AEC-ops Blog

Float2
Article

Good Schedules Have Float

Throughout my career in project-based businesses, I’ve been involved in thousands of projects, witnessing every imaginable approach to scheduling. Yet, only a few of these projects were well-managed from a scheduling standpoint.

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Runningsteps
AEC

The Power of Extra Effort: How Small Choices Create Big Results

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn In today’s culture, working hard is often painted as “uncool.” The narrative seems to be: do just enough to get by, maximize leisure, and aim for “work-life balance”—a phrase increasingly used to justify the bare minimum at work. But what’s lost in this perspective is the undeniable

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Ceovictory
Article

The Business and Personal Payoff of Better Project Management

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn When leadership sets clear expectations and holds project teams accountable for using project management tools and processes, the payoff extends far beyond improved project outcomes. While the financial benefits are clear—fewer delays, reduced rework, and increased profitability—the impact on employee well-being is equally significant. A firm that

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Referee
Knowledge

Why Clear Expectations and Accountability Lead to Higher Adoption

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Leadership sets the tone for how processes and tools are adopted within a firm. But it’s not enough to invest in technology or introduce new procedures. To see meaningful adoption—especially when it comes to project management—leaders must be explicit about expectations and hold their teams accountable for

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Rope Pulling
EOS

The Leadership Commitment to Planning and Process Adoption

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn In the design and construction industry, every successful project begins with a solid plan, but even the best plans can fall apart without proper execution. AEC firms understand that effective project management is critical to delivering on time, within budget, and to the client’s satisfaction. However, there’s

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AI Revolution
Knowledge

A Different Take on the AI Revolution

A Different Take on the AI Revolution The rapid advancement of AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, has sparked a fervent debate about the future of jobs, particularly in fields like design engineering and architecture. Some predict that AI will soon eliminate these roles, but history suggests a more nuanced view.

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Tools Hanging
Knowledge

Over-Reliance on Tools to Solve Business Problems

In my work with company leadership, I frequently encounter dissatisfaction with current software programs and digital tools, particularly in project management and enterprise resource management (ERP). Many leaders are evaluating or considering a change in their business software, believing that new tools will solve their problems. However, a closer look

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accountability
Knowledge

Boosting Accountability in Your Business

Boosting Accountability in Your Business: A Practical Guide Achieving accountability in a business setting is no small feat, but it’s essential for long-term success. After years of striving for this goal, I discovered that it boils down to a few key concepts. Here’s how you can improve accountability in your

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Pie Chart Hand
AEC

What is a Fractional Chief Operating Officer

Have you been struggling to keep up with running your firm?  Stuck on the hamster wheel trying to be the leader, operator, business developer and technical guru?  Do you lack the time to focus on creating improvements or growth, but aren’t confident you can carry a full-time COO?  You are

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a man holding binoculars in a safari setting
Knowledge

The Poaching Problem

Somewhere along the line, the term “poaching” became interchangeable with “recruiting” in the business landscape. This mischaracterization of the recruiting process has always bothered me. Poaching, in its intended context, is “the illegal killing or capturing of wild animals.” The implications of using this term to describe recruiting are extremely problematic. First,

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