Professional Practice Management

The course will develop the students’ understanding of the business and practice issues of a professional in a way that will help them succeed in their own practices. Specific topics that will be studied include professional services, firm leadership, strategic planning, team building, staff development, standards of professional conduct, marketing, design services contracts, firm and project financial management, legal aspects of practice, risk and liability management, construction administration and dispute resolution. Students will be grouped as “principals” of a firm. Then during the remainder of the semester, the students will have to lead and shape their “firms” by writing a strategic plan, marketing and interviewing for a project, negotiating a contract, and facing other issues that will test and develop their knowledge and understanding of how a design profession is practiced.