We wrote the book on this business. What began as a manuscript in 1967 led to the creation of a multi-disciplinary consulting firm for the design professions.
Unionization Isn’t All It Appears
Hugh Hochberg, December 27, 2021 The recent news that the employees of a firm whose work has been highly respected since the firm’s formation 25 years ago voted to unionize may appear to be an issue of employees versus management. A deeper dig indicates...
27 December, 2021How to retain staff – Engineering, Architecture and Construction
They say the great resignation is upon us. That seems to be true for some, but not others. What is it that some practices are doing that is achieving a high level of retention during “the great resignation”? Why Retention if You and not Them...
02 September, 2021Why M&A Deals Fail – ACEC buy-side sell-side Recap
In June The Coxe Group’s Simon Goodhead provided a national webinar to ACEC titled: Why M&A Deals Fail – How Organizational Behavior and Leadership Cause Deductive Deals. With Architecture and Engineering M&A buy-side & sell-side prevalence, many are considering their first transaction, or having already completed a...
30 June, 2021Merger and Acquisition Engagement Example: Buy Side Services
SSOE Group, Inc. approached The Coxe Group to develop an acquisition strategy, create profiles of desired firms, identify targets, facilitate communication between SSOE and those firms, and assist in negotiations that culminated with SSOE’s acquisition of Stevens & Wilkinson. The strategy developed by The Coxe...
26 January, 2021Designing to Survive – The Washington Post Article
From a strategy standpoint, the reliance on “basic services” and a delivery or service approach that doesn’t explore ideas with a client may not allow the ideas in this article to be successful. Technology is changing the way projects are delivered, and provides a greater...
16 July, 2020Why Training Project Delivery Efficiency Matters
What strategic training The Coxe Group has been doing over the course of the lockdown? Mostly tools and tactics for efficiency related to project delivery. Why is efficiency important? Let’s do the math. For an average week: Three meetings in a week start 5 minutes...
01 July, 2020AEC Future due to COVID-19
Here are some forward-looking thoughts from Hugh, some of which surfaced in the Architectural Record interview: The success that many firms are experiencing in the work-at-home environment will provide more opportunities and flexibility as remote working becomes recognized as a way to do good work, to...
07 May, 2020Covid-19 Market Disruption
To all our Architectural, Engineering, and Construction colleagues around the world: We at The Coxe Group have been very grateful to have interacted with so many of you over the last several weeks. The speed of your response to the pandemic, your prioritization of...
30 March, 2020Leaders should inspire and influence
Leaders should inspire and influence. Something easier said than done. If we fix our leadership style and expect those we lead to bend to our will, not only will we fall foul of the Platinum Rule (treat others as they want to be treated), but...
09 March, 2020Mergers and Acquisitions is Complex, and that is OK
Acquiring companies is a complex process, especially in #ACEC and #AIA markets. The statistics for success are mediocre at best and atrocious at worst. So why do many deals fail? What are the secrets for those that succeed and exceed expectations? Simply VALUES and ALIGNMENT. Whether selling for retirement purposes...
15 October, 2019Trust aids retention and performance.
It has been over a year since I re-posted an article about how people will quit if they don’t trust their boss. Retention is critical for a firm to survive, let alone grow. That is especially the case given the current architectural and engineering hiring...
13 September, 2019Avoiding Burnout
How do you avoid burnout? You have to choose to not burnout. Hiring in the A/E market is tight. The work, however, keeps coming. So how do architects and engineers avoid burnout? Here are a few (again not exhaustive) ideas. If everything is a priority...
08 August, 2019Leadership transition
For firm owners and leaders there are multiple types of transition. Some are easier than others. In approximate order of difficulty, from easiest to hardest, the types of transitions look something like this: ~ Ownership transition ~ Management transition ~ Governance transition ~ Client transition...
22 July, 2019Service Management
Why don’t you write about service management?” My good friend Andrew Prentice, a Service Management expert asked last week. He pointed out I write about project management, but not service. He has a great point. Andy’s industry separates project management from service management, however in...
19 March, 2019Project Managers…you are in short supply!
Many firms are looking for great project managers to add to existing teams. Great project managers, ones who can keep deliverables on track, maintaining design and quality standards, while achieving the financial performance a firm desires are in short supply. Great project managers have some...
18 February, 2019
