Project-management, quality and best practice
Information technology management as it relates to professional practice
Support of under-represented groups and fair competition
Mission statement
Capability of development: Changes are affecting the operation of
surveying practices, their management and their professional structures under
the challenges of widening professional activities.
Change of technology: Managing processes and infrastructure with ever
changing business infrastructures in the areas of IT, internet, networks and
total quality management.
Improving surveyors' reputation: Supporting the essential dialogue between
politicians and surveyors with regard to further development and setting up
the own business in strengthening surveyors' role in economy and politics.
Under represented groups: To focus public attention on under represented
groups by surveying activities taking place to improve representation.
The Objectives for the Work Plan are to undertake the terms of reference in
order to:
Involve the wider community in the work of commission 1 recognising it's
role in getting the basic professional building blocks in place for
practitioners;
Develop collaborative work practices between professionals;
Build networks with member associations, related societies and
organizations to improve professional practice and standards;
Foster intercommissional cooperation;
Recruit active and enthusiastic people to work with Commission 1 in
progressing its mission.
General
These steps outlined in the work program contribute to wider aims to
consolidate freedom in society and increase economic growth. They follow the
results of UN-campaigns and international declarations. FIG can play an
important role to support and enable the essential dialogue between politicians
and surveyors. Society needs surveyors' services and their advice with regard to
further development of the important resources related to land. It also
recognises that that world in which the surveyor operates is diverse and that to
participate effectively this diversity has to be recognised and welcomed.
Commissions endorse the underlying concept that respect for Cultural and
Linguistic issues is very important and that Commissions will be sensitive to
these issues in the way they work. This will be implemented by encouraging
multilingual abstracts and presentations in general meetings and through the use
of an appropriate regional language during regional meetings.
Continuing to research the most effective way to influence the
standardisation process, building relationships with member associations and
sister societies as necessary
Coordinating FIG's input to and relationship with ISO (in particular TC211
and TC172 SC6) and IVSC
Working with Commissions to provide appropriate briefings to FIG's members
on developing and recently published standards
Maintaining and updating a standards area on the FIG website and the FIG
Guide on Standardisation
Publications
At least one paper at each FIG Working Week, providing an update on
activities and progress
Articles in the FIG Bulletin as appropriate
Timetable
The Working Group will continue until at least the Congress in Munich in
2006
A recommendation on how best to handle standardisation matters in FIG
beyond 2006 will be presented to the Council by the end of 2005
Beneficiaries
Surveyors and surveying practices;
Other professionals working in land management and development;
Member associations and sister associations involved in standard setting;
ISO and IVSC;
All Commissions;
Universities and educational organisations
Working Group 1.2 - Professional practice and organisational
structures
Policy issues
Widening professional activities, overcome restrictions
European and world-wide limitations, monitoring the legal development
(i.e. GATS, EC Treaty, other relevant policies)
Dialogue between politicians and surveyors, as well as public private
partnership.
Chair
Michael Keller (Switzerland), e-mail:
Mkeller[at]ipg.ch
Specific projects
Fundamentals of legal frameworks to be presented in a paper. (2002)
Professional studies, business structures, bans or restrictions to be
investigated. Facts to be collected for development of a paper. (2003)
Recommendations on behalf of less developed countries, acknowledgement by
developed countries, how structural and legal processes might be possible.
Models to be proposed. (2004)
Acknowledgement of the requirements of governments /survey departments -
necessary information provided as a basis for surveyors to deal with the legal
developments and future requirements. (2005)
Review Publication 29 on Business Practices and determine whether there is
a need to update it. (2005)
Synthesis of the research undertaken (Munich 2006)
Publications
Fundamentals of legal frameworks paper - 2002
Professional studies, business structures, bans or restrictions, results
of investigations. - 2003
Report on work and findings - Munich 2006
Timetable
The Working Group will continue until at least the Congress in Munich in
2006.
Final report
During the Munich Congress.
Beneficiaries
Surveyors and surveying practices;
Other professionals working in land management and development;
Member associations and sister associations;
All Commissions;
Universities and educational organisations.
Working Group 1.3 - Information technology management as it
relates to professional practice and communications
Policy issues
Identifying the impact of IT, Internet and e-commerce on the profession
and determining strategies for dealing with the impact.
Communicating effectively to the FIG community including using the
Homepage of Commission 1
Development of Knowledge Management concepts as a way of working more
effectively.
Co-Chair: Stephen Djaba (Ghana), e-mail:
Stephen[at]ghana.com
Specific projects
Produce a communication and marketing plan for Commission 1 activities to
support its work and ensure that key messages are being received by member
organizations and that two way communication channels are operating. This to
be prepared in 2002
Impact of IT, Internet and e-commerce impact on the profession to be
reported with recommended strategies for dealing with the impact.
Ongoing development and refinement of the Commission 1 Homepage to be
undertaken by Co-Chair.
Review of Knowledge Management concepts and how they could be used in
practice.
Publications
Communications and Marketing Plan - 2002
Timetable
The Working Group will continue until at least the Congress in Munich in
2006
Final report
During the Munich Congress
Beneficiaries
Surveyors and surveying practices;
Other professionals working in land management and development;
Member associations and sister associations;
All Commissions;
Universities and educational organisations.
