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Shift to Sector-based 'Knowledge Communites'

The existing specialist groups and client forums would be subsumed into the new structures over time, though there is no plan to curtail activities that continue to be supported by active members.

Few weeks ago RIBA Council in Leeds agreed to a new five year strategic plan, designed to achieve the institute's identified goals for 2012. The 'plan for success' put to Council had been prepared, at least in part, as a response to the findings of major surveys of RIBA members and industry opinion formers on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the current RIBA. One of the priority areas to be developed will be public policy and campaign development, where additional resources will be made available to boost the RIBA's lobbying efforts. Specialist and sector-based activities of RIBA will be reshaped altogether, however, as the institute seeks to establish a new approach based on 'knowledge communities'.

Six areas initially have been identified for the new knowledge management approach: sustainability/climate change, planning, conservation and the three key markets of education, housing and health, where client forums and linked societies are already established.

A new hierarchy is proposed that would see each knowledge area overseen by a core Expert Knowledge Group of up to eight appointed members, chaired by a new Knowledge Champion. These groups will become the RIBA's new advisory panels for these areas of interest.

RIBA members with an interest in these areas will then be able to join specific member forums - the Knowledge Communities - to share expertise and advance professional practice. These virtual electronic communities will be supported by, and will be able to contribute to, knowledge banks of information, case studies and toolkits. The plan is to use the online 'wiki' model, best known for hugely successful Wikipedia online encyclopaedia, for the forums, which in turn will fit in with thematic areas planned for the new RIBA website.

The existing specialist groups and client forums would be subsumed into the new structures over time, though there is no plan to curtail activities that continue to be supported by active members.

Other priorities identified in the strategic plan include improving communication with members, providing greater support for international and young members, and increasing fund-raising capabilities to support the RIBA's public outreach activities.

The approval of the RIBA Strategic Review has given the go-ahead for the recruitment of new and revised posts at the RIBA - interested members can find details in the Jobs section at http://www.architecture.com (go to 'current vacancies'). Source: RIBA e-newsletter - 05/07/2007.