01_Business Operations

Question 1

Running an architecture practice

Answer 1

what is a practice, identity, how a business firm works,

Question 2

Firm and organizational structure

Answer 2

shared studio/ team-based organization
- flexibility to move staff
studios
- around discipline, specialized,
efficiency based firm - quick, cheap, specialized
experienced based - complex projects, any project
expertise-based firm - exceptional talent. mostly bridging type architect. frank genry

Question 3

project budgeting

Answer 3

Top-down - bigger picture to the smaller based of similar projects
bottom-up - smaller to bigger. how long will one take. fee based on from 0.
mixed - both together is better

Question 4

Agency

Answer 4

architect will speak for the owner

Question 5

General compliance for all firms

Answer 5

Equal Pay 
OSHA
I-9 Employee eligibility verification
FLSA
HIPPA
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
Employee retirement income security act ERISA

Question 6

For 15+ firms

Answer 6

COBRA
Civil rights
ADA

Question 7

For 20+

Answer 7

Age discrimination ADEA

Question 8

For 50+

Answer 8

Family medical FMLA
Affirmative action plan
EEO
Annual report

Question 9

Employee Manual

Answer 9

business ethics and laws
conflict of interest
how office deals with issues

Question 10

what are ethics

Answer 10

character based
contract based
duty based
results based

Question 11

NCARB rules of conduct

Answer 11

1. competence - health, safety and welfare
2. conflict of interest - not accept money with interest
3. full disclosure - be honest at your profession
4. compliance with laws - illegal
5. professional conduct - licensed

Question 12

AIA Code of ethics

Answer 12

General obligations - Maintaina dn improve knowledge
uphold HR
NO discrimination on race, religion origin etc
to public - uphold law, no bribe, no illegal, pro bono, civic activities
to client - serve clients with professionalism, unbiased, avoid conflict of interest, keep informed, confidentiality
to profession - uphold the profession, honestly, do not sign which you have no control, no false statements, honest about qualification
to colleagues - respect, honest about your contribution, fair pay, intern development
to environment - sustainable

Question 13

Types of legal structures

Answer 13

Sole - easy to set up, always at risk, file tax like an individual.
General Partnership - 2 or more, everyone is responsible for the other, personal assets are at risk, no federal tax, each pay tax like individuals. Limited partnerships are the same just one has less control over the other. Certificate of authority licensing partners.
LLP - personal assets are safe. partners remain liable for their own mistakes, agreement + certificate from state is required.

Question 14

Corporations

Answer 14

Business Corp. - Stakeholders, directors, officers., personal assets are safe, remain liable for their own, organization to be filed with the secretary of state and written corporate laws. there are two subcategories
C corp - publicly traded corp. pay corporate tax on their income, then their after-tax income is taxed again as an individual tax return.
S corp - o more than 100 stockholders. profits in form of dividends, individual stockholders tax returns.

Question 15

LLC

Answer 15

LLC has two participants - members (owners) and managers. members personal assets are protected, they are liable for their own. Mostly these are closely held - Scopr. one can chose to file taxes as sole, general or as a corp. state architectural registration board.