Architect's business problem solver / Kevin Mason.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Mason, Kevin.

Series:

• Architect's business desk reference

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Architectural practice--Management--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• Architectural practice--Management.

Genre:

• Handbooks and manuals.

Physical Description:

xxix, 444 pages : forms ; 23 cm + 1 computer optical disc (4 3/4 in.)

Place of Publication:

New York ; London : McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Summary:

-- A handy desktop reference that provides answers to all the questions that can arise in everyday practice-- Offers step-by-step solutions to problems such as soliciting new clients, hiring and firing employees, and upgrading office equipment-- Filled with easy-to-use checklists, tips, and shortcuts also on disk for easy customization

Contents:

• Defining a Problem xvii
• Listing Categories xviii
• Describing the Problems xviii
• Explaining the Format xxi
• Offering Additional Information xxiii
• Deriving Information xxv
• Section 1 Building Blocks
• Beginning 3
• 1.1 Running Your Firm 3
• 1.2 Writing a Mission Statement 5
• 1.3 Articulating Your Practice Values 7
• Planning 11
• 1.4 Designing a Road Map 11
• 1.5 Outlining a Business Plan 13
• 1.6 Strategizing for Success 17
• 1.7 Organizing Your Firm 19
• 1.8 Developing a Marketing Plan 21
• 1.9 Evaluating Situations 23
• Imagemaking 25
• 1.10 Naming Your Firm 25
• 1.11 Creating an Image for Your Firm 27
• 1.12 Writing a Slogan 29
• 1.13 Designing a Logo 31
• Section 2 People
• You 37
• 2.1 Evaluating Yourself as a Boss 37
• 2.2 Overcoming Writer's Block 39
• 2.3 Using Your Power to Influence 41
• 2.4 Playing Principal 43
• 2.5 Playing Manager 45
• Clients: Attracting Them 47
• 2.6 Defining a Press Release 47
• 2.7 Writing a Press Release 49
• 2.8 Deciding Whether to Advertise 53
• 2.9 Deciding Where to Advertise 55
• 2.10 Embellishing Your Yellow Pages Listing 57
• 2.11 Getting Noticed 59
• 2.12 Networking 61
• 2.13 Picking Clients 63
• 2.14 Deciding to Take on a Project 67
• Clients: Signing Them 69
• 2.15 Writing a Proposal 69
• 2.16 Testing the Waters with an Agreement 71
• 2.17 Getting to an Agreement 73
• 2.18 Negotiating an Agreement 75
• 2.19 Fielding Client Objections 77
• Clients: Refusing Them 79
• 2.20 Turning Down Work 79
• Clients: Keeping Them 81
• 2.21 Allying Your Clients 81
• 2.22 Retaining Clients 83
• 2.23 Defining the Effective Client and Architect Relationship 85
• Clients: Repeating Them 87
• 2.24 Repeating Clients 87
• Clients: Handling Them 89
• 2.25 Honing Listening Skills 89
• 2.26 Dealing with Resistance in Clients 91
• 2.27 Maintaining Momentum 93
• 2.28 Assigning a Client Spokesperson 97
• 2.29 Making Telephone Calls to Clients 99
• Employees: Needing Them 101
• 2.30 Determining the Need for a New Employee 101
• 2.31 Justifying a New Employee 103
• Employees: Finding Them 105
• 2.32 Finding New Employees 105
• 2.33 Writing a Job Advertisement 109
• 2.34 Conducting a Successful Interview 111
• Employees: Hiring Them 113
• 2.35 Making an Employment Offer 113
• Employees: Managing Them 115
• 2.36 Socializing a New Employee 115
• 2.37 Setting Job Performance Standards 117
• 2.38 Reviewing Employee Job Performance 119
