Workforce Development - A Good Investment?

Workforce challenges facing the design and construction industry

Dr. Charles Thornton, Chairman of The Thornton-Tomasetti Group and receipeint of ENR’s 2001 Award of Excellence, is one of the "oracles" in the area of workforce development for the Design and Construction Industry.

He received the ENR award in 2001 for his tireless efforts to promote and build the ACE Mentoring Program – an educational program to introduce high school students to the various aspects and careers available in the construction industry.  He offers a perspective on why it is particularly difficult to create the levels of a highly skilled workforce needed to design and build/rebuild America in the future.  Here are a couple dimensions of the challenge from his experienced point of view on the "image" problem facing the indistry:

Nature of the Challenge

The design and construction community suffers from either the lack of a true image (engineers do not run trains) or a negative one (entry level construction workers on a job sites).  In an age of information, Madison Avenue, and slick marketing, a non-existent or “poor” image can greatly undercut an industry’s efforts to attract the best and brightest.

Elements of a “Poor” Image

The most prominent elements that appear to create or add to a “poor” image can be categorized in the following manner:

• Safety issues on job sites remain a major challenge.
• Working conditions can be difficult at times (heavy, often out door work).
• Seasonal or migratory nature of the work.
• Decentralized, small business dominated industry.
• Perceived pay scales being lower than they actually are.
• Difficult or technical math and science skill sets required.

Consequences of a “Poor” Image

The perceived and real elements that contribute to a “poor” image have consequences that impede the industry’s efforts to attract the next generation:

• Parents and school counselors have wrong or misconceived view of the industry.
• Intellectual resistance – viewed outside of  the “college path”.
• Believed to be a physically demanding industry without IT or new technology applications or skills – which results in a low attraction level for “white collar” careerist.
• Industry doesn’t attract its needed share of women and minorities to fill expanding job slots.
• Nascent interests exhibited by children are not fully supported and nurtured so as to encourage eventual career choices.

Estimating Building Costs

Companies live or die on the basis of estimating their costs.

Preparing estimates and bidding for new jobs is a complex and often costly process. There is no substitute for on the job training to become an estimator -- until now.

This free eBook is a great way for people interested in construction Estimating to get their feet wet.

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Creating a More Democratic Work Environment

A bright fellow named Stephen Simon has set out to "democratize" the process of employer selection for interns and young architects.

As a young professional he looked at the marketplace for Architects and made a keen observation: "As interns and young architects we usually think of ourselves as sellers, hawking our skills to the best firm that will have us. What if we instead consider ourselves as buyers, investing our skills in the best firm we can find? We are the consumers of architectural employment. Unfortunately, we consumers have very little information about the enterprises that we're investing in"

He has set about to create a community where interns and young architects in the huge AEC marketplace can share their experiences and perspectives with others. 

He has correctly determined that there is a sizable "information gap" as relates to the ability to identify firm characteristics and workplace styles.  So he created a unique website called InsideArch.org to enable young design professionals to share information that will enable them and others to make smarter employment choices.

The site produces a "Firm Report" which provides a set of metrics which recap the survey data gathered by the young professionals who have been exposed to the firm. 

In addition to an overall firm score (on a scale from 1-25) for each firm, the InsideArch Firm Reports contain scores in 9 different sub categories called 'Key Metrics' (on a scale from 1-5).

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• EMPLOYEE CALIBER
• WORK ENVIRONMENT
• OVERALL EXPERIENCE
• MANAGEMENT SKILL
• DESIGN QUALITY
• WORK HOURS
• COMPENSATION
• ATTITUDE TOWARD INTERNS

The majority of architecture firms are small firms. They don't receive a lot of press and may not have a website. Those few firms that do the 'coolest' and most publicized work are inundated with unsolicited resumes, regardless of the quality of the experience for the intern. Lesser-known firms place 'help wanted' ads that offer only cursory descriptions of the firm and its work and often don't even mention the firm's name.

Mr Simon's site enables interns and young architects to evaluate, in a subjective manner, the quality of the firm work experience. Things that are of interest to young A&E professionals include:

• How much will we learn?
• How much opportunity will we have?
• Which firm's work will most interest us?
• Where will our contribution be most respected?

