Making Chaos Work For You: Success Strategies for Small Firm Practice

Managing a small design firm has always presented challenges. While small firms have the potential to maximize creativity and enthusiasm, they can also suffer from uneven workloads, poor productivity, and lack of available resources. In 21st century practice, these difficulties have only increased as unpredictability has intensified and the pace of change has quickened.

Given these conditions, how do firm owners deal with constantly shifting and unexpected circumstances? How can you cope with the demands of the market place and still create a satisfying workplace environment? How can you set professional goals and achieve them in an environment of unrelenting change? The answers to these questions do not lie in the usual realm of linear problem solving. Like a complicated design problem, everything is connected.

In this highly interactive seminar, participants will learn tools for managing unpredictable conditions derived from chaos theory and systems thinking. Case studies of emerging practice models that have successfully adapted to new economic and technological realities will also be presented. There will be ample time for knowledge sharing with colleagues and thoughtful dialogue on current small firm practice issues.

Registration Close Date: Monday, March 14, 2016

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Participants will build skills in firm development through increased understanding of management theory and its application to small firm practice.
• Participants will explore how to leverage favorable aspects of small firm practice while meeting the challenges of an unpredictable business environment.
• Through case studies in emerging practice models, participants will be introduced to expanded possibilities for small firm management.
• Participants will have the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas with their colleagues and learn from other small firm practitioners.

COST

includes light refreshments

$112.00 AIA Members, Government Employees, and Partners
$66.00 AIA Associates
$20.00 Students/Scholarships
$208.00 Non-Members

SPEAKER

Rena M. Klein FAIA is a nationally recognized expert in small firm practice and author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management: Making Chaos Work for Your Small Firm (Wiley, 2010). As principal of RM Klein Consulting, Rena offers a variety of services to small design firms, including assessment, strategic planning, and management coaching. Specializing in financial and operations management, Rena helps design firms prosper.

Rena regularly presents seminars and workshops on small firm practice at AIA Conventions and to various AIA Knowledge Communities. Responding to the need for management education among small firm practitioners, she has developed numerous original programs including courses on financial management, business planning and firm development.

Rena is a past-chair of the national Advisory Group for the AIA Practice Management Knowledge Community and was executive editor of AIA’s The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, 15th edition (Wiley 2013).

Program Questions? 
Contact AIA Seattle Interim Program Manager, Katie Kemezis
Registration and Credit Questions?
Contact AIA Seattle Membership Manager, May Ruiz