• 2.39 Fostering Cooperation among Staff 121
• 2.40 Dealing with a Marginal Employee 123
• 2.41 Handling Rumors 125
• 2.42 Confronting Substance Abuse 127
• Employees: Firing Them 129
• 2.43 Firing an Employee 129
• Consultants 131
• 2.44 Hiring Consultants 131
• Accountants 133
• 2.45 Hiring an Accountant 133
• Bankers 135
• 2.46 Handling Your Banker 135
• Lawyers 137
• 2.47 Hiring a Lawyer 137
• Family and Friends 139
• 2.48 Working for Family and Friends 139
• Section 3 Time
• Time: Wasting It 143
• 3.1 Avoiding Repeated Mistakes 143
• 3.2 Handling Telephone Calls 145
• 3.3 Playing Telephone Tag 149
• 3.4 Cutting Down Time at the Post Office 151
• Time: Scheduling It 153
• 3.5 Keeping a Master To-Do List 153
• 3.6 Updating a Master To-Do List 155
• 3.7 Making a Daily To-Do List 157
• 3.8 Evaluating Your Use of Time 159
• 3.9 Planning Time 161
• 3.10 Keeping Meetings on Time 163
• 3.11 Getting Results from Meetings 165
• 3.12 Scheduling Success 167
• Time: Organizing It 169
• 3.13 Bringing Order to Your Practice 169
• 3.14 Getting Organized 171
• 3.15 Lagging Time 173
• Section 4 Money
• Bankroll 177
• 4.1 Launching a Practice 177
• 4.2 Getting Your Nest Egg Together 181
• 4.3 Determining Financial Needs 183
• 4.4 Finding Startup Money 185
• Loans 187
• 4.5 Borrowing Money 187
• 4.6 Getting a Business Loan 189
• Fees 191
• 4.7 Broaching the Topic of Fees with Clients 191
• 4.8 Offering Design Counseling Services 193
• 4.9 Getting Clients to Pay 195
• Salaries 199
• 4.10 Affording a New Employee 199
• 4.11 Giving Raises 201
• Expenses 203
• 4.12 Establishing Open Accounts 203
• 4.13 Opting for a Business Telephone Line 205
• 4.14 Signing up for Telephone Accounting Codes 207
• 4.15 Listing in the Yellow Pages 209
• 4.16 Paying for Voice Mail 211
• 4.17 Paying Monthly Bills 213
• 4.18 Picking Checks 215
• 4.19 Buying Checks through Mail Order 217
• 4.20 Tracking Expenses 219
• 4.21 Saving Money on Buying Stuff 221
• Taxes 223
• 4.22 Reviewing the Types of Taxes 223
• 4.23 Reporting and Paying Taxes 225
• 4.24 Scheduling Tax Payments 227
• 4.25 Choosing an Accounting Method 229
• 4.26 Learning about Taxes 231
• 4.27 Establishing a Home Office 233
• 4.28 Handling a Tax Audit 235
• Section 5 Stuff
• Stuff: Storing 239
• 5.1 Keeping Your Office Shipshape 239
• Stuff: Buying 243
• 5.2 Finding Good Stuff 243
• Paper: Files 245
• 5.3 Setting up a Filing System 245
• 5.4 Categorizing Your Files 247
• 5.5 Keeping a Filing System 249
• 5.6 Evaluating Your Filing System 251
• 5.7 Holding Onto Tax Records 253
• 5.8 Using a Project Notebook 255
• 5.9 Avoiding Excess Copies 257
• 5.10 Using Project Numbers 259
• 5.11 Sorting Piles of Paper 261
• Paper: Stationery 263
• 5.12 Choosing Stationery 263
• 5.13 Stocking Stationery 265
• Paper: Forms 267
• 5.14 Using Standardized Forms 267
• Paper: Correspondence 269
• 5.15 Using Correspondence 269
• 5.16 Creating a Paper Trail 271
• 5.17 Writing Correspondence 273
• Paper: Mail 275
• 5.18 Handling Mail 275
• 5.19 Stopping Junk Mail 277
• Paper: Books 279
• 5.20 Making Books Part of a Collection 279
• Paper: Periodicals 281
• 5.21 Managing Periodicals 281
• Photographs and Such 283
• 5.22 Organizing Negatives, Photographs, and Slides 283
• Solving Any Problem 289.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 435-437) and index.

ISBN:

0070411069

OCLC:

43673742