WI th additional information Simon feels that these young professionals can make more intelligent decisions about which firm to invest their time and talent in.

It also seems to have a benefit for top employers.

By letting evaluations expose which Architecture firms are providing high-quality experiences to their employees, those firms would attract a larger pool of candidates, they could be more selective in their hiring, and ultimately produce better work.

(This however puts those firms that let their interns stagnate in a cube in the corner with piles of redlines on their desks would see their applicant pools dry up, the skill levels of their applicants decrease and they would either have to offer higher salaries to compensate or offer a more challenging work experience)

Simon's site seems to provide a community where conceivably everyone wins.  Wonder what the workplace would become if there were more sites of this caliber?

About : Technophobe Young Architects and Chicken Parmesan

Richard Korman, an editor for ENR published a great piece just before the holidays entitled :  "Technophobe Young Architects and Chicken Parmesan".

Here's the synopsis of this piece:

At a party before the holidays he engaged in discussion with aretired architect was talking about getting BIM in place at his firm.  Korman asked about its progress and acceptance in the profession. "I had been pushing for it and trying to get the staff interested," a necessary step before making a substantial investment, the architect said.

I expected him to say next that it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. Instead, he said, "I wanted it and always thought architects needed to stay out front as far as technology. But I couldn't get the young people on the staff interested."

That got my attention. The young architects? Not interested?

It's a compelling article - and may make you think twice before jumping to the conclusion that certain groups are pro-technology and others against it.  Then let me know what you think...

Creating a More Productive Work Environment

    Today's white-collar workforce has needs different from those office environments of the past.  It is increasingly important for designers planners to understand how to establish proper workspace requirements and plan a workplace environment that "works".  The contemporary office environment today is often a sophisticated and intricate ecosystem of many interrelated elements and sub-systems, in which various individuals occupy space. These individuals have special needs, and the diligent space planner is required to address these needs.
    A new series of courses is available to assist designers in understanding these requirements and how to develop new design solutions for these kinds of environments.  A 6-part online educational series entitled "Space Planning" has been produced to help designers by RedVector.com a leader in online education programs. 

Space Planning: Barrier Free Design (3 hours) [S] AIA HSW

Space Planning: Design Fundamentals (2 hours) [B] AIA HSW

Space Planning: Design Methodology (2 hours)[B] AIA HSW

Space Planning: Furniture and Furnishings (2 hours) [S] AIA HSW

Space Planning: History and Overview (3 hours)[B] AIA HSW

  Space Planning: Security Issues (1 hour) ^{[B] AIA HSW}

    Anyone who has experienced the consequences of a poorly laid out environment knows first-hand  how costly a design blunder can be when you take into account the loss-of-productivity that a poor design can have.  Or worse, if this environment is the cause of a single person leaving for "greener pastures".  Haven't thought about this?  Take todays average salary and benefit value and multiply  it by 1.5 to 2.0 (depending upon whether you have a easy position or a difficult one to refill).  That's a good benchmark of the cost to replace a single worker.
    If you invested approx $500 in the education above, a facility designer could do a better job at coming up with a workplace that "works", and meets the new code requirements that ensure that employees health and safety issues are addressed.
    Gives a new meaning to the saying "You pay for a education program - whether you have one or not..."

 

Online Education Programs - New Options - Proven Sources

There are many new options available for folks that want to  obtain education without classrooms, travel and related expense.
Online providers range from traditional degree programs to specialized firms offering industry-specific (and often accredited for CE) programs.
RedVector.com provides programs specific to the Architect, Engineering and Construction industry.  WIth almost 1000 accredited industry-specific online learning programs it is the largest single repository of this AEC information in the world.
Education-advancement.com is one of the webs largest directories on online education  offering degree programs.  These programs are a great way to continue effectively and teach a new talent (skill) for development in your career.

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Competition for Architect talent - Hot Jobs for Big Bucks in the Game Industry

The new graduate that just completed his degree in architecture, may be working at an Architecture firm today but may just be waiting for the right opportunity to come along in the rapidly growing and highly compensated gaming industry.

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