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Management Consulting
Become strategic instead of just opportunistic. Plan firm growth, consider ownership transition, get ready for the recovery. Help for start-ups, for solo practitioners, and management coaching available.
Educational Programs
Relevant, practical and participatory education for design professionals. Workshops and seminars on design firm practice and small firm management. All are eligible for AIA learning units.
Retreat Facilitation Services
Retreats can be effective and engaging. Open Space Technology method is used to maximize participation and results for design firms, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations.
Architectural Services
Over twenty years experience in residential design and construction. Services offered include: residential design consultation; expert witness services; code consulting and compliance inspection.
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Making Chaos Work for You: Keys to Small Firm Management
3-hr workshop (also available in 90min. versions)
Management in small architectural firms presents both challenges and opportunities. While firms with fewer than 20 members have the potential to maximize creativity and enthusiasm, they may also suffer from unpredictable workloads, uneven productivity, and lack of available resources. In this workshop, participants will learn management theory and practical applications designed to increase firm productivity and creativity, as well as improve the effectiveness of firm leadership.
Through lecture, dialogue and interactive exercises, topics covered are as follows:
- Organizational Design: How to create a firm structure that fit its purpose, goals and operations; continuous improvement methodology
- Human Resources & Leadership: How to nurture a firm’s most valuable asset; understand diversity issues; create teamwork, cooperation and enthusiasm
- Finance: How to determine and understand a firm’s current financial health and analyze data for future trends. During the finance section, participants will have the opportunity to work on a case study problem, to practice the application of content material.
- Marketing: How to communicate and sell a firm’s capabilities to its target market; marketing in an era of social networking.
- Strategic Planning: How to use scenario planning, both qualitative and quantitative, for charting the future of a firm
This workshop was offered at the 2005 AIA National Convention in Las Vegas to a sold out crowd of small firm owners who participated with enthusiasm. This workshop has also been offered at AIA Seattle and AIA New York. One participant in New York said of this workshop, “I really got lots out of the seminar. I am fully functional now in my new office. Got work. Got more lined up. Thanks!”
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Build skill in management through increased understanding of the major issues in small firm practice: organizational design, human resources, finance, marketing and strategic planning
- Exchange knowledge with their colleagues through dialogue and to learn new information through the use of interactive exercises
- Discover resources for continuous learning including a small firm practice bibliography and AIA resources for small firm best practices.