With all of the AEC industry-related content published on this blog in March 2019, it's easy to let some important articles slip through the cracks, and get lost in the clutter. In an effort to keep you up-to-date on the hottest topics, PSMJ has compiled a list of our top ten most-viewed blog posts from last month.
10. How to Choose Your Next Generation Leaders – Have you identified those individuals who will step into greater leadership roles in the next few years, and are you specifically developing them for that transition? If not, what traits should you be looking for in selecting future leaders?
9. Managing Overhead: Utilization versus Chargeability– Utilization—hours or payroll dollars—which one tells the story when it comes to managing labor-based overhead (time spent on non-project related activities)? A primary approach used by managers to monitor chargeability is reviewing time sheets or time reports for time put to projects. But what if you don’t look at time sheets but you do review the income statements for the firm, the business unit or the team—can you monitor chargeability as well using information on the income statement?
8. 9 Essential Skills of Highly Effective Design Leaders –It is not easy to be the best. It requires hard work and a boldness of action that defies normal practice. Too many architecture and engineering firms are struggling to thrive and grow in today's economy simply because they haven't given enough attention to developing best practices.
7. What are the Best Architectural Websites? – Bob Borson, architect and writer/manager of the extremely popular blog Life of an Architect recently devoted some time reviewing numerous architectural websites to come up with his list of the best in the world. He used only three criteria when culling his list:
6. How to Make the Best Valuation of Your Firm – Small architecture and engineering firms owners are likely to be fielding offers again. So if you've been thinking of cashing in, it may be a good time to get a valuation. Also, beware of lowball offers.
5. 10 Ways Your Firm Can Benefit from a Strategic Alliance – Forming a strategic alliance isn’t a walk in the park, but when it’s planned correctly and the parties commit the right level of leadership and resources, you can win work that was previously out of reach.
4. Good Strategic Plans Die From Lousy Accountability – How do you maintain accountability with your strategic plan? One of the best ways is to use peer pressure! Nobody enjoys standing up and acknowledging that he or she has failed to live up to his or her commitments. So, be sure to schedule frequent (monthly) meetings of the strategic planning team to review the status of action items.
3. 20 Ways to Overcome Project Problems – No matter how carefully you plan your project and protect yourself against the possibilities of trouble, problems will arise. You will fall behind schedule, or you will run over budget.
2. Intellectual Property Rights: What Architects Need to Know – Architectural ideas are intellectual property just as much as a novel is the intellectual property of its author. In fact, one of Congress’s most important responsibilities is “to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries,” as stated in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
1. Ten Characteristics of A Good Schedule – Is it really critical that an architecture or engineering project manager have a project schedule? Most clients and design firms will probably answer the question with “You must be kidding! Of course, you need a schedule, and a good one at that.
Thank you contributing to the growth of the PSMJ AEC Pulse blog in March 2019! For an archived list of our past blog posts, click HERE. We look forward to continuing to bring you powerful tips and top news from the AEC industry.
Thank you for reading!
Now its your turn: We invite you to submit a blog post on any hot topic related to the AEC industry.
