Perceptions Differences in Professional Integrity and the Risk of Public Safety in Architectural Self-regulation System

While architects are confident that professional self-regulation in the construction industry is the way forward in dealing with construction permits, members of the public have differing perceptions on the self-regulation system. The main issues at stake are public safety and health, which depend on the knowledge, professionalism and integrity of practicing professionals. This paper presents a survey conducted on two groups of respondents: a group of architects, and a group of members of the public. The differences in the perceptions of the two groups of respondents rely greatly on the understanding of the self-regulation approach. In a self-regulation model, professionalism in practice and personal integrity is the core criteria for a successful self-regulation policy. The findings from the perception survey determine whether differences in perception on professional integrity and the risk to public safety prevent the implementation of an architectural self-regulation system, or whether these differences advocate the implementation of a self-regulation system that enables architects be more responsible and reliable.