I agree that you should use people whose talent and work you know. I mentored two people in an office 15 years ago who now work full time for others, but can put in extra evening or weekend time to do my work. Our communication is by email using written orders and redlined pdf scans. We have been able to work this way in my sole proprietor practice with trust, good quality work, and a continuing good relationship for many years.
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Edward R. Acker, AIA
Semi-retired Architect
Winchester VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2015 08:35
From: Douglas Eriksen
Subject: Outsourcing
Ron:
While "between" jobs I was working for a sole proprietor who worked out of her home. She has a model that has worked quite well for her for some time. She has an architectural draftsmen that works for her out of their home. (She did have two, but one moved on.) When she needs more man power she has a strong network of folks that are willing to pitch in for some extra money. These are all architects that she has either met or worked with at other firms through the years.
The key to this model , as I see it, is that you need to have people that have the ability to be flexible in their hours (20hrs one week 50 the next), have their own office at home, and that you know and trust their work and work ethic. You don't want to have to do a lot of hand holding. Ideally they should have their own copy of whatever software your using, how ever if they are going to be exclusive to you, you could provide them with the software.
Working from an office in your home can work. Good luck with your journey.
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Douglas Eriksen AIA
Architect
Delaware City DE
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2015 18:49
From: Thomas Donoghue
Subject: Outsourcing
Ronald,
You raise some good questions and have gotten somw good replies. Here is another take. My practice offers "out" services, though not the drafting and production part. My point is that there are folks out there that can be very helpful. A large firm that I was with a few years ago, connected with a company in Columbia that did very good work. You don't have to be big and they don't have to be local. There is another firm here in Pittsburgh that provides good CADD services to thers.
You also mentioned franchising. That is a model that has not found popularity in our profession but is quite viable. Look into Transforming Architecture. Talk with Karen Pitsley at TransformingArchitecture.com. She is a franchisor with a very interesting networ.
Best of luck,
Tom Donoghue
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Tom Donoghue, AIA, Principal
Donoghue Project Consulting, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2015 17:17
From: Ronald Geyer
Subject: Outsourcing
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Small Firm Round Table .
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Has anyone out there had success with outsourcing in an effort to stay lean?
I was "given the opportunity" just over 3 years ago to start my own practice, and didn't know how long I'd be in survival mode. We've never been without work, and after nearly 30 years with a firm that ranged between 15 and 40 people, have enjoyed the life of a sole practitioner immensely. I'd begun to think I could just ride this into the sunset.
The good news (and the challenge) is that we've got a tremendous amount of work. I've raised fees and turned down some off-mission opportunities in response. I confess that I suffer from a kind of Depression-baby/architect's mindset that no matter how well things are going, I'm may never eat again.
I'd like to avoid hiring permanent staff if at all possible (I also love working from home, so staffing up has other traumatic implications). We've outsourced a some production work, but with mixed success. I can't help but feeling that we're paying too much for mediocre results and spending way too much time fixing it.
I believe the solution lies in adopting a franchising mentality - developing standards, checklists and templates that can be embedded in an agreement - that will make it easier for these "ghost architects" to consistently produce what I need and expect. I'm coming up dry in my search for models. Can anyone point me to some helpful resources?
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Ronald Geyer AIA, NCIDQ, Principal
Good City Architects LLC
goodcityarch.com
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