Facilitation: The Skill of Getting Ahead
(Second in a series of two articles, contributed by the Advanced Management Institute for Architecture and Engineering, San Francisco, CA)
Changing the Firm From WithinFacilitation skills can help
professional design firms make major changes in their structure, develop and implement strategic plans, or move smoothly through an ownership transition. David Aitken lists several examples of firms that have undergone changes and improvements by using this kind of strategic facilitation:
A 40-person architecture firm in San Francisco has achieved ownership and leadership transition smoothly, tripled its market share, and decreased internal rivalries.
Partners at a 170-person engineering firm in the Northeast have purchased the firm and are establishing a new generation of leadership.
A 300-person E/A firm in the Southeast has gone from a high-control, top-down management style to a much wider, flatter structure with better trust and communication.
David uses a seven-step approach in his facilitation work with firms. In the first phase, he and participants examine the leadership situation in the firm-what are the firm's values, culture, communications and relationships like, and what is acting to make change necessary. He then helps the group decide what the firm might focus on-ownership transition, expansion, etc.-in response to the change. In the second phase, the group develops a strategic plan. Here they will review issues discovered in the first phase, set specific goals, brainstorm a list of obstacles to these goals, and decide on a plan of action to overcome those impediments. Once commitments and accountability have been decided, action can begin.
The failure of most plans is in jumping to action before the goals and obstacles are understood. "If a firm proceeds too quickly with Stage 2, then the strategic planning has no effectiveness," warns Aitken. "Everyone may be operating with a different goal, so the firm loses forward momentum."
Can I Do That?
There are those who argue that
good facilitators-good leaders, for that matter-are born, not made. Not
true. We can all learn facilitation skills, and no matter how gifted we
are, we all need help to improve.
To learn about facilitation and other management skills, register for ACEC. s SEI Class V, October 14-19, 2000, in Washington, D.C. Contact ACEC's Maria Galvan (mgalvan@acec.org).
ACEC Board of Directors Supports Prop 35
At the ACEC Fall Conference in San Diego, the Board of Directors approved a special assessment of $30 per index number to repay grants and loans totaling $750,000 that ACEC has committed to supporting the passage of Proposition 35 in California. Prop 35 (The Fair Competition and Taxpayers Saving Initiative) is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would expressly permit the contracting-out of engineering and architectural services. The Board vote was the latest demonstration of ACEC's continued commitment to support public agencies' contracting-out of design work to the private sector.ACEC's support, along with contributions from MOs and member firms across the country, will be used to buy advertising time in California to support Prop 35. This will help counter the multi-million dollar media campaign being waged by opponents of the measure.
ACEC President Arnie Spiess voiced his appreciation to those who responded to the call for voluntary contributions prior to the special assessment vote; he also expressed his positive views on the Board action itself: "I want to thank everyone who responded to the earlier request for voluntary support for Prop 35. Now the Board has taken our commitment to contracting-out a step higher. This is an action fully supported by the leadership, and I ask that all members join with the national directors in responding promptly to the assessment so that we can take this major step to overcoming government competition."
ACEC Online Voter Registration Now Available
As part of ACEC's online grassroots software, ACEC now offers online voter registration. Over the last decade, voter registration as well as voter turnout has continued to decline. ACEC stresses the importance that its members vote, since government labor unions continue to have success mobilizing their members to visit the polls on election day. According to the Census Bureau, in 1996, 17.5 million "executive professionals" didn't even register to vote, and 10.7 million of those who did register declined to visit the polls and cast their vote. In total, that accounts for roughly 18.2 million potential pro-business voters that could have provided leverage against nearly 16.5 million labor union voters.
