Practice Management Flashcards
What type of job management procedures does your office employ and why do you think they’re important?
- director - overview governance role.
- project lead. A single source of the truth. Point of contact, and delivery lead.
- supporting team. Responsible for project production.
How do you think your job differs from
one in public practice?
- Private is bias to the client, fees, high design standards and outcomes.
- Public is driven by public interest and political matters. Public work has the capacity to fund own projects.
What is a Landscape Architects role and limits as advisor to a client or contractor?
The L.As role is to know the limits and services of our profession when advising the client. We should recommend the appropriate consultants when necessary.. lighting designer/architect etc.
What kind of insurances are required for practice?
- Professional Indemnity insurance: it covers practice for errors or omissions in professional service. It also covers the defence costs and financial loss of the contract.
- $5m cover typical amongst larger companies.
- Public Liability Insurance:
- covers legal liability for accidents that happen in connection to our project. Possibly at the fault of the L.A.
- up to $5m cover for most larger companies
What kind of quality management systems are used in your practice?
- Ongoing leadership team reviews
- formal drawing review process at key deliverable stages. In house and by others if required (engineer).
How does your time get charged on a project?
- charged hourly at given rate.
How is risk managed in your company?
- strong communication internally and externally.
- clarity on brief
- maintain tidy records of project decisions. Design Register/email folders etc.
- do not work beyond the scope of my professional competence.
- adhere to company procedures for contract administration.
- refer to NZ3910 standards.
What are the different types of appointment to assist a client engaging a L.A?
- direct appointment - Viaduct
- Negotiation
- Design Competition (RFP) - MHP/Sirius
- Competitive fee tendering (Rotorua/CMUA)
Explain the different types of fees and charges?
- percentage charge: a % of the total cost of works.
- time charge: time charges spent on work. (hourly) & typically charges where scope is unknown.
- lump sum: a predetermined lump sum payment. Used where the scope and deliverables are clearly outlined.
Explain payment periods & debt recovery methods?
Usually monthly invoices are sent to client or issued at project milestones.
What is involved in an Offer of Service?
- relevant experience. Who are we?
- Project scope + background.
- outline project objectives + assumptions.
- programme
- key team members
- project team structure + communication methods.
- other consultants? Civil / lighting…
- method and timing of charges for services.
What’s involved in maintaining a good client / consultant relationship?
- strong communication
- complete deliverables on time
- make payments on time
- manage risks together
What happens if you and your client have a dispute?
- Methods of dispute resolution are built into all contracts. Refer to contract first.
Have you written a fee proposal before?
Smaller fee proposals for visualisation services.
- estimated hours @ a certain rate.
How would you go about setting up your own company?
- all starts with a business plan
- register a company with the NZ companies registrar
- register practice with NZILA
- engage a lawyer
- draw up employee contracts if employing people
- Engage mortgage broker for public liability and professional indemnity insurances
- establish a client base
