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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.

Effective Firm Retreats

3-hr workshop (also available in a 2hr version)

Firm retreats can leverage the creativity of staff and increase organizational self-knowledge. Outcomes of effective retreats include development of strategic initiatives, activation of process improvement, and enhancement of morale. Effective retreats engage participants and encourage shared leadership.

Workshop participants will be introduced to an innovative meeting method known as Open Space Technology. Developed by consultant Harrison Owen in 1985, Open Space Technology (OST) is a non-proprietary method in use by organizations of every type and size throughout the world. OST is known to be an effective group process for identifying critical issues, sharing knowledge, voicing concerns, and working collaboratively to find solutions.

For architectural firms, staff input is critical to organizational assessment, vision alignment, strategic planning, and process improvement. A retreat using OST will give firm leaders access to the intelligence, experience, and enthusiasm of their staff. Because shared leadership and collaboration are required, an OST retreat builds strong connections between principals, administrators, and professional staff. OST is most effective when used by firms of 15 to 50 members, but can also be adapted to accommodate very small organizations.

The workshop itself will be conducted as an Open Space meeting, after a short introductory session. Participants will share their insights and experiences about firm retreats while learning a new method of doing so. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the basics of how to plan and conduct an OST retreat and have first-hand experience of the benefits.

Open Space Technology is a tool that allows firm leaders to do more with less when planning and executing a firm retreat. Facilitation and planning costs are low in both time and money because OST is based on the principles of self-organizing by the participants. Because it engages both the enthusiasm and initiative of the participants, OST will always yields positive, creative and action oriented results.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Plan an effective firm retreat and understand the strategies, methods and qualities that contribute to achieving desired outcomes.
Experience first-hand the process of conducting an effective meeting using the non-proprietary method of Open Space Technology.
Share knowledge and experience of firm retreats with their colleagues from around the nation, increasing their ability to improve their own performance.