Beyond Utilization: The Business of Architecture - INTERN

Beyond Utilization: The Business of Architecture

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2022 Virtual Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics: Practice / Business

Length: 1 hour | What's Included: Video, Quiz, and Certificate of Completion 

Our practices are businesses. The need to operate a profitable, adaptive AEC firm, which was brought to the forefront during the pandemic, requires an open conversation that delves into the intersection of operations, technology and design. As an industry constantly faced with new challenges, we need to do better, breaking down the unwritten standard of keeping the operational sides of our practices siloed and behind closed doors. Learn how a successful 200 person, 47-year-old studio never relied on utilization rates as the measure of success and leverages unbilled time to prepare for, and thrive, during an era of disruption. This session facilitates an open, honest look at the least talked about parts of our profession, allowing attendees to learn how an operating model that is not focused on the pressures of utilization targets increases the ability to respond to industry and global changes. This approach to operations puts successful business strategies and business management at the forefront of a practice, creating efficiencies that allow time to be dedicated to exploring endeavours that ultimately enrich and advance the workplace and staff experience.

Central to the approach of moving beyond utilization is moving beyond the idea that the only way you can be more successful is to enforce unrealistic targets on staff. Attending this session will challenge participants to stop assuming that they are limited by the ERP software used in their firm, and to push the limits of the possible, ensuring the programs used best serve their studio’s needs. Speakers will explain the importance of accurate data and how it is entered and tracked, from an opportunity through project execution and completion. They will share the importance of the project structure, timesheet entries, the process of billing review and invoice creation, through to collections. A key concept is how and why it is essential to empower Project Accountants, Project Managers, Leadership and all studio staff to effectively leverage the software in their roles.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe how a new practice model can increase the ability to provide a better, more inclusive staff experience by putting successful business strategies at the forefront of your practice.
• Challenge the limitations of operational software in order to ensure they best serve their studio’s needs.
• Leverage a competitive advantage by educating staff on fees, billing and operational standards
• Explain how a practice can thrive when everyone is in efficiency and operation.

Subject Matter Expert:

As a Partner, CEO and CFO of Turner Fleischer Architects, Ellen Bensky, B.A., Dip. Arch. Tech (Hon), CanBIM P1, contributes on a daily basis to the advancement of architectural technology and design not only in her firm, but industry-wide through her initiatives and dedication. Passionate for education, Ellen is especially proud of spear-heading an internal academy, which provides a comprehensive learning and teaching platform for her studio. Through her current role, Ellen is able to engage daily in the process of successfully leveraging complex business needs and architectural realities, driving her quest for operational excellence while remaining committed to giving back to the greater community. An experienced speaker, she has presented at local and international at Colleges and Universities, as well as industry events including KA Connect 2018 and 2019, Autodesk University 2019, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2018 and 2019 conferences, BiLT Australia / New Zealand 2019, BiLT Virtual Conference 2021 and several other engagements in Canada, the United States and Europe.