This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Project Delivery .
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There two good coversations going on, and the point I make here is where these two conversations come together.
The conversation about "value," when held between architects, always comes back to the value of the services provided by architects. Services are what architects sell directly, but what we fail to see is that these services are a means to a greater end for the client, that being a facility. Client's see value in the facility, not in the services.
The same architects that complain about the erosion of architect's role as leaders are failing to see this simple fact. You can not lead the team and at the same time fail to see where the client wants the team to go. This is the central conunundrum of the practice of architecture. There is an inherent conflict between serving the client's needs and serving your own needs.
Standard of Care is defined by the way architects deal with this conflict of interests. In terms of delivering value to the client, frankly, the standard of care is unfortunately very low as client's see it. It is no wonder architects are often not respected by clients and others in the industry.
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Alan Burcope AIA
VP Project Development
HBE Corporation
Saint Louis MO
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