An example of a race where pro-business failed to play a decisive role took place in 1998 in a Connecticut district that was comprised of both blue- and white-collar precincts. In short, the Republican challenger lost the election by 2,343 votes, most likely due to the fact that 132,000 registered voters failed to go to the polls. The generic make-up of the district suggests that the majority of those who failed to vote were executives and professionals. If only a fraction of them had gone to the polls they would now be represented by a congressman who would support their pro-business agenda. It is ACEC's goal to help educate its members on key races in their state and to simplify the process of registering to vote. ACEC's online legislative action center not only offers valuable information on key congressional races but also provides free, simple, online voter registration.
Source: National Journal, September 23, 2000
Sign Up Now for 2001-2002 National Committees
Autumn is here and it is time to submit applications for ACEC's 2001-2002 National Committees. If you already serve on one of ACEC's committees, please notify your professional staff contact at ACEC and let them know whether you would like to remain or be taken off of your current committee. Visit ACEC's website (www.acec.org) to obtain an application, or contact Tricia Palmerino (tpalmerino@acec.org) at ACEC. The deadline to submit applications is November 17, 2000.ACEC Participates in Water Infrastructure Meeting
ACEC's Environment Committee recently participated in a meeting of the Water Infrastructure Network to determine the funding scenarios for an enhanced federal funding role for clean and safe water infrastructure. The meeting had over 25 organizations represented, including the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the American Public Works Association, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, and Clean Water Action. Bruce Pierstorff of Hazen and Sawyer represented ACEC's Environment Committee. The group discussed the various federal funding mechanisms such as expansion of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water state revolving funds, loans, grants and tax incentives, as well as the various federal fund options that could be enacted to administer the funds (i.e., general funds or a dedicated revenue trust fund). The role of state and local governments in relation to the federal government was also a major point of discussion. The group agreed that states would continue to play a major role in the implementation of new funding mechanisms for water infrastructure. No final decision on these topics was made, but the group will meet again to prepare a plan that can be presented to the new Congress in early 2001. The 70-member, bi-partisan Congressional Water Infrastructure Caucus has stated that funding the water infrastructure gap will be a priority for the 107th Congress.PBS Series Highlights Engineering Feats
A new television series, Building Big , celebrating the world's greatest engineering feats, was unveiled during a reception on Capitol Hill. It is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers with funding from the Siemens Corp., the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the Corp. for Public Broadcasting. The five-part series of one-hour programs airs this month on PBS stations throughout the country and explores engineering marvels such as the Golden Gate Bridge; the Toronto Skydome; the Petronas Towers in Malaysia; the Aswan Dam; and the English Channel Tunnel. Shows broadcast so far include: Bridges (Oct. 3); Domes (Oct. 10). Still to come are: Skycrapers (Oct. 17); Dams (Oct. 24); and Tunnels (Oct. 31). Host David Macaulay, author of The Way Things Work and a National Humanities Medal winner, uses several approaches to tell the stories behind the development of the world's marvels. In addition to narrative, archival footage, and interviews with experts, the segments explain the physical and scientific matters and engineering principles behind the structures. ACEC congratulates ASCE and its supporters for their collaborative work on the production of Building Big. Check local TV listings for times and channel for this WGBH production.Demographers Predict Future Trends, Needs, and Population Shifts
ACEC's recent San Diego Conference revealed that ACEC's members are profoundly interested in what demographers have to say about the future. Through demographics, according to Dr. David K. Foot, Ph.D., it becomes clear what happens to the world of business as it struggles to meet new needs. Population ages and shifts; therefore needs and desires shift. Consumer goods and services follow. Schools follow young families. Medical facilities and retirement facilities follow older citizens. Foot's book, Boom, Bust & Echo 2000: Profiting from the Demographic Shift in the New Millennium, sold like hotcakes, as attendees suddenly realized they hadn' t been paying attention to population shifts, baby boomers, and the surge to country living. Order #L-2918, $18.95, $4 shipping, via FAX 202-789-7220 or e-mail publications@acec.org, with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, expiration date, contact name, and street address.Editor: Francis George (fgeorge@acec.org)
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