The Dashboard-Driven Firm: What Every Role Needs to See to Perform Better

Earn 1 AIA HSW LU.

Most A&E firms are surrounded by data, but that does not mean their people have the information they need to make better decisions. Principals need visibility into profitability, cash flow, backlog, and firm-wide performance. Project managers need to monitor budgets, percent complete, scope creep, billing status, and project health. Studio leaders need to understand workload, staffing capacity, and delivery risk. CFOs need reliable insight into WIP, AR, collections, forecasting, and financial exposure. Project architects and engineers need clarity around tasks, budgeted hours, deadlines, and deliverables.

The challenge is that many firms either share too little information or overwhelm people with reports that were never designed for their role. In this webinar, Steven Burns, FAIA, will explore how role-based dashboards help every part of the firm perform better. Attendees will learn what each role should be watching, how transparency improves accountability and profitability, and why firm management software becomes more valuable when it is used daily by the whole team—not just by finance or administration.

The session will show how a robust software platform can become a shared operating system for the firm, helping leaders and teams move from after-the-fact reporting to timely, role-specific decision-making.

Learning Objectives

• Develop a practical framework for using a software platform as a firm-wide operating system, not just an administrative or finance tool.
• Distinguish between useful transparency and information overload, so firms can share data in ways that improve performance without creating confusion or anxiety.
• Learn how role-based dashboards can improve project profitability, staffing decisions, billing discipline, and accountability.
• Evaluate whether your current reporting systems provide timely, actionable information or merely historical accounting data.

Steven Burns, FAIA

Founder

The Well-Designed Firm

Steven Burns, FAIA

As a distinguished thought leader, Steve blends his passion for design and firm management with profound insights into emerging technologies. Over the past 2 decades, working directly with over 1,400 firm owners, Steve has significantly contributed to reshaping these businesses for enhanced growth and sustainability. Steve’s career highlights include a 7-year tenure at SOM Chicago, founding BBA Architects in 1993 and growing it to 17 architects before its 2007 sale, and creating ArchiOffice, a groundbreaking project management software company acquired by BQE Software in 2010. Recognized for his significant impact on the profession, in 2009 Steve was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. Currently, as Founder of The Well-Designed Firm, he focuses on leading AE firms to operational excellence, mentoring leaders to craft businesses as elegant and innovative as the architecture they create.