Strategy

How to Foster Strategic Thinking in A/E Firms

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I have written numerous times on this blog about how important the roll of strategy is for successful architecture and engineering (A/E) firms. Strategy is the only way for firms to outperform “just average” over time. Strategy works best when it permeates the whole organization and drives everyday choices and decisions. Yet, too often, strategy […]

Strategy

Are You Ready to Pay California Wages?

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As we enter the ninth month of workplace disruption due to COVID-19, it is becoming more clear that architecture and engineering (A/E) firms will emerge from this crisis with working environments and business models that have been forever transformed. The transformation with the largest internal impact to these firms’ business models will be the new […]

Strategy

Keep Your Strategy Alive

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We are approaching the beginning of a new year. For many A/E firms, this means entering a new cycle of strategic planning. Many will get together for strategic planning sessions early in the year and leave energized about the future with a list of initiatives to tackle in 2021. By July, many of these initiatives […]

Marketing

Competitive Positioning Tools, Part 3

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In Part 1 of this blog post series, I introduced the concept of competitive positioning and why it is important to marketing strategy. I also described a competitor matrix, the first of three tools architecture and engineering (A/E) firms can utilize to help them think through how to position themselves against their competitors. In Part […]

Marketing

Competitive Positioning Tools, Part 2

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In Part 1 of this blog post series, I introduced the concept of competitive positioning and why it is important to marketing strategy. I also described a competitor matrix, the first of three tools architecture and engineering (A/E) firms can utilize to help them think through how to position themselves against their competitors. In this […]

Marketing

Competitive Positioning Tools, Part 1

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In previous posts on this blog, I have written about how the key to good strategy is offering a unique value proposition to your clients that aligns with their unique needs. This unique value has to be grounded in the unique application of the unique resources, capabilities, and activities that exist within your company. Have […]

Strategy

The A/E Firm of the Future?

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McKinsey & Company recently released an interesting study, “The next normal in construction: How disruption is reshaping the world’s largest ecosystem.” The article highlights why construction is an industry that is ripe for disruption and how current trends are starting to point it in that direction. Major shifts in the construction market would have significant […]