Risk Management Tips for Structural Engineers September 7, 2007

Please Sign this Confidentiality Agreement
It was not that long ago when you could have employees sign confidentiality agreements and be reasonably sure your secrets were protected. However, today the Internet is a vehicle for leaked information and frequently without anyone ever knowing it. It can happen when someone posts information for internal use but may be on a public server. Several steps you can take are: implement a threat monitoring service to make sure unintentional postings are taken off as soon as possible; use professional Internet meeting services that take extreme caution in safeguarding their client’s information or; if using Outlook, set preferences to restrict forwarding. Smart companies take it upon themselves to insure the security of their data.

The Top 5 Practice Challenges Today
As taken from the 2007 ACEC Industry Trends Survey

  • Shortage of engineers
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Greater competition
  • Alternative delivery systems
  • Challenges to qualifications based selection.
The survey reminded us that the dividend and capital gains tax cuts will expire in 2008 and it is uncertain whether a new administration and Congress will extend these provisions.

But in the Long Run…
The Worldwatch Institute has reported that for the first time in history over half of the world’s population lives in cities; approximately one-third of them live in slum conditions that lack clean water and sanitary conditions. The expertise of engineering companies will be in continuing demand in an effort to improve this situation. Among this nation’s pressing needs are protection of waters and watersheds and solid waste recycling.

Piling on Additional Services
It is important for the owner to have a clear understanding at the beginning of his relationship with the engineer as to just what services are included under the concept of basic services for which basic compensation is to be paid. One is reminded of the owner who, after reading an exhaustive itemization of additional services said to the engineer “Now I know what you won’t do for the basic fee, now tell me what you will do”.


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