Find the Lost Dollars: 6 Steps to Increase Profits in Architecture, Engineering and Environmental Firms, authored by June R. Jewell, CPA was published in 2013. Since its release many readers asked how June could help them take the book from information to transformation, recovering the much needed lost dollars in their firm. Many firms were developing their own training curriculum around the book and buying multiple copies for their staff. It soon became apparent that the subject matter in the book is being used by firms across the country for onboarding new project managers as well as training emerging leaders in the “business of an AEC business.”
AEC Business Solutions, LLC was formed to answer the call to take the book further and help even more firms be successful! Our first project was the design of an online business management training program providing step by step instruction and measurable goals to implement the Find the Lost Dollars framework.
It’s our goal to take the business management best practices delivered in Find the Lost Dollars, and prepare future leaders of AEC firms to maximize the win rate, utilization and project profitability. To that end, we recently conducted a survey of A&E firms across the country, and received outstanding feedback. We are taking the following into consideration as we complete the design of the initial course offering.
Top Areas Firms are Losing Money due to Inefficiencies or Lack of Training
We have prioritized the curriculum based on feedback from our surveys, and when asked about areas where your firm is losing money due to inefficiencies or lack of training, the top responses were:
- 80% due to scope creep and extra services not being recovered
- 64% due to general “poor project management”
- 49% due to losing opportunities
When it comes to business training for your project managers, the two most important things to you are evidence that the training has a measurable effect on performance, and relevance to your firm’s way of operating. Our survey also uncovered that you want added convenience, CEUs and to be certain the training is engaging and enjoyable.
As far as consideration when investing in online training, convenience was rated the most important factor, with interactivity, learning at your own pace, ability to go back and re-do a lesson, and assessments all ranking high as well.
Thirty five percent of you would like the training to include group sessions with other Project Managers in your firm so we are excited about the collaboration tools we are building into the training.
The biggest complaint you’ve had about past online training was the lack of interactivity and boring formats so we promise to bring unparalleled engagement and fun to our courses.
Interested in a quote for your firm? Schedule a quick call with us.
Bring Clarity to PM Performance
Across A&E firms, Project Managers often operate with very different roles, skill sets, and expectations. That makes it difficult to evaluate performance consistently, identify true capability gaps, and develop PMs in a targeted way.
We are currently developing a Project Manager Competency Assessment designed specifically for architecture and engineering firms. This assessment focuses on the capabilities that most directly influence project profitability, execution, leadership effectiveness, and client outcomes in order to provide firm leaders with clear, objective insight into strengths, gaps, and development priorities.
To ensure this tool addresses real-world challenges, we’ve created a brief, 2-minute survey to better understand:
How PM performance is evaluated today
Where firms struggle with consistency or visibility
Whether there is interest in piloting a practical, firm-specific assessment
Your perspective helps us build something truly valuable for the industry.
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Increasing productivity, efficiency, streamlining, and bottom line profit are on the minds of all. Without a honest look of what has been and dedication to what might be there is a habit of repetitive behavior that stifles growth and success. Finding the Lost Dollars is a mission that requires commitment and focus and for those who are ready, online training is a convenient and beneficial step in the right direction. Thanks for listening!