Change Management
My Conversation with Clayton Christensen on Business Metrics Mis-use
I was invited to a Harvard Business Review live-streamed seminar with Clayton Christensen, PhD on June 26, 2014. I selected an excerpt about Clayton’s view that business leaders must discard short term business metrics and go back to thinking long term to innovate successfully. Thank you to the late Clayton Christensen, PhD for his world…
Leverage Disruptive Technology For Career and Business Growth
AEC firms are often slow to adopt new technology due to risk and cost. However, new technology drives new revenue streams if used to its full potential—and at enviable margins. Why is Disruptive Technology the kind that drives the most growth? Find out why Disruptive Technology and technological change is so hard for industry insiders.…
Superbosses
Are you having trouble hiring that 5-10 year A/E/Env professional? I know you are. Besides my personal experience at such futality I was just reminded of this plight at the ACEC April conference CEO Roundtable discussions. So, you are not alone. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could put your near entry level staff in…
Meet market demand by accident and you are sure to fail
We’re all busy trying to bring in new business, service clients at the highest level possible and bill at high rates. Because this requires so much focus, strategic planning can take a back seat. If you tread water, living off what you learned earlier in your career, there are sharks who will eat you whole…
Strategic Execution– What 4 things must you do to “make it so”?
The planning process is essential to establishing broad goals, but it doesn’t just start or stop there. Next, you must execute consistently on clearly identified steps that build to the ultimate goals identified in your strategic plan. In the case study below, you’ll see innovative actions that ultimately led to the firm’s success. They include: hiring…
Design-build risks– solutions to participate in the new generation of projects
Challenge Small and medium engineering and architectural firms are having a tough time in the alternative delivery market. At a recent conference of engineering consultants, small firms (less than 50 employees) identified this as a top three area of concern. They identified that they feel compelled to participate in the market and to agree to…
Creating change is a top-down imperative
Those who control person’s job status, salary and recognition within the firm have ultimate control. Does this mean a CEO can order change to occur? My observations are consistent with organizational behavior theory. The answer is no, at least in the professional environment where I spent over 35 years of my career. What I have…
Certainty blasts away career limits
You may be a CEO, or you may be a mid-level technical or business professional. Either way, to reach your goal with the certainty that you will be better off and happy, you first need to believe in the outcome of your decisions. Remember that certainty is built on belief. Olympic runner Roger Banister believed he could run a mile…
To change or not to change. How does it impact your future?
Do you contribute to a 401(k)? Do you have a mortgage and plan to have it paid off someday? These thoughts and actions we take or don’t take, are related as we must start now, to protect our interests later. How about your career and business interests? Do you constantly work to improve you, your team,…
Society Views A/E and Environmental Industries Positively-How Do We Leverage That?
As a leader, how often do you ask yourself if you can do more to benefit society while keeping consistent with your firm’s mission? Is there another stream of revenue– one that is particularly meaningful– that you are leaving untapped? If you’re unsure about how to get started, begin with your firm’s strategic plan. Michael Porter…
