First – Happy New Year!
Thanks for reading and sticking with me since 2009 and I’m looking forward to a great 2011.
I’m not a big “Resolutions” person, but I think the blog in 2011 will see more posts and commentary on other industry happenings, articles, etc. and I definitely hope to solicit more comments from you all on those posts!
I just finished reading Architectural Record’s “What Now?” piece and I’m left wanting more, or maybe expecting more.
As I look over the “What Next?” section, there are highlights on Structures, BIM, LEED, Big Firms, Cities, Economy…but what about the aspects of running an architecture firm like a business? The Economy section is really the only part that deals in detail with topics not related to the professional side of the practice – but it doesn’t tackle anything that individual firms, partners or principals control.
Did AR miss the opportunity to highlight how firms are marketing themselves (if at all)? Or streamlining processes to cut costs? Or how the implementation of a new, expensive CRM has or hasn’t improved performance? How about a case study on what successful firms did in the last two years to prevent closing their doors or being bought out by a “Big Firm”?
When examining the “What Next” I really do feel there has to be a segment on what firms can do or will do to operate as successful businesses. When pubs like AR think like that, maybe more firms will too?
Thoughts?