Working Group 1.4 - International project management (Joint
Activity with Commission 10)
Policy Issues
Ability of professionals to work as effectively as possible in
multifaceted projects as such projects are an important component of
professional service delivery.
Working with people, communicating messages, moving towards more
collaborative work processes as the world of the professional and the type of
work undertaken expands into other related areas.
Being aware of current good practice, how it can be implemented across a
variety of delivery systems and communicating this to professionals.
Knowing what quality management is and being provided with resources to
assist in applying this in diverse work situations.
Development of a project management resource detailing the major facets of
project management delivery as it applies to the profession in conjunction
with Commission 10 and using an interactive review process with FIG Member
Associations.
Research case studies in project management across regions of the world in
conjunction with Commission 10 with the aim of preparing a resource for use by
members in learning about and discussing project management issues.
Establish a collaborative work site to develop a community of interest
group that can work across member organisations to share information on
current good practice and quality management in theory and practice. Outcomes
of this to contribute to FIG's approach to world's good practice.
Publications
Report at each FIG working week outlining activity against each project.
A paper at each FIG working week on one of the aspects of the specific
projects.
Articles published in industry publications as opportunities arise.
Written material that could include a Project Management Resource Guide
and Case Studies Booklet
Timetable
Establishment of collaborative work site by 2002
Project Management Resource Guide and Case Studies Booklet by 2006
Final report
During the Munich Congress
Beneficiaries
Surveyors and surveying practices;
Other professionals working in land management and development;
Member associations and sister associations;
All Commissions;
Universities and educational organisations.
Working Group 1.5 - Under-represented Groups in Surveying
(Joint working group with other FIG Technical Commissions)
Policy issues
Survey the role of minorities in the world of surveying and the benefit of
diversity.
Analyse the present status of under-represented groups and be aware of
good practices concerning the support of under-represented groups in FIG
member associations, in professions and at universities.
Continuing with a FIG network for under-represented groups in surveying to
enhance the distribution of information.
Intensify the work within the FIG Commissions to support women and
cultural and language minorities.
Evaluation of FIG Washington Congress registration concerning gender, age,
commissions and continents.
Organise joint Commission working group meetings or workshops during the
working weeks.
Publications
Quarterly Newsletter to publish good practices
Provide guidelines for FIG (Congress 2006)
Final report
In the Munich Congress
Co-operation with Sister Associations
Commission 1 intends to continue co-operation with Sister Societies by
including its work in the provision of a strong foundation for professionals and
so supporting the activities of all other FIG Commissions. In its activities
over this period it will be working cooperatively with Commission 10 in the
Project Management area and also Commission 2 exploring and building on
Knowledge Management concepts. The Inter-Commission activities include formal
cross Commission structures established by the FIG Standards Network undertaken
in Working Group 1 and the Working Group of Under-represented groups in FIG. It
will build relationships with Member Associations and Sister Societies to assist
in ongoing development and promotion of professional practices and standards.
Co-operation with the United Nations Agencies
Commission 1 intends to locate and establish co-operation with UN agencies of
relevance.
Other Activities
Communications
The Commission will produce a communication and marketing plan for Commission
1 activities to support its work and ensure that key messages are being received
by member organizations and that two way communication channels are operating.
This will be prepared in 2002.
Commission 1 will develop and maintain a web page with linkages to other
relevant web pages to keep Commission delegates, other FIG members and the
public informed. Mr Stephen Djaba of Ghana will be Co-Chair of the Information
Technology and Communications Working Group and will have responsibility for
managing the website.
Commission 1 will provide an annual newsletter with input from the working
groups, continue the information sharing newsletter already produced by the
Working Group of Under-represented groups in FIG and will issue updates when a
significant activity is completed. These will either be distributed by e-mail or
included on the web pages.
Structure
There will be four different "Liaison Groups" established according to
their geographical, cultural, etc. similarities with an aim of having
diversity in representation. This recognises the diversity of FIG with its
many representative organisations. The Vice-Chairs will have a dual
responsibility for their working group activities and also to ensure that
Commission 1 activities are communicated to people in the region they
represent. This arrangement has been developed to promote easy access by FIG
members to Commission 1 office holders. It will facilitate the Commission
being able to have access to this combined knowledge when it meets to discuss
issues and undertake its work.
The leaders of each Group will be those who appear in the following
diagram.
All of them there will be in direct contact with the Commission Chair and
the Commission will work as an integrated team with regular opportunities
being provided to share and develop ideas.
Calendar of Events
2002
Co-sponsoring Conference in Puerto Rico, 3-5 October 2002
2003
FIG Working Week, venue and dates to be determined
Working meeting in Ireland , (WG1.1)
2004
FIG Working Week 23 - 28 May 2004, Athens Greece
Workshop in Arabic world (WG1.3)
2005
FIG Working Week 7-12 May 2005, Cairo, Egypt.
Working meeting in Switzerland (WG1.2)
2006
Workshop in Australia (WG1.4) taking the form of a Conference dealing with
Project Management and co-sponsored by Commission 10.
Mr. Klaus Rürup, Chairperson of Commission 1.